S3 front indicator bulb

[Chris71]

Hi,

Where can I get a front indicator bulb for an S3 and what's involved in changing them?

Just got my car back from having the faulty gauges sorted out and now I have a dead indicator on the front right. It's never simple is it!

Chris

[drivingfroggy]

They are just bog standard parallel pin bulbs available from just about any motor store, like halfords. Unless have smoked covers, for that I use Silvatec ones.

[Chris71]

drivingfroggy said:

They are just bog standard parallel pin bulbs available from just about any motor store, like halfords. Unless have smoked covers, for that I use Silvatec ones.

Cool, presume it's just a couple of screws or something to get into it?

And at the risk of sounding like a simpleton, if I just ask for a paralell pin indicator bulb will that be addequate or do I need to know wattages or connection types?

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 23 February 19:11

[Sweet Thunder]

Chris71 said:

drivingfroggy said:

They are just bog standard parallel pin bulbs available from just about any motor store, like halfords. Unless have smoked covers, for that I use Silvatec ones.

Cool, presume it's just a couple of screws or something to get into it?

And at the risk of sounding like a simpleton, if I just ask for a paralell pin indicator bulb will that be addequate or do I need to know wattages or connection types?

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 23 February 19:11

The indicator is held on with two screws at the front. Take the indicator out and turn the bulb holder anti-clockwise, take out bulb, ask friendly man at motor factors for a 'P21W bulb', screw everything back together and go for a long test drive.

PS: the test drive is the important bit!

[Chris71]

Damn it! Just had to go down to the garage (OH wanted to know if her Baritone Sax fitted in the boot and good news to any horn players, it does) and thought I'd do a spot of diagnostics while I was there.

The bulb is fine - works happily on the other side. It's the wiring.

The irony is it went in to the garage largely to fix the issues generated by the last auto electrician who touched it. I know it's only an indicator, but it's a real annoyance when you've paid over £300 for some minor electrical work and it comes back with an electrical issue.

Checked to see if there were any obvious missing connectors and waggled a few wires, but I think it has to go back.

[jimed]

Have a look at the thread re indicator bulbs on here at the moment Chris - it may well be one of the connectors round the hinges for the bonnet and nothing to do with the electrician - and if it is its easy to fix.
Jim

[drivingfroggy]

One of my bulbs was a bit iffy at one point. It was caused by corrosion in the bulb holder. A little bit of emery cloth sorted it out easy.

[Chris71]

Don't know which one solved it, but I emery'd the bulb holder and waggled a few wires and now it works again! I feel a completely disproportionate sense of achievement for that.

Also treated it to some new HT leads this evening - despite the fact that a well known TVR Parts supplier had got the order wrong and sent me a V8 kit! Runs noticeably smoother now - no real increase in power, but audibly smoother and more driveable when you're on/off the throttle or at part load. Couldn't help going for an extended test drive after that...

So, all in all pretty chuffed with this evening. Also have it loaded up for the 'off tomorrow!

Edited by Chris71 on Thursday 26th February 23:06