Broken headlights - PITA

[Drifter]

Metro will have a field day if they have to stop cars on the R59 with headlights that arent working. I leave home at 05:00 AM and every 3rd car has either one headlight out or in some cases, just one fog light working. I wont even start with tail lights.

Are these drivers just ignorant, or dont they even know that their lights arent working?

 

[Necropolis]

Either don't know or don't have the money to fix them.

I recently replaced the headlight and parking light on the left side of my car - only reason I knew they were out was after driving behind the GF who then told me they were ****ed.

I usally have my front fog lights on as well - so even on a dark road there was a decent amount on light shining on the road and I honestly hadn't noticed. - So I guess it happens.

 

[Stefanmuller]

On the more modern cars it sometimes is a biatch to change any of the bulbs. On my Captiva for instance I had to take apart the whole front engine cover which covers both sides just to get to the one light assembly. And it involves removing those crap plastic plugs which either does not want to catch the screwdriver or does not want to go back in again afterwards. I had no idea how to do it untill I eventually found a youtube vid on it. So I think it is a combination of not knowing the light has gone, and delaying replacing it because you dont know how/too much hassle. It bothers me to no end though when one of my lights are out so I tend to replace ASAP. The actual bulb is relatively cheap.

 

[Necropolis]

On the more modern cars it sometimes is a biatch to change any of the bulbs. On my Captiva for instance I had to take apart the whole front engine cover which covers both sides just to get to the one light assembly. And it involves removing those crap plastic plugs which either does not want to catch the screwdriver or does not want to go back in again afterwards. I had no idea how to do it untill I eventually found a youtube vid on it. So I think it is a combination of not knowing the light has gone, and delaying replacing it because you dont know how/too much hassle. It bothers me to no end though when one of my lights are out so I tend to replace ASAP. The actual bulb is relatively cheap.

And I thought it was bad that I had to remove the headlight unit to get to my bulbs.

 

[Lupus]

On my 97 Astra it was a breeze, on my 05 Polo my sack changing the bulbs was hard. I dread the day I need to do it on the Spark.

 

[Stefanmuller]

On my 97 Astra it was a breeze, on my 05 Polo my sack changing the bulbs was hard. I dread the day I need to do it on the Spark.

The thing is in the newer cars they cover up all the gaps under the bonnet with plastic covers, so you have to remove those to get to the actual light cluster (or to the screws that holds the light cluster). Once you have loosened the light cluster screws, the cluster can be removed or hinged outwards to the side exposing the bulb entry points. From there it is just a quick twist and turn to remove bulb and replace with a new one. In my case I have to remove about 18 screws and plugs and put that back again just to replace a indicator or headlight bulb.

 

[Drifter]

On the Ford Ka, you have to remove the front wheel, remove the fender lining, and if you have real tiny hands, you can get to the bulbs. No matter how hard it is, it's not an excuse.