Hi,

My wife has driven the car to Asda this morning, so I now need to replace the left rear lights cluster.

Only the extrernal part is broken, so

1) can I replace only that part or do I need to replace the whole cluster?

2) I'm reasonably handy, so I expect to buy the part and change it myself. I've seen 3 nuts from within the boot, but I don't know then how to remove the remaining bulbs (those independent to the removable array)

3) I've seen the part new for £28 here: http://www.nicedeals.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=10664 . Is there anywhere I can get it cheaper?

Thanks for your help

Olio

Sorry I can't help you but I do love your opening sentence!

Hi,

My wife has driven the car to Asda this morning, so I now need to replace the left rear lights cluster.

It's almost like the inevitable happend . . .

This is one of the reasons I do not let my wife drive my car to Asda, Sainsburys or Tescos. (or anywhere really - that's why I bought her a Fabia)

It's almost like the inevitable happend . . .

It's almost as if you knew her!

Sorry I can't help you but I do love your opening sentence!

It's almost like the inevitable happend . . .

This is one of the reasons I do not let my wife drive my car to Asda, Sainsburys or Tescos. (or anywhere really - that's why I bought her a Fabia)

I know what you mean..Read mg sig

Have a search around for the towbar fitting instructions - part of the process of removing the bumper involves taking the light clusters off to get at a few of the bolts. I've done it, but can't remember the exact process, mostly I think because all the bolts to take the cluster off were very obvious once you take the boot lining away from around the cluster.

Will have a look at towbar fitting instruction, thx

You'll have to replace the whole cluster I'm afraid, luckily they are cheap enough from Skoda. I got a pair for my estate Scout for less than £80.

£28.00 sounds a bargain!

Its dead easy to replace... 15 minutes max.

1) Pull off the carpet / bootliner flaps inside the boot allowing access to the back of the lights.

2) Unplug the large electrical connector and tuck it out of the way.

3) Squeeze the two plastic lugs which releases the bulb holder from the back of the actual cluster.

4) Manipulate the bulb holder towards you away from the cluster, be careful as the bulbs can get caught as they pull out through their access holes.

5) Now the buld holder is removed your visibility improves! You should then see three silver threaded bolts that secure the cluster to the body of the car, one at the top, one down the side and one at the bottom. Unscrew the nuts (be careful not to drop them as you thread them off the end of the bolts).

6) The light cluster should then pull away from the car - there is a foam / rubber pad which seals any water / wind ingress. This may casue resistance when trying to remove the cluster but just push/pull a little harder and will come away easily enough.

7) Once it releases don't pull it away from the car too fast. There are two independantly wired 5W bulbs. These just pull out from the cluster but only become visiable once the cluster is released from the car slightly.

The hardest bit of the whole process is getting your spanner over the end of the threaded bolts, if you have small hands you'll have an advantage when it comes to turning them off the last few threads!

Hope this helps!

Thank you silver 1011.

I'll order the part tomorrow and hopefully will get to it this WE.

Isn't broken glass covered by your insurence? At least here in Germany it is common practice to have the socalled Teilkasko insurance pay for things like that.

Isn't broken glass covered by your insurence? At least here in Germany it is common practice to have the socalled Teilkasko insurance pay for things like that.

yes but the excess here would be considerably more than the cost of the new light cluster, also here we build up no-claims where you get discount on your insurance for not making a claim which can be more than 50% after 2 or 3 years without a claim so overall not worth claiming!

Isn't broken glass covered by your insurence? At least here in Germany it is common practice to have the socalled Teilkasko insurance pay for things like that.

As indicated above.

To provide a bit more explanation, in the UK there is excess on every car insurance contract. This is the amount the insurance will not cover, and is specified in the contract. it is often between 0 and £250. SO the first 0 to £250 on every claim is for me to pay anyway. Since the light cluster will cost me some spare time and about £40 with delivery... You do the maths.

Then there is the "claim" or the rather important counter part, the "no claims bonus". Every claim you make to your insurer (theft, damage, accident, etc...) is recorded.

When comes the time to renew your insurance, you will be given different quotes according to how many claims you have in the last 3 to 5 years.

Insurance companies provide a service called "protected no claims" to help keep your bonus even with the occasional misshap.

All done.

I've only broken 2 of the 3 plastic screws to remove the boot lining :/

I got the lights from http://www.nicedeals.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=10664

Took longer than planned to arrive, so only did last WE.

Thanks for your help everyone.