Front light removal
Discussion
Hi, Im trying to change the bulbs in the front lights, I dont know what they are called. They have the white and amber lights on the front bumper. Anyways, I cant seem to get them out. They dont pull forward and the screws dont seem like they are coming out .... Does anyone know of the proper way to remove them on a 97 and up Lotus ??? Thanks!
AL
AL
If you mean the front lights that contain the indicators in a pair, the screws are probably just turning. The covers should come off really easy. There's a guide for changing them for clear ones. Not helpful really, but you get the idea. Sounds like you'll need to drill the screw heads off. Then you can remove the covers and use pilars to unscrew the bit that's left.
www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/clearindicators.html
If you mean other lights, then post back which you mean.
kato
Lotus Esprit World
www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/clearindicators.html
If you mean other lights, then post back which you mean.
kato
Lotus Esprit World
bojangles said:
try to add some outward pressure as you turn.. flex the plastic but dont break it.. or get a long screwdriver under it as you turn.. just dont break the lens..
Unfortuantely, I have tried this ... the lens is already cracking from someone doing this, so I dont want to run the risk of breaking it as it will prob run me an arm and a leg to replace them. any other ideas ???
AL
V8TT said:
if the other lens is off you can see what you are up against.. is there a clip that is turning? or does it just screw into the plastic..?
It seems like it screws into some sort of rubber boot ...
AL
Anyone ??? How would I go about replacing the whole fixture ??? Bec its really bothering me I think Im going to take the bumper off if I have to. Any ideas ???
AL
Al,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if the other methods haven't worked and you can't drill it out, you're SOL.
You have to pull the bumper to get to the light fixture.
It's a real pain in the arse to pull the bumper. You have to remove the front lip spoiler, drop the undertrays, loosen the oil coolers so you can move them out of the way to get to the necessary bolts, remove the lower valance, and then access the bumper bolts from inside the front bonnet area. You'll have to loosen the abs accumulator and move it out of the way to access some of the bolts. Once all that's done you can remove the bumper cover and get to the light assembly in question.
I'm not sure but you may be able to remove the lower valance and bumper in one piece which would save some hassle and time. I took mine completely apart when I repainted the front end. Try contacting Guy Therien he can answer that question for you. guy.therien@intel.com
Here's another entertaining write up of this procedure from Geoff Moat of the Yahoo UK Esprit list:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/UKLotusEsprit/message/19578
Personally, if the lens was $100 or less, I would break the lens and replace it before I would take the front end apart again. I would imagine you would be looking at at least a full day to do this job, maybe longer unless you are really quick and have all the right tools.
Good luck,
Jim
95 S4s
>> Edited by JK1 on Thursday 8th April 02:02
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if the other methods haven't worked and you can't drill it out, you're SOL.
You have to pull the bumper to get to the light fixture. It's a real pain in the arse to pull the bumper. You have to remove the front lip spoiler, drop the undertrays, loosen the oil coolers so you can move them out of the way to get to the necessary bolts, remove the lower valance, and then access the bumper bolts from inside the front bonnet area. You'll have to loosen the abs accumulator and move it out of the way to access some of the bolts. Once all that's done you can remove the bumper cover and get to the light assembly in question.
I'm not sure but you may be able to remove the lower valance and bumper in one piece which would save some hassle and time. I took mine completely apart when I repainted the front end. Try contacting Guy Therien he can answer that question for you. guy.therien@intel.com
Here's another entertaining write up of this procedure from Geoff Moat of the Yahoo UK Esprit list:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/UKLotusEsprit/message/19578
Personally, if the lens was $100 or less, I would break the lens and replace it before I would take the front end apart again. I would imagine you would be looking at at least a full day to do this job, maybe longer unless you are really quick and have all the right tools.
Good luck,
Jim
95 S4s
>> Edited by JK1 on Thursday 8th April 02:02
Had to post this, it's a good laugh.
From Geoff Moat, UK Esprit list:
I had the pleasure of removing one from my S4 and I guess that the
S4s is broadly the same.
Begin by studying basic gynaecology and elementary contortionism.
Remove the skirt protection lip and oil cooler and radiator crap
guard panels
Remove the front skirt - there are nuts and bolts hidden all over
begining at the front of the wheel arches - all accesible from below.
There is also one at each front corner accessible through a hole in
the skirt.
Once all the bolts are undone, a bit of judicious manipulation should
free it from the bumper and the car.
Stop all bleeding, clean shredded hands, apply elastoplast as
required then continue.
Remove spare wheel and mouldy sandwiches etc. from inside bonnet
Remove ABS cover and brackets attached to inner wing and pull unit
back enough to allow access to bumper bolts.
Climb inside bonnet with suitable 10mm sockets and spanners and begin
to undo even more nuts and bolts - they run around the entire front
inner edge and the ones in the vicinity of the front corners provide
hours of harmless entertainment.
When the last one is out, grasp the bumper firmly, utter the magic
words "let go you F****** B******" and it should fall gently to the
ground.
Along the way light relief is provided by odd bits of trunking and
lighting cable plugs to undo.
Clean up, go to pub and win "hunchback of the week" prize.
Go to bed and have nightmare about putting it all back!
Geoff Moat
From Geoff Moat, UK Esprit list:
I had the pleasure of removing one from my S4 and I guess that the
S4s is broadly the same.
Begin by studying basic gynaecology and elementary contortionism.
Remove the skirt protection lip and oil cooler and radiator crap
guard panels
Remove the front skirt - there are nuts and bolts hidden all over
begining at the front of the wheel arches - all accesible from below.
There is also one at each front corner accessible through a hole in
the skirt.
Once all the bolts are undone, a bit of judicious manipulation should
free it from the bumper and the car.
Stop all bleeding, clean shredded hands, apply elastoplast as
required then continue.
Remove spare wheel and mouldy sandwiches etc. from inside bonnet
Remove ABS cover and brackets attached to inner wing and pull unit
back enough to allow access to bumper bolts.
Climb inside bonnet with suitable 10mm sockets and spanners and begin
to undo even more nuts and bolts - they run around the entire front
inner edge and the ones in the vicinity of the front corners provide
hours of harmless entertainment.
When the last one is out, grasp the bumper firmly, utter the magic
words "let go you F****** B******" and it should fall gently to the
ground.
Along the way light relief is provided by odd bits of trunking and
lighting cable plugs to undo.
Clean up, go to pub and win "hunchback of the week" prize.
Go to bed and have nightmare about putting it all back!
Geoff Moat
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