30 mins to change a Headlight Bulb
Hi, had my n/s dipped headlight bulb go day before yesterday - found out on drive to work in the dark.
Thought this'd be an easy job to do in my lunch hour, but nearly had a panic attack when I opened up the bonnet. :yuck:
Having read all the posts I thought that this was going to be a mother of a job, and decided that the best way was to drop the front bumper, and pull the headlight cluster forward - this was the method suggested in a Fiat Technical manual I'd downloaded some time ago - but the actual process of removing the bumper was not part of the manual.
Took this pm off - having to do the job in the daylight - and giving myself plenty of time.
Couldn't get the tork screws out of the top of the bumper - would need copius amounts of WD40 to shift them, so thought I'd give it a go and try and get through the wheel arch.
I'd previously done this to replace the horn (on the drivers side).
To my surprise it couldn't have been easier - job done in less than 30 mins
The longest job was actually jacking the car up, and removing and then refitting the wheel
So, to summarise:
1) Remove Battery cover - easier to get at the wiring loom to headlight cluster
2) Remove wiring loom.
3) Jack car up and remove wheel
4) Open up wheel arch liner - 4 screws, and pull back over suspension/ wheel mounting - this will give you plenty of room.
5) remove back plate to headlights
6) Locate bulb, and remove electrical connector.
7)Open clip holding bulb, and replace bulb.
8) reverse all of the above.
Now I'm 6 foot, and not particularly skinny or anything, but had plenty of room - could get nearly all of upper body into arch (make sure car securely jacked, and blocked out - for you H&S freaks) - and couldn't have been happier. My knuckles are intact, lights working, and blood pressure restored to normal
If there's a next time, I reckon I could get the job done in twenty mins
