I have read somewhere on the forum (but now can not find it!) that changing some of the bulbs on the Yeti is somewhat complex and someone has stated that the manual suggests using a specialist for the job!

If this is true how can Skoda or any other manufacturer get away with it? Other countries in the EU mandate the carriage of spare bulbs but if it is beyond the capabilities of the average owner to change a bulb what is the point? Imagine a headlamp or indicator bulb failing on a long journey, say on a Saturday night and not being able to get it fixed until Monday at the earliest even thought you are carring a spare! If the police stop you in the EU with a failed bulb are you not forced to change it before continuing the journey??????? (Hence the rational for being forced to carry the bulbs)

Finally, if a Yeti is going to have to be taken to the dealer to get a bulb changed, will it be covered under the 3 year warrentee?

If bumpers and other trim needs to be removed, how long long is this going to take and cost!!

Im all for cars changing and getting better, but designers and manufactures need to remember real drivers/owners will be buying and running them - its all well and good to get the service intervals longer and therefore owners costs down but not if a blown bulb needs a trip to the dealer and significant labour costs!

Can someone please tell me I have the wrong end of the stick on this issue???

Edited 23 December, 200916 yr by Aberborthin

I agree with you but it is not only the Yeti but many new cars on the road today. I know that that jaguar headlamp bulbs are all but impossible to change without removing the battery and front valence and a load of other kit. It is not just specific manufacturers. All cars today have an amazing amount of kit underneath air-con etc, they try to keep it all as compact as possible. Mostly cars are so reliable today. Of course HID is another problem, if it goes off, it might not be the bulb but any number of other components and is not really a DIY job because the unit might have to be re programmed into the system with specialist equipment.

This is something really that the EU Motoring Consortium should be looking at. Its a bit like the spare wheel issue. Manufacturers seem to be following a trend not to have one fitted in the car as standard fit.

I have read somewhere on the forum (but now can not find it!) that changing some of the bulbs on the Yeti is somewhat complex and someone has stated that the manual suggests using a specialist for the job!

If this is true how can Skoda or any other manufacturer get away with it? Other countries in the EU mandate the carriage of spare bulbs but if it is beyond the capabilities of the average owner to change a bulb what is the point? Imagine a headlamp or indicator bulb failing on a long journey, say on a Saturday night and not being able to get it fixed until Monday at the earliest even thought you are carring a spare! If the police stop you in the EU with a failed bulb are you not forced to change it before continuing the journey??????? (Hence the rational for being forced to carry the bulbs)

Finally, if a Yeti is going to have to be taken to the dealer to get a bulb changed, will it be covered under the 3 year warrentee?

If bumpers and other trim needs to be removed, how long long is this going to take and cost!!

Im all for cars changing and getting better, but designers and manufactures need to remember real drivers/owners will be buying and running them - its all well and good to get the service intervals longer and therefore owners costs down but not if a blown bulb needs a trip to the dealer and significant labour costs!

Can someone please tell me I have the wrong end of the stick on this issue???

On my Yeti, all the bulbs seem to be accessible, Main beams, fog lights and parking lights in front are easy to reach behind big rubber covers. The rear lights have to be dismantled from the outside with the torx tool provided. The one thing I do not know is the boot (sleepy!) light, where I do not e´see any way to access it.

Engine version may make a diffeence?

I mentioned in the Farkle thread (link below) that the front indicator bulbs require 'specialist garage' input. From what I have seen the other bulbs are all accessible. I agree that in this day and age (and with the spare bulb carriage law in some countries) all the bulbs should be able to be changed by the non-specialist owner.

All that said, if that's the only bad point of the Yeti, I can live with that! :yes:

Farkle Thread Link: http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/146627-farkle/

areoferb.

