When I started up the other day, the bulb blown light came on on the dash, got out and found that the drivers side side light was out, switched off and restarted and the light was OK this has happened 3 or 4 times over the last 2 days, I have never changed or disturbed the side lights so any ideas???

Its worth checking the connectors to the W5W bulbs to make sure they are secure and that the contacts are clean. You can apply dielectric grease to them if necessary. Also check the loom connection onto the back of the light fitting for the same reasons. The bulb failure system switches off a suspect bulb after a few seconds.

Its worth checking the connectors to the W5W bulbs to make sure they are secure and that the contacts are clean. You can apply dielectric grease to them if necessary. Also check the loom connection onto the back of the light fitting for the same reasons. The bulb failure system switches off a suspect bulb after a few seconds.

If I need to change one are they the bayonet type that you just push in, or push and turn:confused:

Just the push in w5w/501 type

Are they easy to remove, i know the headlight has to come out and remove the back cover

Best bet is to remove the whole fitting as you say.

The bulb sits in a plastic socket that in turn clips into a housing, its a pig to remove as there are (IIRC) tabs at each side, needle nose pliers are the best way to do it.

I had the same problem a few months ago. In the end the side light bulb failed completley and I changed it. The handbook shows you how to remove the headlight unit complete and change the bulb.

This keeps happening to me. Again, not touched the bulbs. Will have to take them out and inspect tomorrrow.

Clearly a common problem because it's happening to me in relation to both bulbs - first the right one, then the left one, and neither bulb is blown!

I had a similar problem last year. A mechanic told me that if a filament is broken in a bulb it can weld itself together when the two parts touch. This lets the bulb light up for a short time until it parts again. Hence the On /Off warning light. The solution is to change the bulb.

Cheers

Hmm - I'm not convinced - it's happened with both the bulbs in my car. Surely this "spot welding" thing is fairly rare?