Hi,

The rear side lights on my Octavia 2 have started to play up. I initially thought the bulbs had gone but when I took them out to change the bulbs the lights started to work again. I put them back into the car and they were alright until the car was driven when they stopped working. I am assuming it is a loose connection somewhere. Is this common on the Octy and is there an easy fix?

On a related note I am having a nightmare trying to remove the front headlight to change the offside side light bulb. I have removed the plastic screw at the rear and tried pulling on the tab. However, it is not budging. Again, any tips on how to get it out?

Thanks

The metal tab that is pulled to release the light fitting is prone to sticking, wrap a rag around it and try again,You need to pull on them quite hard to shift them. I sprayed the mechanism under the fitting with a light spray grease to ease future removal.

Can't help with the rears, I never had any problems there.

When you say the rear side lights which ones do you mean?

There are four on each side, two of which are dual function (tail/brake & tail/fog).

Edited 19 December, 201015 yr by silver1011

I think the two on the outer part of the C shape are w5w push fit jobbies, these aren't monitored by the bulb failure system either. I've lost one or two over the years and not a peep out of the maxi dot.

I think the two on the outer part of the C shape are w5w push fit jobbies, these aren't monitored by the bulb failure system either. I've lost one or two over the years and not a peep out of the maxi dot.

Yes you are right, you can just see them dangling here...

I've often followed Octavia's with one or more of these 5W bulbs not working wondering if the driver just chooses to ignore the bulb failure warning light.

Them not being monitored makes sense now!

Hi,

Yes it is the two outside 5w bulb thingys. I can confirm that the warning light does not come on for them (it did for the front side light).

Oh, if I do manage to get to the front side light, is it a 5w push in bulb too?

Regards

Edited 20 December, 201015 yr by spangelaregreat

Yep, the sidelight bulb is a W5W just like the outer rear bulbs. They are a bit awkward to remove, they sit in a plastic housing that in turn clips into the headlight fitting, they are held in with two plastic sprung tabs that need to be depressed in order to remove it.

I used to use a pair of needle nose pliers when i needed to change mine.

Don't forget to lubricate the entire headlight retention mechanism and exercise it vigorously before refitting it

And also take great care to ensure the headlight fitting is propely engaged with the retention mechanism before pushing it back in, if it isn't 100% aligned it can jam up a bit.