(T) Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Had a bulb go last friday (well thats when i got told it was out) not by the car i must add! It was the passenger side front headlight and what a pain that was to change, maybe its the way i went about it, but i ended up having to strip out all the batter box and surrounding area just to get to the back of the cluster!

Its done now, but its quite possibly the most stupidly difficult job ive ever done on a car?

If anyone else has done it let me know if you found it any easier?

By the way if your going to buy a bulb from halfords, the one they list as the headlight is actually the fog light, and the one they list as the fog light is the headlight, this prob must be nation wide as im sure they all use the same reference card things.

This seems to be a new move by manufacturers to force you to go back to your dealer to get simple things - like bulbs - replaced.

Fiat aren't the only ones doing it.

But Fiat have said they will do it for free

Apparently they have said that because of the difficulty in changing the bulbs, they will will replace them free of charge. I don't think that means they will pay for the actual bulb though.

Well iirc this is what I was told when I asked about replacing the bulbs for better ones.

When i went to my local Fiat garage, the fella there didnt even know which bulb it was that i needed, so im quite glad i took the time to do it myself, just quite embarrassing when you tell people it took you nearly 3 hours to change a light bulb!

At least i know how the right hand side of my engine bay comes apart now, and gave me something new to clean!

Any chance of a brief description of "How to change a Stilo headlight bulb?"

Once you've had a few celebratory beers of course

I have done this once and its a bit of a nightmare! (I refused to pay FIAT the £20.00 fee they quoted to do this - apparently bumper should be removed! - not so). I did this on passenger side headlamp. The battery gets in the way a bit - the other side should be ok though! PS you might need some help from another willing sole!

Anyway this is how I did it.

1. Removed battery cover (if applicable) good chance to spray it up like Ben R's if you wished (looks good by the way) Use your handy screwdriver located in the boot with your spare wheel for this!

2. Remove cap from back of lamp
3. Withdraw bulb holder and find bulb that needs changing.
4. Now for tricky bit - If you have small hands you can just about get in via the bonnet and replace the bulb.
If not (this is how I ended up doing it!) Remove small black bumper lower grill (if 3dr - sorry didn't look - If its a five door not sure!). Do this by pushing it out from the back, you get access by removing (couple of screw) the plastic sh#t guard in the wheel arch.
5. Get on your back and lie on the floor, get your head under the light and with some help from your willing helper (who will probably think what the hell are you doing by now) to guide you in and replace bulb.

6. Replace everthing that has been removed or moved.

NOTE: It may be necessary to remove the 4 (i think) bumper screws in between the lights (the big black ones) using a torx bit or your trusty FIAT sonic screwdiver located in the boot (as I did) once this is done the securing bolts on the lamp can be loosened off and the lamp can be slid forwards a little to give you more room. This was necessary on the passenger side light of my 1.6 Dynamic.

It sounds well over the top, takes about 40mins but you get satisfaction that you've done it and know how to do it in the future (plus saves you money from money grabbing FIAt dealers!)

Whats the betting my headlamp/indicator bulbs go soon now??

anyway hope this helps!

you can do it in 20mins by removing front bumper.

I questioned my dealership about this [although as yet my lights aren't broken] saying FIAT UK suggest this is a free procedure, and what is the dealerships view - basically, it looks like my dealership charges?!

Anyone got any formal correspondance from Fiat saying this is free, to be used as ammunition?

I have to do this on my front driver side.

Anyone done it? I must admit that although ive been under the bonnet once or twice, and thought it wouldnt be too hard, i took one look this evening and it seems like a nightmare.

The punto i had was bad enough but it seems like ill need to remove the water bottle to get at the bulb. Its the dip thats gone, the little fog lights are fine and provide enough light to compensate while driving until i replace the dip bulb.

i may need to slap you

High up on my list of pet hates, driving with fog lights on when they are not needed. Comes very close second to chavwagons with led washed covers

Well thats great news, any chance you might be a bit more constructive and answer the question i asked? Is it a difficult job to change the driver side dip bulb in a stilo? what is involved so i can stop using my fog lights?

Ok, I have now used search [a great tool ], so check out this thread [other threads are available - including how to remove led washer lights ]

http://www.fiatforum.com/showthread....eadlight+stilo

You have to realise, a few tongue-in-cheek comments are made on this forum

Thats about as constructive as i can be, still on the OEM bulbs, was tongue in cheek.

Which sidelight bulb have you got to change, the left or the right hand side of the drivers side cluster?

You can't ask him to be more constructive than that, afterall he was mearly informing of the legalities of running with fogs on when its not foggy! Drive with them on by all means, but if PC plod sees you he'll stop you!


This site is a useful tool in that outside Fiat working hours you can post a topic asking for help or perform a search, and if you don't get a easy answer you then PHONE your local Fiat garage the next morning. Fairly simple i'd think, rather than running about for days with your fog lights on? Failing that, if you've got AA/RAC/greenflag etc cover why not phone them? Not a major fault with your car, but it does render it illegal to drive, so therefor they should be able to guide you if not fix the problem?