General Changing the passenger side headlight bulb

[Argonought]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

I would oblige, but don't want to fix what ain't broke. I'll have a look tomorrow

Alex, as you obviously like playing with your motor then I'd recommend the “Stilo initiation" of changing the dipped beams. Go for something like +50% brighter so you at least have something gained from doing it.

Start with main beam to get your confidence up and then try dipped.

At some point you'll reach the stage of utter despair but you can get through it

.....and make sure you seat the bulbs properly as otherwise, like me, you’ll end up doing it twice :bang:

 

[alexGS]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

I had enough fun topping up my 'maintenance free' battery!

I still maintain (pardon the pun) that the battery level should be checked occasionally, as the true 'Maintenance Free' batteries have a more sealed construction than the type I found in my Stilo (see other thread).

+50% bulbs are a good idea... but just for the record, 'blue' bulbs are a bad idea (I found this out the hard way once, then did my homework and realised how the coloured bulb filters out a large chunk of the useful light output, even though the light 'looks' brighter!)

The Stilo headlights aren't the best of any car I've driven... there seem to be some 'holes' in the beam pattern... in fact I reckon my old Mk1 Uno 60 with 100W bulbs (and relays) was considerably more awesome!

-Alex

 

[Argonought]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

The Stilo headlights aren't the best of any car I've driven... there seem to be some 'holes' in the beam pattern...

I agree it's a slightly odd beam pattern.

Personally I think the dipped beam spread is the best of any car I've driven. It provides long range vison at both sides of the road and, for some reason I can’t fathom, doesn't seem to dazzle oncoming drivers (on setting '0').

The main beam is the one I'm not happy with - have a feeling it's too high or maybe just too un-focussed.

 

[T14086]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

'Argo'...did you not have problems with vertical adjustment of your headlights a while back? Ever get it sorted?

 

[Argonought]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

'Argo'...did you not have problems with vertical adjustment of your headlights a while back? Ever get it sorted?

Yep, that was all sorted thanks to your suggestion (badly seated bulb)

Lights are great although I think the main beams need to come down a tad or dipped beams up a tad if you follow me.

Both main and dipped beams track with the level controller so it's not possible to adjust that way. Main beams are OK when the dipped beams provide too short a range.

 

[Neptune]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Took an hour or so to change - bruised knuckles - many new names for different parts and now the new Halfrauds bulb has exploded!!!

 

[alexGS]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Took an hour or so to change - bruised knuckles - many new names for different parts and now the new Halfrauds bulb has exploded!!!

That was hard luck...
The times I've seen that happen have been when the new bulb was fingered during the installation. Or, was there a sign of whiteness inside the remains? That tends to be a manufacturing fault (air in the bulb). I'm drawing a little on my 12V dichroic lighting experience in museum galleries

-Alex

 

[T14086]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Near Alex.........if you suffer blowing bulbs on a stilo (or punto) there is a additional loom modification that can be fitted at the body computer

 

[Stilo Stew]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

I've changed both my dipped headlight bulbs (left one (water bottle side)twice!)
The left side isn't too bad, it's just a matter of trial and error, the bulb is fairly easy to reach, it's trying to put the dust cover back on that makes me swear!
The right side bulb is a real bugger - had to remove the battery cover, then loosened the top headlight bolts to pull the whole headlamp unit forward slightly. Didn't have to go to the lengths of removing bumpers etc...

Stilo 5-Door 1.6 - No mods just the 5-disc autochanger!

 

[leelee]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Has anybody changed the front fog lights bulb yet in there stilo?

It has taken roughly about 15 mins to change the main o/s bulb which i thought wasn't to bad. only had to remove the washer bottle to gain more access to put the dust cover back on

 

[PNL]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Has anybody changed the front fog lights bulb yet in there stilo?

It has taken roughly about 15 mins to change the main o/s bulb which i thought wasn't to bad. only had to remove the washer bottle to gain more access to put the dust cover back on

Try the nearside one then leelee have fun :bang: havnt had the pleasure yet and TBH I'm dreading it

 

[leelee]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

thats the one im not looking forward to as i have an MOT in January hence the fog light bulb needs replacing , i don't think i could drop the front bumper, but at least i managed to change a bulb in a stilo

 

[PNL]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

thats the one im not looking forward to as i have an MOT in January hence the fog light bulb needs replacing , i don't think i could drop the front bumper, but at least i managed to change a bulb in a stilo

Front bumper isnt hard to get off if you have a fair kit of spanners and torx keys/buts just need two of you when lowering just to make sure you dont do any damage if you want help nearer the time post it up

 

[Rich]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Had to replace the passenger bulb whilst I was at uni (no tools and nowhere to do it). Ended up asking my neighbour to borrow his drive, and had to walk to halfords to get tools in between.

I nearly got to it by loosening the wheelarch liner, but then the bulb retaining clip came off. In the end, the battery came out, the battery box came out and I got access to it that way. Putting it back on, one of the hellacoils gave way, so now my battery box isn't that secure. Need a new battery box now as that got snapped, it's all a larf!

 

[leelee]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

is the battery box easy to get out by any chance rich? as i'm looking to change both the headlight a foglight bulb on the passenger side as i'm sure it is easy doing that way inside of removing the front bumper etc

 

[Rich]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Once the battery is out, you have to unclip all the wiring, remove the two bolts securing the base, loosen the one securing it to the suspension strut housing, then jiggle it out; it's fiddly but possible.

Access is amazing once it's out!

 

[leelee]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

I'll have ago at removing the battery and see what kind of access i get from there and if needs must i'll remove the battery box, did you have any probs with your cn+ i.e did you have to reset it by removing the wire on the back of the unit?

 

[Rich]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Removing the battery doesn't really help as the box is still there!

No probs with the CN+ although the first time it came back on the CD Changer refused to work (it was stuck on CDC SCAN). Rebooted the unit and it all worked fine .

 

[Argonought]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Removing the battery doesn't really help as the box is still there!

True....but you can bend it a bit easier without the battery in place ....at least just enough to get your arm nicely trapped

 

[Rich]

Re: Anyone Changed a Headlight Bulb???

Lol, true Argo, but I have big arms that did actually get trapped in-between the box and the front crossmember (hence the battery box got snapped )