The bulb upgrades have arrived but can't figure out how you access the side/running light bulbs! Any how to guides with pics?

Erm, pretty sure the running lights are LEDs - and not designed to be replaced.... especially not with candescent bulbs!

Erm, pretty sure the running lights are LEDs - and not designed to be replaced.... especially not with candescent bulbs!

I think the poverty spec models don't have the LED running lights

Indeed - these look incandescent...

 

Side lights:

Remove the round black plastic cover on the back of the headlight; bulbs are inside. You need small hands!!

 

Running lights:

Don't know, but it might be in the Handbook

I did read in the handbook how to do it  , but it was a long time ago  , its in there somewhere.  

I think the poverty spec models don't have the LED running lights

Erm, pretty sure the running lights are LEDs - and not designed to be replaced.... especially not with candescent bulbs!

LED' s only come on the L&K or Elegance spec (or old people spec as I like to call them ) not S or SE with the FL models.

Side lights:

Remove the round black plastic cover on the back of the headlight; bulbs are inside. You need small hands!!

 

Running lights:

Don't know, but it might be in the Handbook

  

I did read in the handbook how to do it  , but it was a long time ago  , its in there somewhere.

Dipped and Main I've sorted and are in the handbook but not the side/running lights!

I can't see the facelift being that much different to the original, and there the side light bulb is accessed through the same "hole" as the headlight bulbs.

If you look through the front lens you should be able to see where exactly the back of the bulb will be. It is quite small!!

 

However,

You keep stating "side/running lights"; what exactly are you referring to? By definition they are two different things. The DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS are the ones below the headights, as shown by Weasley in #4, the side lights are the ones inside the headlights that come on when you turn the light switch to the first position.

Why are there still incandescent globes at all?

I would have thought lower power helped lower emissions which seems to be the priority these days.

I can't see the facelift being that much different to the original, and there the side light bulb is accessed through the same "hole" as the headlight bulbs.

If you look through the front lens you should be able to see where exactly the back of the bulb will be. It is quite small!!

 

However,

You keep stating "side/running lights"; what exactly are you referring to? By definition they are two different things. The DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS are the ones below the headights, as shown by Weasley in #4, the side lights are the ones inside the headlights that come on when you turn the light switch to the first position.

The first switch icon for the side/parking lights are the same light as the daytime running lights. The headlight cluster in the FL has 4 bulbs, main, dipped, side/parking and indicator.

The picture above shows the Yeti with its running lights on, switch the lights to the first setting and all that happens is the tail lights come on with side/running lights. So with out the LED cluster option it's the same bulb.

Doesn't it depend on whether the engine is running or not as to which globes are active eg DRL or parkers?

I can't see the facelift being that much different to the original, and there the side light bulb is accessed through the same "hole" as the headlight bulbs.

If you look through the front lens you should be able to see where exactly the back of the bulb will be. It is quite small!!

 

However,

You keep stating "side/running lights"; what exactly are you referring to? By definition they are two different things. The DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS are the ones below the headights, as shown by Weasley in #4, the side lights are the ones inside the headlights that come on when you turn the light switch to the first position.

Side lights

I can't see the facelift being that much different to the original, and there the side light bulb is accessed through the same "hole" as the headlight bulbs.

If you look through the front lens you should be able to see where exactly the back of the bulb will be. It is quite small!!

 

However,

You keep stating "side/running lights"; what exactly are you referring to? By definition they are two different things. The DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS are the ones below the headights, as shown by Weasley in #4, the side lights are the ones inside the headlights that come on when you turn the light switch to the first position.

Running lights

Really? Sorry, but the photos aren't very explicit and don't help me.

 

By Law the DRL's should not/cannot be the same wattage as "side lights". If they do use the same "bulb" than the side light will normally be a dimmed version of the DRL. I shall have to have a look at a FL sometime.

 

Does the Handbook not say anything? There should be a list of all the bulbs fitted to the vehicle somewhere in it.

Really? Sorry, but the photos aren't very explicit and don't help me.

 

By Law the DRL's should not/cannot be the same wattage as "side lights". If they do use the same "bulb" than the side light will normally be a dimmed version of the DRL. I shall have to have a look at a FL sometime.

 

Does the Handbook not say anything? There should be a list of all the bulbs fitted to the vehicle somewhere in it.

The side light is a dimmed version of the DRL, that's why I was trying to get some insight to its location and removal on the FL Yeti and read the handbook right through, no mention of the DRL or side lights.

Maybe it's not user-serviceable? Like on that Audi?

As above, on the Yeti the DRL bulbs perform two roles, low brightness for side lights, and then a higher level or brightness for DRL's - both functions utilising the same bulb.

