Replacing bulbs!
Discussion
I got a message on my Saab's SID today saying "Front light failure. I checked and the front left bulb was gone.
Got the spare bulb out of the kit and started to fit it. Never done it on this model (9-5), but changing bulbs are easy, right?
f
k me! It was like something out of the Krypton Factor. Had to remove the battery cover to make access easier -still fairly tight though! That was the simple part, as was unscrewing the cap to access the bulb.
What then followed was 20 minutes of swearing, scraped knuckles and frustration as I tried to move the retaining clip that held the bulb in place
Once I managed to remove this the bulb decided that it was going to be a arse and wouldn't slip away from the connector.
After eventually wiggling this out, I then swore a bit more as the new bulb wouldn't screw in properly and slipped out falling in to the depths of the engine bay.
It had now started to rain.
I managed to find the bulb and get it fitted eventually, and then had the task of fitting the retaining clip. I faffed about a bit more and realised that the wires from the bulb were in the way, which explained why the clip was being such a bd.
At this point, it was raining quite heavily and my level of swearing was at the level of a pissed sailor. I eventually managed to fit the retaining clip, even though one wire wouldn't move out of the way! The clip bent a bit. fks sake!
So over half-an -hour of frustration, swearing and getting soaked to fit something that most people - and me in the past - have done in about 5 minutes.
Should I hand in my PH card, or have others been in the same boat?
Got the spare bulb out of the kit and started to fit it. Never done it on this model (9-5), but changing bulbs are easy, right?
f
k me! It was like something out of the Krypton Factor. Had to remove the battery cover to make access easier -still fairly tight though! That was the simple part, as was unscrewing the cap to access the bulb.What then followed was 20 minutes of swearing, scraped knuckles and frustration as I tried to move the retaining clip that held the bulb in place
Once I managed to remove this the bulb decided that it was going to be a arse and wouldn't slip away from the connector. After eventually wiggling this out, I then swore a bit more as the new bulb wouldn't screw in properly and slipped out falling in to the depths of the engine bay.
It had now started to rain.I managed to find the bulb and get it fitted eventually, and then had the task of fitting the retaining clip. I faffed about a bit more and realised that the wires from the bulb were in the way, which explained why the clip was being such a b
d.At this point, it was raining quite heavily and my level of swearing was at the level of a pissed sailor. I eventually managed to fit the retaining clip, even though one wire wouldn't move out of the way! The clip bent a bit. f
ks sake! So over half-an -hour of frustration, swearing and getting soaked to fit something that most people - and me in the past - have done in about 5 minutes.
Should I hand in my PH card, or have others been in the same boat?
Edited by jogger1976 on Wednesday 26th August 21:10
Edited by jogger1976 on Wednesday 26th August 21:11
It's a bloody disgrace, a crime almost. Cars by law and safety must have lights. Bulbs don't often blow whilst at the dealership, hence people have to change bulbs themselves, unless they park up and call a breakdown vehicle to take car to dealership. Sounds ridiculous, but then we live in ridiculous times. Why can't they just facilitate even this simple task ?
It's getting worse as bonnet space decreases, and there's no thought by designers/makers for drivers to be able to change bulbs themselves. Years ago, I'd have argued that the offence should be that of not carrying spare bulbs ,not having a failed bulb, but these days, even simple little cars (I drive a Skoda Fabia ) can be a nightmare to change some bulbs. On mine, the passenger side head main/dip/indicator and side all require the removal of the battery sleeve, which means removal of the battery leads. Not a job I'd like to attempt at the roadside on a wet night, without at least an extra pair of hands to hold a torch. And there would be the safety aspect. No vehicle lights to rear to warn idiots that there's a parked car sitting at the side of the road. Once upon a time, you would find a nice gent in a car with a blue light to park behind you to protect you, but today- less chance of getting stopped for missing lights.
Uncle John said:
Same boat here, my Alfa is a nightmare. I can't even get my hands into the recess.
I admitted defeat and took it to Halfords where a 20 year old girl fitted it for me.
My man card is in tatters.
Jeez, going to Halfords is a bit rash. However, when trying to change the bulb on a Smart ForTwo, I did get my entire arm wedged into the front of the car and briefly contemplated how embarrassing it would be if I needed to call the fire brigade to free me.I admitted defeat and took it to Halfords where a 20 year old girl fitted it for me.
My man card is in tatters.
I'm another one who ended up giving up and going to Halfords.
Had to replace a dipped beam bulb on my Chrysler Delta. Handbook provided instructions but I just couldn't get the latch to unclip and after 20 minutes of faffing, gave up and drove to Halfords. In all fairness, the guy who fitted it said it was the most awkward one he had ever done! And tools were required, I think mainly because it had stuck or something.
Dreading another bulb blow!
Had to replace a dipped beam bulb on my Chrysler Delta. Handbook provided instructions but I just couldn't get the latch to unclip and after 20 minutes of faffing, gave up and drove to Halfords. In all fairness, the guy who fitted it said it was the most awkward one he had ever done! And tools were required, I think mainly because it had stuck or something.
Dreading another bulb blow!
FredClogs said:
Unless you've had to take the wheel off you're not even trying (see Renault Megane)
This! When I had mine I tried going in through the wheel arch and cut my hands to ribbons. I'm afraid to say that I too went to Halfords to get the 18 year old kid with tiny hands to do it..... Puddenchucker said:
mp3manager said:
30 minutes to change a bulb? I suppose that blows the myth, that Saab's are well engineered and designed, out the water.
Weren't 9-5s based on a GM (Vauxhall/Opel) platform?edit - Opps my bad. Thats the 9000. The 9-5 uses a Vectra-B floorpan I think
mp3manager said:
30 minutes to change a bulb? I suppose that blows the myth, that Saab's are well engineered and designed, out the water.
Could have been worse - changing the bulbs in my 2006 9-3 was even worse. Official method - remove front bumper, remove lights.. My approach - swear, remove several layers of skin, repaint parts of the engine bay blood red and replace both HIDs in only 3 hours.Typical GM design...
The MX-5 wasn't much better though - that starts with 'remove all wheel arch linings'.. Only took an hour to change main & dipped bulbs each side.
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