Thanks for pointing me towards the thread where I first saw the issue of bulbs raised, Glad to hear that the problem seems to be restricted to the front indicators. (thanks Agerbundsen) However, JonA comments in the Farkle thread:

When it comes to the front indicators, I really don't get it.. The workshop manual shows an illustration of a cover with screws and a sealing ring/o-ring, but no such thing on my car... I took of the front bumper cover and the wheel arch liners to have a look at the Webasto heater, and when having removed those parts, the front headlamps are fully visible from all sides, and no cover with screws like in the illustration. I'm guessing that the factory think there will be no need to access the indicator bulbs as the "service opening" is moulded shut. To access the bulbs, you would have to cut out a part of the moulded headlight housing, and probably order the cover, o-ring and screws from the parts department.

If this is the case will all Yetis. arguably the cars are not fit for purpose - illegal to drive without indicators and no access to replace a bulb! I live an hours drive from a Skoda dealer a distance the law would not agree to me driving a car with faulty lights! (I live in mid Wales ) All well and good to regard this as a sole minor fault and if an indicator bulb never fails great, but to have your car in a dealer awaiting spare parts just for a change of bulb can not be acceptable - and I say this as a Skoda fan.

Any dealers out there with answers?

If this problem is confined to early models will they be modified by SUK?

As the Yeti has indicators in the door mirrors would these maybe be sufficicent to be road legal in the event of the front indicator failing?

As the Yeti has indicators in the door mirrors would these maybe be sufficicent to be road legal in the event of the front indicator failing?

If my bulb ever went, I'd just pretend I was driving a BMW, and not bother indicating at all....

If it IS just indicator lights then, with luck, no-one here will ever have to change one. My "old" Previa did nearly 200,000 miles with me (bought @74k , sold @258k), and I never had an indicator bulb fail.

Just avoid bulbs from Halfords, especially the stop/tail light bulbs, they are very badly made and a hard jolt when they are on can fuse the two elements together causing all sorts of problems.

If my bulb ever went, I'd just pretend I was driving a BMW, and not bother indicating at all....

It's the indicator bulbs that bother me. Not because they fail but because they lose their orange coloured paint.

I have had this happen quite regularly over the last few years.

tom

It's the indicator bulbs that bother me. Not because they fail but because they lose their orange coloured paint.

I have had this happen quite regularly over the last few years.

tom

??? The lens should be orange, not the bulb!!

If you have illegal clear lens covers and orange painted bulbs it is your own fault; of course the paint will burn off, the bulbs get hot!!!

There are lots of illegal replacement parts for sale in the UK; the Police cannot be bothered to deal with them most of the time. I knew of a local Freelander that drove around for 5 years using silver on black number plates without EVER being stopped.

??? The lens should be orange, not the bulb!!

If you have illegal clear lens covers and orange painted bulbs it is your own fault; of course the paint will burn off, the bulbs get hot!!!

There are lots of illegal replacement parts for sale in the UK; the Police cannot be bothered to deal with them most of the time. I knew of a local Freelander that drove around for 5 years using silver on black number plates without EVER being stopped.

My Fabia vRS had coloured bulbs as standard fit, as does the Yeti - and many cars these days, that's how you get an orange light through a clear lens.

May I once again respectfully refer you to the Farkle thread. Of course the idea of having to replace bulbs roadside if they fail gets a tad more complicated with the Xenons - slightly more than a 12V and earth wires connected to a bulb!

Edited 25 December, 200916 yr by aerofurb

My Fabia vRS had coloured bulbs as standard fit, as does the Yeti - and many cars these days, that's how you get an orange light through a clear lens.

May I once again respectfully refer you to the Farkle thread. Of course the idea of having to replace bulbs roadside if they fail gets a tad more complicated with the Xenons - slightly more than a 12V and earth wires connected to a bulb!

Sorry, it shows how unfashionable I am when it come to cars; I assumed that, although the outside of the lens was clear, there was a coloured section "in" the light fitting to give it colour.

Which leads me back to my other point; avoid cheaply made (but expensive!!) bulbs from Halfords. If the Skoda ones last well, get replacements from Skoda, if not, shop around.

