headlight bulb.
headlight bulb.
Author
Discussion

seeby

Original Poster:

1,807 posts

193 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
My nearside h/l bulb has blown. Ive checked the inner wing for a secret panel to enable access to the headlight ,but nothing there. Do I have to remove the cowling around the light (if so how without breaking it or scratching it). or is there a way in through the grille ?

ChimpOnGas

9,637 posts

202 months

Monday 12th December 2016
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Take the wheel off as this makes things soooo much easier, look carefully on the inner wheel arch in the area immediatly behind the headlight unit and you will find the removable panel, it's all black so can be tricky to spot, but it's there for sure yes

It's held in with three self tapping screws and a load of silicone sealant (very TVR), remove the screws and peel away the panel, this will allow you to access the H4 bulb.

This link will help...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=145...

As will this photo...



Changing the bulb is not that tricky but TVR definitely could have made it easier, switching to LED bulbs makes this job a thing of the past as they virtually last forever.

Good luck with it thumbup

AREA

497 posts

248 months

Monday 12th December 2016
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There are some that don't have the access panel I'm afraid. Mine being a case in point. What you then have to do is get your arms through the air intakes (including the small one below the indicator) and with much cursing, cuts, blood, scars get to the back of the light bowl. I think I also had to loosen the radiator mounting bolts as well.

However, this is at your own risk! As my forearm swelled up I did get very close to having to saw my arm out (cutting bodywork, not my arm!).


bobfather

11,194 posts

278 months

Monday 12th December 2016
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Early cars didn't have the wheelarch access panel. Access for those is via the 'mouth' at the front of the car

2OOM

374 posts

307 months

Monday 12th December 2016
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If that is your car in your profile pic? you need to remove the grill and you can reach inside to change the blown bulb .. it might be worth changing the other one as well while the grill is out as it can be a pain getting the grill back into the rubber .. I found it easiest to try and slide the grill sideways into the rubber and then use a screwdriver to work the rest of the rubber back over the grill .. smile

nick_mcuk

489 posts

223 months

Monday 12th December 2016
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bobfather said:
Early cars didn't have the wheelarch access panel. Access for those is via the 'mouth' at the front of the car
Yeah tell me about it! Took me 40 mins of lying on my back in the garage upto my shoulder trying to fir new sidelight bulbs on my 95 Chimaera.....then another 20 mins trying to get the bloody grill back in! smile

phillpot

17,456 posts

206 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
nick_mcuk said:
Yeah tell me about it! Took me 40 mins of lying on my back in the garage upto my shoulder trying to fir new sidelight bulbs on my 95 Chimaera.....then another 20 mins trying to get the bloody grill back in! smile
Cut some access holes scratchchin



My old '96 Chimaera had the holes but the covers were tatty/poor fit. Made some new ones from black plastic cut from an empty (obviously) 25 litre oil drum.

s p a c e m a n

11,630 posts

171 months

Monday 12th December 2016
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Someone made some that looked good out of caravan parts....

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111179610912

They used these i think. Cut a hole to fix them in place and then you can just unscrew the hatch whenever you want in there. 100x better than the tvr bodge up.



Edited by s p a c e m a n on Monday 12th December 21:00

Bassfiendnoideawhathp

5,530 posts

273 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
nick_mcuk said:
bobfather said:
Early cars didn't have the wheelarch access panel. Access for those is via the 'mouth' at the front of the car
Yeah tell me about it! Took me 40 mins of lying on my back in the garage upto my shoulder trying to fir new sidelight bulbs on my 95 Chimaera.....then another 20 mins trying to get the bloody grill back in! smile
Absolutely ... same here ... it was one of the 'man math' reasons that I went for the Truck Lites when I had the Mk3 conversion then I never have to change the bloody bulbs again. biggrin

Phil

Steve_D

13,801 posts

281 months

Monday 12th December 2016
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s p a c e m a n said:
Someone made some that looked good out of caravan parts..........
That would be me. They were sold as sailing dinghy access hatches. Do the job nicely.

Steve

Discopotatoes

4,101 posts

244 months

Monday 12th December 2016
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Steve_D said:
s p a c e m a n said:
Someone made some that looked good out of caravan parts..........
That would be me. They were sold as sailing dinghy access hatches. Do the job nicely.

Steve
what size did you fit?

seeby

Original Poster:

1,807 posts

193 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the info chaps . I will change the bulbs for LED while Im at it . I think I will have to go through the grille as Im sure there are no inspection holes in my inner wings . I find the grille quite easy to take out and replace smileI use half a wooden clothes peg to tease the rubber out when replacing ,which also saves scratches. I am planning on this Saturday which will be much more enjoyable than Chrimbo shopping !!

Steve_D

13,801 posts

281 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
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