I want to fit my Osram NightBreakers to my Yeti and I just can't get my hands in to do it.

I've removed the top bar with its 4 star head screws but there seem to be other fixings I can't see.

Anybody removed a headlamp unit and can explain how?

(I have done a search but not found this information.)

Thanks

It is possible to get inside the headlamp units but small hands are an advantage. I suggest you invest in some surgical tweezers or artery clamps to hold the bulb. Line up the bulb through the front glass and when it is in position the clip will fit back OK.

Fred,

to get the light unit out will probably mean taking half the car apart.

Have you done the driver's side? If so remember how the bulb went in and use a mirror to check everything is right and to get the spring clip back on.

Also if you take the light out you will need to get it readjusted.

...............and Fred, if you use a mirror, tie a piece of string in it. If you drop it, you may need to remove the pan under the engine to retrieve it.

DAMHIKT

...............and Fred, if you use a mirror, tie a piece of string in it. If you drop it, you may need to remove the pan under the engine to retrieve it.

DAMHIKT

Thanks - good advice. Must tether my pliers.

I've got one of those snake cameras with a remote display. Works quite well although it can sometimes be difficult to tell which way up the camera head is unless there are visual cues. If it had variable focus it would be brilliant.

Hi

Thanks for your inputs.

Job done, Osram NightBreakers fitted.

First blood to the Yeti - had to remove the fuse cover on the passenger side to get my hand in and those terminal screws are cruel!

Wouldn't like to have to change lamps at the roadside.

Just didn't fancy taking the front of the car off to remove the lamp housing I'm afraid.

WELL DONE FRED :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

I must admit I've been startled to read this thread! With my 4 year-old Octavia, the headlamp units just slide forward after undoing one plastic nut and pulling a lever. It's great for changing bulbs or resetting the dip beams for driving in mainland Europe, and I'd hoped it was standard on other Skodas. Fred's description takes me back to my Mk 4 Golf where ther official way to remove a headlamp unit started by removing the front bumper! (You could struggle to fit your hands in between the headlamp and hoses, battery etc if your hands were slim enough).

Seems another good reason to specify Xenons rather than rely on uprating bulbs after purchase?

Chris

Well, the xenons are great, and although expensive initially and to replace, they are quite accessible.

I cahnged the fogs to Osram high output. Fiddly, but doable and an improvement.

Well, the xenons are great, and although expensive initially and to replace, they are quite accessible.

I cahnged the fogs to Osram high output. Fiddly, but doable and an improvement.

Unfortunately I just didn't have the budget to stretch to the Xenons, and given that most of our driving is in urban areas with street lighting I didn't think it necessary. I made my choices based on an Urban Yeti (illuminated broken up road surfaces with disintegrating traffic calming devices - hence the RRP to give the underside a bit of protection). Had we lived in a rural area I might have decided otherwise. It never occurred to me that the Yeti would be so much more difficult than the Octavia to change the bulbs on, or that the lights would be so inferior to those on the Octy. In the brochure they look more like projector lights.

Haven't tried to change the fog lights yet - going to let the scars heal first.

Have to agree with other positive comments re the Octavia 2 headlamps. Not only are they very good for halogens but an absolute dream to change the bulbs - an incredibly clever but simple mechanism.

Don't know about halogens on the Yeti since mine has the excellent Xenons but if they are anything like those on the Roomster then I can see why people would want to fit better bulbs.

It's reading threads like this that make me glad that I don't work for a certain well known breakdown organisation anymore.

Checking the oil is as far as I go now.

It's reading threads like this that make me glad that I don't work for a certain well known breakdown organisation anymore.

Checking the oil is as far as I go now.

I would like there to be an EU regulation that sets out standards of access, tools (simple e.g screwdriver, provided spanner,etc.), maximum times to fix, for all those parts of a car that the driver and/or breakdown organisations are supposed to be able to fix at the roadside, including all legally required bulbs. Any design not complying would not get type approval for the EU.

Too late for this generation of cars of course, but its no good saying changing a headlamp, sidelamp, tail lamp, or indicator bulb is a dealer job unless the dealer network operates a service 24/7 - and that isn't going to happen, not at a sensible cost anyway.

First blood to the Yeti but the scars have healed quickly.

It does make you wonder about the EU requirement to carry spare bulbs. If you can't change them easily when they blow, how does it help to have spares in the boot? And if you have to call out a breakdown crew or go to a dealer they should have spares anyway!

Chris

Bumper has to come off to remove the headlamp. Believe it or not the round lamp next to the main lamp on the front bumper is actually the same lamp.

Bumper has to come off to remove the headlamp. ...

Hi

That's why I abandoned the idea of removing the headlamp unit in order to change the bulbs and did with the units in-situ. A tad painful at times.

Anybody know what the front bumper weighs if you do decide to take it off?

Is it a 2 person job if you want to risk damaging it ?

The "bumper" is just a plastic cover which weighs maybe 5 kg.. Not a problem to remove. Having an extra pair of hands when fitting is nice, but not required.

Being serious, it is just not safe to work on cars at the side of any road other than a quiet country lane. Better to drive or be recovered to a place of safety first.