 

If the replacement instructions aren't in the manual then it is a dealer-only job. Skoda have been creeping this practice into their manuals for a little while now.

 

They've also removed all reference to bulb types too which isn't particularly helpful if you want to source a replacement before removing the old one.

 

Just take a look at this thread on the MkIII Octavia. Not only is the indicator replacement a dealer-only job (the front bumper needs removing) you also need to crack open the back of the headlight and then buy a fix-kit to blank up the hole afterwards. Amazing.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/313708-octavia-3-iii-vrs-front-bumper-removal-how-to/

 

I think more and more bulbs are becoming long-life so to have them fail is very rare. The technology (and ability) is there to make incandescent bulbs so that they never fail or blow. Understandably the bulb manufacturers aren't keen on this as we'll never need to buy replacement bulbs again. As it happens LED's are taking over now anyway.

 

The main issue with indicator bulbs behind clear lenses was that the orange coating would fade or fall off, a common cause for MOT failures on older cars.

 

I appreciate the DRL bulb's on early VAG models (including the pre-FL Yeti) were supposed to be long-life, but as some of you soon realised they weren't as long-life as they were supposed to be, the latest bulbs are much better, hence Skoda making them almost non-serviceable.

Edited 28 August, 201411 yr by silver1011

The side light is a dimmed version of the DRL, that's why I was trying to get some insight to its location and removal on the FL Yeti and read the handbook right through, no mention of the DRL or side lights.

 

I'm afraid that the W5W bulbs you have bought won't be suitable to replace the side light / DRL bulb - if in fact you are even able to gain access.

I'm afraid that the W5W bulbs you have bought won't be suitable to replace the side light / DRL bulb - if in fact you are even able to gain access.

That's what came up as the bulb needed on the site I purchased from? Oh well, I can return them, do you know what the bulb types are in the facelift model then?

That's the issue identified in post #18.

 

Skoda have taken it upon themselves to remove all reference to bulb types from their manuals.

 

So the only way to know for sure will be when someone who actually owns a Yeti with incandescent DRL's is able to remove one and physically check. Or you could try ringing a dealer?

 

There are a number of non-Skoda VAG models that utilise the same buld for DRL's and side lights, you'd hope that it is the same bulb across all VAG brands. The latest Audi A3 is one I saw recently.

As above, on the Yeti the DRL bulbs perform two roles, low brightness for side lights, and then a higher level or brightness for DRL's - both functions utilising the same bulb.

 

If the replacement instructions aren't in the manual then it is a dealer-only job. Skoda have been creeping this practice into their manuals for a little while now.

 

They've also removed all reference to bulb types too which isn't particularly helpful if you want to source a replacement before removing the old one.

 

Just take a look at this thread on the MkIII Octavia. Not only is the indicator replacement a dealer-only job (the front bumper needs removing) you also need to crack open the back of the headlight and then buy a fix-kit to blank up the hole afterwards. Amazing.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/313708-octavia-3-iii-vrs-front-bumper-removal-how-to/

 

I think more and more bulbs are becoming long-life so to have them fail is very rare. The technology (and ability) is there to make incandescent bulbs so that they never fail or blow. Understandably the bulb manufacturers aren't keen on this as we'll never need to buy replacement bulbs again. As it happens LED's are taking over now anyway.

 

The main issue with indicator bulbs behind clear lenses was that the orange coating would fade or fall off, a common cause for MOT failures on older cars.

 

I appreciate the DRL bulb's on early VAG models (including the pre-FL Yeti) were supposed to be long-life, but as some of you soon realised they weren't as long-life as they were supposed to be, the latest bulbs are much better, hence Skoda making them almost non-serviceable.

That's crazy and has to against some law of monopolising customers!! I've followed some Yeti owners having varied degrees of success in swapping the side/running lights out for LED's so I'm hoping someone can step in with a simpler solution than the poor Octavia owners of accessing the bulbs.

Indeed - these look incandescent...

 

 

Ah right - not seen one of these low spec non-LED versions on the road yet then..... All the ones I have seen have either been parked & switched off, or have had LED versions.

Why are there still incandescent globes at all?

I would have thought lower power helped lower emissions which seems to be the priority these days.

Purely so you can see those who are too tight to buy a decent spec lol

If you cannot get your hand down to the bottom of the headlight then it may be a headlight out job... which will probably need the bumper removing 1st.

Use a mirror and see if there is a removeable cover near the rear of the sidelight/ indicator lens

Purely so you can see those who are too tight to buy a decent spec lol

If you cannot get your hand down to the bottom of the headlight then it may be a headlight out job... which will probably need the bumper removing 1st.

Use a mirror and see if there is a removeable cover near the rear of the sidelight/ indicator lens

Thanks Gizmo, I'm going to,have a play around on Sunday afternoon.