How NOT to change a 206 headlight bulb

[neildavies]

Right then, the missus came home and told me the passenger light was out, yesterday, so today, I got to work to change the bulb. So after half hour trying to get to the bulb (not much space and really awkward), I changed the bulb, then turned the lights on, still no light. Then I put main beam on, nothing on that side of the car. CRAP, I thought. So I got to work, pulled out every fuse, in and out of the car. All OK.

So then I came to the conclusion that the wiring must be going into the unit under the headlight. I then got to work getting the headlight out to look further. After an hour or so and a couple of broken clips, I got the car to this stage



Once I had the light out, I realised I'd removed this connector to gain access to the bulbs



This is the connector supplying power to the lights and all I'd needed to do after changing the bulb is to plug it back in!!

So now I have put the car back together and will buy some clips to replace the broken ones Monday, and also a touch up pen where I'd slightly chipped the paint to lever off the panel under the lights.

The moral, don't change headlight bulbs with a hangover.

[DaiRees]

Doh!!!

What are you like?

[neildavies]

Dai, hope you never have to do this on yours, an effing nightmare. Never Mind, I've learnt from a time consuming mistake.

[mjb]

They don't make it easy do they? I've just had to change my drivers side dipped headlamp after driving half the week without it (drive to work in the dark, park at work in a very dark place with too many traffic wardens to let me fix it outside the carpark, coolant pipe doesn't cool down quick enough to let me fix it before sunset). Bloody thing's near impossible to get at! Spent about 20 minutes trying to manouvre the new bulb in with a pair of pliars because my hand won't fit, and that's with the ECU cover off and the throttle cable tied up over the ECU

[neildavies]

Your right there, after reading about it, trying to find out how to gain access to the bulbs on the internet, I read that a Gold bulb will cost you £4 at a dealer, and £119 to fit, as the front bumper has to come off. Same with a Citroen Xsara. And these are consumable items.

I remember Halfords advertising charging £5 to change a headlight bulb. At the time, I thought what a rip off. But now I'd like to see someone pull up with a Golf, a ten pund note and tell them they need a new headlight bulb!

[Welly]

You Doughnut !!

.....a nice easy 2 minute job on the D9 though

[niz406]

NO COMMENT...... its already been said ! ! ! DOH ! !

[mjb]

Hmmmm 32 days later my other headlamp bulb goes. What a coincidence! At least this one was a lot easier to get in...