C5 Headlight

[Graham_W]

why do Citroen make the headlamp bulbs so inaccessible? My garage charged £25 + bulb price to change both bulbs 3 months ago and now they have both failed again. Does anyone have any tips for doing this (normally) simple job?

[Johndouglas]

There's quite a long write-up about this if you use the search button. I think it was 'pinned' for a time.

[Graham_W]

Thanks for the reply. I already searched this forum and many others.

I guess I'll just have to get my ancient tools out and have a crack myself.

[duden]

First there's something wrong with the bulbs or the voltage if they are going in three months!

Second it is a fiddly job because you can't see what you are doing. I only managed it by using a hand mirror (off the wife!). If you take note of the correct orientatation when you take the old one out it should save a fiddle.

Finally, consider replacing with one of the high output/long life types.

My first dipped bulb went at around 35k and 2 years old, the second around 45k 2and a half years old.

Main beam still OK. After all how often can you get the main beam on!?

[Guest plum]

First there's something wrong with the bulbs or the voltage if they are going in three months!

Second it is a fiddly job because you can't see what you are doing. I only managed it by using a hand mirror (off the wife!). If you take note of the correct orientatation when you take the old one out it should save a fiddle.

Finally, consider replacing with one of the high output/long life types.

My first dipped bulb went at around 35k and 2 years old, the second around 45k 2and a half years old.

Main beam still OK. After all how often can you get the main beam on!?

 

Hi, I am using a lot of the dipped head light bulbs, about 1 a month at the present time, so I have become quite good at changing them, and yes they are quite fiddly, the nearside is the hardest, it takes me about 10 minutes if all goes well, I get mine from a local car factors for £4 a go.

 

The problem that I have is that my C5 has atomatic light swithing on facility, every time we start the car the lights come on. I have found out how to switch the option off, but all that happens is that the lights are constantly switching on and off whilst driving, giving the impresion that i am flashing the driver in front.

I guess ther must be a sensor detecting a low light and turning the lights on and off as it has become to sensative.

 

Just for the record my C5 is 5 years old and on 130,000 miles.

 

from plum

[paul.h]

I can not remember exactly how I switched the automatic lights option off but it involved the light switch and holding it in a position for a while, probably with the engine running. Lights only now come on when the switch is turned. Repeat to re-activate the automatic lighting.

The sensor is somewhere around the outside of the windscreen, I think at the bottom, so the windscreen needs to be clean to let daylight through to the sensor. The sensor at the top middle I think is just for the automatic wipers. Have you had a replacement windscreen at some time ?

[old'uns]

I can not remember exactly how I switched the automatic lights option off but it involved the light switch and holding it in a position for a while, probably with the engine running. Lights only now come on when the switch is turned. Repeat to re-activate the automatic lighting.

The sensor is somewhere around the outside of the windscreen, I think at the bottom, so the windscreen needs to be clean to let daylight through to the sensor. The sensor at the top middle I think is just for the automatic wipers. Have you had a replacement windscreen at some time ?

 

auto lights: r/h stalk end button hold in with ignition at first setting? display then says 'auto light active'

 

think both sensors are top centre of screen, there looks to be 2 areas on blacked out section that are holes?

[Guest plum]

I can not remember exactly how I switched the automatic lights option off but it involved the light switch and holding it in a position for a while, probably with the engine running. Lights only now come on when the switch is turned. Repeat to re-activate the automatic lighting.

The sensor is somewhere around the outside of the windscreen, I think at the bottom, so the windscreen needs to be clean to let daylight through to the sensor. The sensor at the top middle I think is just for the automatic wipers. Have you had a replacement windscreen at some time ?

 

Hi Paul, NO !! I have never had a replacment windscreen, and turning the auto lights OFF is when I get the problem, With the auto lights ON, all that happens is that when i start the car the lights come on and stay on, With option OFF, the lights come on and off (aproximatly every 4-5 minuets ) giving the driver in front that I am flashing there car, The only other way I have overcome the problem is with the option OFF, I turn the engin on then drive with sidelights perminatly on, Problem is, on more than one occation I forgot to turn them off and it drained the batery, So I leave the option ON and replace bulbs quite often.

 

from plum

[iannez]

the nearside is easier. take out the battery and theres no probs.

[Bassrock]

Hi all,

 

I've owned one for 5 years, I've got small hands and have found no problem in changing the bulbs myself, OK I lied, the first itme I changed the bulb myself, after Citroen had done some 3 months previous (and wiped out my AMEx gold card), it took 1.5 hours of fiddling and generally shouting abuse under the bonnet. Kept getting me bulbs from Citroen and kept changing them every 3 or 4 months, eventually twigged that maybe I'll try somewhere else, so off to Halfords spent £15 I think for two bulbs two years ago and ain't had a prob since.

 

So, you can do it, fiddly yes, but worth the effort (if your wife or girlfriend has small enough hands, give em a training course !!)

 

:o

[neilmur]

the nearside is easier. take out the battery and theres no probs.

 

Yes but The connector does not want to come off. Do I pull it/slide it or what? After I prise the copper spring to release the bulb housing what then?

[iannez]

it pulls straight off but is realy tight and best if the bulb clip is on. be carefull with the clip. if you go to rough you can pull it off and it drops into the headlamp and you will need to remove the bumper to get the headlamp out to refit it.

[neilmur]

it pulls straight off but is realy tight and best if the bulb clip is on. be carefull with the clip. if you go to rough you can pull it off and it drops into the headlamp and you will need to remove the bumper to get the headlamp out to refit it.

I saw that coming with the clip so I looped a thread round it and tied that to the battery cable so I would not lose it - I've fixed things before!! The plug would not come off so I removed the clip (with thread attached) with long nosed snips then the plug would come off. I went to Hallfords for a replacement and found that they will replace the bulb for £4.99 which, If I'd known that first I would have given them the grief. When it comes to the other side with these fluid conainers in the way I will definately get them to do it.

 

Another point for those doing this for the first time like me who doesn't do cars but refuses to pay a garage to change a lightbulb. When you put the battery back in (the right way round) (I take digital photos of things like this before I take it apart so that I get it back ok) the starter key symbol shows which means that the imobiliser is activated - the engine turns but won't start - I panicked at first but soon learned that if you give it a while the electronics reboot and all is well (after turning the ignition key a couple of times) but you have to reset the clock and the radio.

 

So job done and my learning curve has leveled out :)