(Why I hate Halfords)

1/ They wrecked my Renault when it was in for a service: they didnt do all the work they had been asked to do (and charged me for); and when I finally (AFTER 2 WEEKS!!) got it back in a road-worthy condition, the mpg had dropped from mid 30's to mid 20's). Got an appology but no refund or recompense for the tow truck I needed after their first attempt at servicing it( or was it the third attempt??).

2/ Dodgy (brand new) side light/stop bulbs, damaged the wiring loom in a VW Jetta that required £100's in repair bills; Got no appology and no refund or recompense.

3/ Failed to correctly fit brake pads to my new mountain bike, causing an accident the first time I used the brakes on leaving their store; Got no appology and no refund or recompense.

4/ Had one of their car batteries changed under warranty FIVE TIMES, each one failed to hold a charge after about 8 months of use.

5/ Expensive "50% brighter" headlight bulbs blew twice, neither set lasted 3 months and are NOT CHEAP (nearly £20 a set).

I now have a "Tesla 50% Brighter" set I bought at Lidl, they have been working faultlessly for over 2 years and cost £3.99!!

6/ I needed brake pads for my sons Skoda in a hurry, Halfords wanted nearly £60, but they would have to order them, so I ordered from JoRily......... £14.50

Why do I still use them?? they have managed to put every other car parts place within 30 minutes drive, out of business. (That's 30 minutes off peak, say an hour during a weekday); I order what I can online but have to suffer them for unplanned needs.

Edited 25 December, 200916 yr by GentleGiant

It's the indicator bulbs that bother me. Not because they fail but because they lose their orange coloured paint.

I have had this happen quite regularly over the last few years.

tom

My orange bulbs were main dealer supplied and fitted!

tom

So what is the answer? Can you change front indicator bulbs without taking the car to bits or not?

Any Skoda mechanics out there with an answer?

Do SUK read this site? If so could they comment?

Before I buy I will ask the salesman to show me how to change the bulb and if its not possible I guess I will keep te Octavia ..............

I have read somewhere on the forum (but now can not find it!) that changing some of the bulbs on the Yeti is somewhat complex and someone has stated that the manual suggests using a specialist for the job!

If this is true how can Skoda or any other manufacturer get away with it? Other countries in the EU mandate the carriage of spare bulbs but if it is beyond the capabilities of the average owner to change a bulb what is the point? Imagine a headlamp or indicator bulb failing on a long journey, say on a Saturday night and not being able to get it fixed until Monday at the earliest even thought you are carring a spare! If the police stop you in the EU with a failed bulb are you not forced to change it before continuing the journey??????? (Hence the rational for being forced to carry the bulbs)

Finally, if a Yeti is going to have to be taken to the dealer to get a bulb changed, will it be covered under the 3 year warrentee?

If bumpers and other trim needs to be removed, how long long is this going to take and cost!!

Im all for cars changing and getting better, but designers and manufactures need to remember real drivers/owners will be buying and running them - its all well and good to get the service intervals longer and therefore owners costs down but not if a blown bulb needs a trip to the dealer and significant labour costs!

Can someone please tell me I have the wrong end of the stick on this issue???

That's nothing the Honda Jazz requires the following to be done:

1. Bumper removed

2. Wheel arch liners removed

Only then can you get your hand behind the back of the headlamp unit to remove the bulb (Just!!!)

It took me two hours to change the damn bulbs......

All the best

Jerry

Before I buy I will ask the salesman to show me how to change the bulb and if its not possible I guess I will keep te Octavia ..............

It hasn't been the weather recently to peer behind the front wheel arch liner to see about changing front indicator bulbs (which appear to be the only difficult one). I presume that's not really the deal clincher.... :no:

Gents,

Please do not get me wrong - I am a great fan of Skoda and the Yeti. I guess I am just frustrated that the engineers are not thinking about (or being allowed to think about) the owners, especially those who want to keep their cars past the 3 year point. From what others have stated it seems that Honda and Jaguar are as bad but that is no excuse....................

