The other day I flashed me headlights at a bloke to let him come past a parked car and he pointed down at my lights. So, obviously, I checked them.

The N/S main beam was out - fuse was OK so I nipped off and bought two Halfords 30% brighter jobbies (I know, I know ... going to order some Philips V+ soon ...) and chucked them in.

And ... the N/S main beam was still out - until I touched the fuse box again, when it popped back on.

Removing fuse 18 I can see that one of the two metal clips that receive the fuse has been pushed back into the holder at some point in it's past. I can't for the life of me pull it back through.

At work today my first try was to undo the two screws holding the fuse board in place, hoping to get to the back of it that way. As anyone who's played around in there will know, there wasn't a chance.

So, I took off all the screws I could see holding the lower dash panel in place but it still won't come off. It's like it's still attached just to the right of the steering wheel somewhere at the top. I tried taking the instrument surround off to see if there was another screw at the top there but failed dismally in that too - it was attached too well at it's base and I don't fancy breaking it.

Technically I'm under a used warranty but somehow I don't think this will be covered so I need to get that lower dashboard panel off so that I can open up the rear of the fuse box and push the pin back into place.

Any hints (or links to step-by-step piccies) would be appreciated

I seem to recall Big K getting at the back of mine from inside the engine compartment having removed the wiper blades then the plastic trim panel at the back of the engine bay.

PS Just remembered Foxy's excellent illustrated guide to fitting cruise control here. Although it refers to a Golf MkIV it should have all the info you need.

Mmmm. 7 Torx screws eh? I think I removed errm ... 5? The Octy has a slightly different design underpanel to the Golf (also looked at a Leon at work today) so I'd guess it's a little different to remove.

One site I've found mentions (but only mentions) a screw behind the light switch but doesn't give any hints on removing said switch without breaking anything ...

EDIT: Thinking out loud which screws I removed. There was the two holding the fuse board in place, two for the dash panel in there too, one under the steering wheel and two under the lower edge of the panel's cubby hole (the bit with the ODB-II connector) plus two plastic clips down there.

So that is indeed only 5 screws for the panel itself ... are there really two more somewhere near the top?

Do these pictures help at all? There isn't much detail about screws etc., but it might help with the general location of the fuse panel. IIRC, Big K removed the dashboard component below the steering wheel, and this freed up the fuse panel.

I think the light switch just unclips (the trick is knowing where the clips are!) and comes out as a complete unit - it's a cylinder about three times as long as it's wide.

I found it difficult to get the light swich out without marking the dash just try not to pry too hard but i think that if you put your hand through the gap where the fuse box was and push on the back of the switch whilst trying to release the locking catches which should be top and bottom of main light switch and top and bottom of headlight aim section then it should come out ok

OOoohhhh.... kind of useful piccies aye.

This one is probably most useful. I've highlighted the place that it FELT like it was still attached with the red ring (I guess it isn't - nothing there really) but there IS what looks like a screw point in the yellow circle.

Hard to tell but that might be behind the light switch. Either way, it's not hard to check once the fuse board is detached. Thanks guys

EDIT: If I remember I'll take me camera to work tomorrow when we dismantle and take pictures of where all the screws are, seeing as there seems to be no specific "taking the lower dash off" guide anywhere

There is a torx screw behind the light switch.

As previously said, remove the two torx screws holding the fuse box in place, get your hand in there and pull the connectors off the back of the two light control switches and push them out. That will reveal the hidden torx screw (as seen in your picture). Or remove the rest of the torx screws and put your hand up from underneath the lower dash panel to remove the switch connectors and then push out the light switches.

I've had it all out whilst fitting my intercooler water spray kit, which I must say works rather well

Andy

You pull the light switch out to get at the last screw.It is top left of the hole left when the light switch is removed.

Not sure if this is any use to you guys but its helpfull for the leon

http://www.icecavern.com/howtos/leonlowerdashtrim/main.htm

You pull the light switch out to get at the last screw.It is top left of the hole left when the light switch is removed.

The knack to the light switch is to:

Have it in the "off" position

Push and hold it in

Whilst still held in, turn towards the "sidelights" position

Gently pull the switch assembly out

Clich the switch back to "off" (will then pop out)

HTH

That would've helped a lot Si, if I had access to the forums from work

Still, I managed to get everything off and dismantled, popped the pin back into place in the fusebox and reassembled everything. That underpiece (fits around the pedals) is an awkward bugger isn't it ... had to get right in there to make it fit right.

Also ended up with a piece left and I wasn't sure where it was from .. about two inches by four inches piece of black plastic. Spent ages trying to work out where it had come from because it had fallen down when the dash came off.

Finally realised it was a cover for the ODB-II socket (I think...it fits at least) so popped it on there. Lord knows if that's really where it's from ... the connector was uncovered when I bought it

Happy chappy now, lights all working again. Ordered the Vision Plus bulbs today from PowerBulbs (I assume the sidelights they send actually fit Octavias ...) which should be very nice to use ...

That would've helped a lot Si, if I had access to the forums from work

I usually suffer at the hands a power-crazed firewall admin as well :(. I posted my response today from home.

Finally realised it was a cover for the ODB-II socket (I think...it fits at least) so popped it on there. Lord knows if that's really where it's from ... the connector was uncovered when I bought it

Again' date=' I share your "problem" - the cover (if that is indeed what it is) seems very loose :confused:

(I assume the sidelights they send actually fit Octavias ...) which should be very nice to use ...

Finally some good news ... YES THEY DO!

Finally some good news ... YES THEY DO!

[MrBurns]Excelent ...[/MrBurns]

Mutter, grumble, no sign of bulbs yet ... powerbulbs.com must be slacking on me ...