Bulb Replacement

[nic]

Does anyone know how to replace the dipped headlight bulb (H7) on the C3. The manual says that there is a retaing spring but i can't see or feel one anywhere! :blink:

[simonph]

hi,

the spring is an absolute nightmare to get on and off.. when i finally managed it none of the headlights would work and i had to take it to the garage where they charged me £23 for reconnecting them.

hmmm.. whats that word for people born out of wedlock??

[nic]

hi,

the spring is an absolute nightmare to get on and off.. when i finally managed it none of the headlights would work and i had to take it to the garage where they charged me £23 for reconnecting them.

hmmm.. whats that word for people born out of wedlock??

Cheers for that. They've basically got me by the short and curlies then!!! :unsure:

[kfk]

Cheers for that. They've basically got me by the short and curlies then!!! :unsure:

 

Not at all......i often get customers come in complaining they have spent 'hours' trying to change a bulb. I've had customers ask if i will show them how to do it, and have customers complain that we levy a charge for a bulb replacement....usually fitting a bulb they bought at halfords i might add.

 

Quite simply, fitting a bulb doesnt require any special tools it just requires patience and a flexible hand.....some of my technicians have problems, probably because they've got sausages for fingers but the longest they will take is 20 minutes.

 

If your replacing the n/s bulb removing the battery assists quite a lot......oh, and make sure you replace the cover properly over the bulb otherwise you will have a condensation problem.

 

Had a customer come intoday needed a bulb fitting.......she had a few words about the bill, i didnt feel guilty she works for the bank!

[toblerone]

My dealer always offers to fit the bulb free of charge (I always purchase the bulb from parts dept).

[nic]

Still can't get the bulbs out.(dipped headlight H7)

removed both covers, unclipped the connectors but can't remove the bulbs.

Do they twist out ? Clowise or anti clockwise ? They just wont budge.

Any help would be appreciated before the sledge hammer comes out on it!! :o

[raveydavey]

Having sausage fingers myself :D I just get the garage to do it.

I did have a look when the N/S bulb went but could barely get my hand it, let along take the bulb out!

 

N/S bulb was replaced at a main dealer who charged me £18.50+vat for the bulb, but nothing for fitting - which would have been fair enough if the headlight hadn't filled with condensation two days later when it rained...a trip back to them got it sorted (they replaced the headlight)

 

The O/S bulb was fitted by an independent who'd only serviced the car 3 weeks earlier (why do bulbs almost always go after the car has been in the garage???) who fitted a bulb whilst I waited and charged me a very reasonable £10 all in. It would have cost about that for the bulb from Halfords.

[Guest GarthyB]

Having sausage fingers myself :D I just get the garage to do it.

I did have a look when the N/S bulb went but could barely get my hand it, let along take the bulb out!

 

N/S bulb was replaced at a main dealer who charged me £18.50+vat for the bulb, but nothing for fitting - which would have been fair enough if the headlight hadn't filled with condensation two days later when it rained...a trip back to them got it sorted (they replaced the headlight)

 

The O/S bulb was fitted by an independent who'd only serviced the car 3 weeks earlier (why do bulbs almost always go after the car has been in the garage???) who fitted a bulb whilst I waited and charged me a very reasonable £10 all in. It would have cost about that for the bulb from Halfords.

 

Ah, yes changing the bulbs! :)

 

I have hands like shovels, but the manual dexterity of a japanese schoolboy...15 years as an Aircraft Technician to thank for that! And I have changed the headlight bulbs myself. Applause from the audience...woopdee doo from the less impressed. :)

 

As mentioned the O/S is fairly easy....the little problem is the N/S bulbs! You can't easily press the release springs for the bulb because they're made by the devil himself...Photo to follow....

 

Once I have the photo on here you'll be able to visualise the spring design in your head, when you're working blind! You could just use a small mirror instead to see whats what, although you won't be able to hold the mirror and access the bulb, due to the lack of room.

 

And yes, not placing the access panel correctly will give you condensation in the headlight. Too much moisture in the light will probably cause the load levelling motor to fail <_< , and then you'll glare everyone and they'll flash at you, and you may get very annoyed....possibly.

 

A DIY replacement of the headlight is a front bumper off job... and leads me to why I have a headlight I can take a photo of. Two of the bolts that hold the light in place are behind the bumper.... nice job 'designers voiture francais!'

 

So to conclude...await a photo...all will become clear and brightly illuminated once again.

[Guest Andrew]

There's a reason I took out and put back every bulb I could get to soon after getting the car. :D

 

That doesn't include the front fog lamps of course. You have to take the engine out to get at them. (Well it looks like it anyway)

 

It might help to use a mirror so you can see the rear of the headlamps?