Members of this forum have a passion for their cars and on the whole do not seem to be the sort to accept poor design and what could be a deal of inconveniance should a bulb fail - one small issue such as this does not make the Yeti a bad car but as with everything it can be improved and prehaps we as Skoda fans should ensure that feed back is given so that Skoda can prehaps make some alterations to make this bulb change simpler.

Appologies if I have seemed to be running down the Yeti and by association the new proud owners - the Yeti is still the only car out there that is able to make me change from my faithful Octavia......................

PS Did concider the Xtrail before the Yeti came out but have you seen the problems this car has according to the forums!!!!

I do not think that your running down the Yeti, your just voicing a few genuine concerns. I wonder if any manufacturer considers owner maintenance after their legal responsibility has passed. From what I have read, their are an increasing number of cars around to day that make routine maintenance awkward to say the least. I have one here now. Quite a few cars have very elaborate procedures for changing simple bulbs, requiring removal of various large pieces of body work. Certainly one can not think of a bulb change as a side of the road 2 minute job anymore. The only maintenance jobs that will be easy to do in the future, will be toping up the oil and screen washer bottles. I doubt that their would be enough room on many modern vehicles to squeeze even the tiniest fingers into miniscule recesses as they have all been taken up and squeezed by the increasing amount of required equipment.

I guess that 10 years or more down the line, some umpteenth hand owner, might resort to the angle grinder, to cut access holes in the front wings and use a hinged opening to replace bulbs. All the little fastenings will have corroded up by then making removal of valences and front bumpers very tedious. Future cars will have vehicle lifetime all LED bulbs, for marker and indicator lights. It may be that headlamps too will be LED before very long just like the Audi R8. In the US off road scene now, LED auxiliary driving lights are beginning to flood the aftermarket shelves. They give very superior light even when compared to HID equivalents. Cars will need less and less involvement from a routine maintenance point of view.

It hasn't been the weather recently to peer behind the front wheel arch liner to see about changing front indicator bulbs (which appear to be the only difficult one). I presume that's not really the deal clincher.... :no:

That's where I fear that you may be making a mistake ;-) Look in the manual and see if it is described if not then I'm guessing it isn't a trivial job. It doesn't mean though that it is impossible though....

Jerry

That's where I fear that you may be making a mistake ;-) Look in the manual and see if it is described if not then I'm guessing it isn't a trivial job. It doesn't mean though that it is impossible though....

Jerry

Manual has been read as I have mentioned before with 'speacialist garage' input stated for the front indicator bulbs. I'm just curious as I was going to change the orange bulbs for silvered ones (cross refer Farkle thread).

I remember Fifth Gear doing a survey on bulb replacement on a couple of cars - one was a Renault. Renault dealer quoted £200+ to change a headlight bulb if I remember correctly. I think it is appalling that bulbs are not easily accessible and require 'speacialist' input - poor design and nothing less. That said, Skoda are no different in this respect to the vast majority of car manufacturers.

One of the side lamp bulbs failed on my Xenon-equipped Fabia vRS and I left it to Allams to change at MOT time which I think necessitated removing the headlamp to access it. As an aircraft engineer by trade, I'm well used to trying to replace components in areas of restricted access but nothing compares to light bulbs on cars as far as inaccessibility is concerned!

From the swedish Car magazine "Vi Bilägare"

Google translation

replace a broken light bulb

Nice that they include the Yeti in there.

tom

I had a peek inside the wheel arch liner today whilst removing wheels to copper grease hubs and bolts. Changing front indicator bulbs on a Xenon-equipped Yeti? Nah! Nil access. Do what the book says, let someone else dismantle it..... :yes:

I changed the fog light bulbs today - not easy, but possible.

Access is OK, but getting the new bulbs to line up in the housing was a bitch. You can reach, but you cannot see what you are doing, as your fingers get in the way and the alignment of the flat part of the H7 bulb cannot be don by feel.

It took a mirror and a torch and some cussing to get it done.

Oh, and for those asking why I wanted a change? I had the Osram high power bulbs lying around, so why not get a little more light, now that it was available. the original bulbs were standard Philips. OK as spares, as it is unlikely they will ever be needed.