[Gordo]

I assume by the dates on these postings that you have solved this issue :D . I have replaced 3 nearside and 2 offside bulbs on my C3 :angry: .

The best advise for the nearside is to remove the covers for the battery and fusebox, take the rear cover off to allow you access to the bulbs and then go to the offside, take the cover off this and familiarise yourself (with the benefit of the extra space afforded) with the retaining clip and it's removal and re-fitting.

The first time I did the nearside, I cursed the designer with every drop of sweat and spilled blood (there was a lovely sharp edge on the inner wing edge that cuts the arm like a razor - so beware). It took me nearly 45 minutes to get the old bulb out and the new one back in and connected. In the process I ended up dislodging the wire clip that holds the rear cover on (another nightmare finding the holes for that!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Now I know where the problems are, I can do a neaside in under 20 minutes from start to finish and the offside in minutes.

It just takes a little practise and patience in dealing with the bulb retaining clip.

 

Good luck

[bompy]

I assume by the dates on these postings that you have solved this issue :blink: . I have replaced 3 nearside and 2 offside bulbs on my C3 :angry: .

The best advise for the nearside is to remove the covers for the battery and fusebox, take the rear cover off to allow you access to the bulbs and then go to the offside, take the cover off this and familiarise yourself (with the benefit of the extra space afforded) with the retaining clip and it's removal and re-fitting.

The first time I did the nearside, I cursed the designer with every drop of sweat and spilled blood (there was a lovely sharp edge on the inner wing edge that cuts the arm like a razor - so beware). It took me nearly 45 minutes to get the old bulb out and the new one back in and connected. In the process I ended up dislodging the wire clip that holds the rear cover on (another nightmare finding the holes for that!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Now I know where the problems are, I can do a neaside in under 20 minutes from start to finish and the offside in minutes.

It just takes a little practise and patience in dealing with the bulb retaining clip.

 

Good luck

[bompy]

I had all these problems , drove me crazy. In the end I got a small plastic mirror and a good small torch. I was then able to identify the clips. Practiseing working in mirror image now enables me to change the bulbs in 5mins or so. I still cut my hands on sharp pastic flashes when frustration takes over.

[Hook]

Having sausage fingers myself :angry: I just get the garage to do it.

I did have a look when the N/S bulb went but could barely get my hand it, let along take the bulb out!

 

N/S bulb was replaced at a main dealer who charged me £18.50+vat for the bulb, but nothing for fitting - which would have been fair enough if the headlight hadn't filled with condensation two days later when it rained...a trip back to them got it sorted (they replaced the headlight)

 

The O/S bulb was fitted by an independent who'd only serviced the car 3 weeks earlier (why do bulbs almost always go after the car has been in the garage???) who fitted a bulb whilst I waited and charged me a very reasonable £10 all in. It would have cost about that for the bulb from Halfords.

 

I wonder where they get their prices from?

Took mine to our local Main dealer today for a n/s dip bulb as, in pouring rain, I didn't fancy doing it myself. It took 20 minutes, they apologised for taking so long!! The total price was £11.00+vat and I got free coffee in a nice warm showroom while the job was done. After I mentioned the horror stories I'd heard about water ingress, the service manager went out himself to check that the job had been done properly before handing the car back.

Credit where credit is due, I say. They impressed me this afternoon.

[fishears]

The n/s bulbs are frustrating but surely this is a job we should all figure out how to do. What if your bulb goes while you're driving at night somewhere remote? Better to get familiar with it as soon as you can - unless you want to wait for the RAC/AA in that situation.

 

The hardest bit for me is pressing on the dipped bulb spring to get it off (and back on) - I have grooves in my fingertips for about an hour after.... plus the usual scrapes to the back of my hand

[Hook]

The n/s bulbs are frustrating but surely this is a job we should all figure out how to do. What if your bulb goes while you're driving at night somewhere remote? Better to get familiar with it as soon as you can - unless you want to wait for the RAC/AA in that situation.

 

The hardest bit for me is pressing on the dipped bulb spring to get it off (and back on) - I have grooves in my fingertips for about an hour after.... plus the usual scrapes to the back of my hand

Actually this is the first time in 40 years of motoring I've ever got someone else to change a bulb! However, I do accept your point. Had it not been hosing down from the heavens and I didn't have a 300 mile round trip to do later that night, I'd have done it myself.

Miles from anywhere in the middle of the night, I'd limp home on one dip and a sidelight, using the front fogs if I had to, (mines an SX with fogs), changing the damn thing the next day, (Unless it was hosing down etc. etc.).I wouldn't bother the RAC/AA for a bulb. :rolleyes: