It seems my nearside headlight main dipped beam (not sidelight) bulb has gone today. How simple is it to swap them? I know the rears are easy but on some cars the front's an absolute pain.

Nearside's worst than the offside, but still not bad. Open the bonnet, flip the clips to the sides (needle nose pliers are handy), lift the cover out, unplug the bulb, push the spring clip on the bulb in and across and the bulb comes out. Make sure you the new bulb in the right way up, clip it in, put the plug on, make sure it works then put the cover back.

 

Before you change the bulb though, make sure it's not just a dodgey connection between the bulb and the plug. The plug kept getting loose on mine, so I bent the pin on the bulb a little so it holds on tight.

Some Fabias have a removable cover on the front of the battery box, which gives more room to get into the headlamp bulbs.

 

Nearside's worst than the offside, but still not bad. Open the bonnet, flip the clips to the sides (needle nose pliers are handy), lift the cover out, unplug the bulb, push the spring clip on the bulb in and across and the bulb comes out. Make sure you the new bulb in the right way up, clip it in, put the plug on, make sure it works then put the cover back.

 

Before you change the bulb though, make sure it's not just a dodgey connection between the bulb and the plug. The plug kept getting loose on mine, so I bent the pin on the bulb a little so it holds on tight.

 

The only other thing to add is, be careful not to touch the bulb glass. I've been told grease/muck from fingers shortens the life of them. If you accidentally do, wipe with IPA or Meths to these marks.

It sould be said that at least on some Fabias (all mine have been diesel) there is very little clearance to remove or especially refit the cover to the headlight unit. I usually manage to wiggle it back but I have come close to removing the battery to gain clearance before now.

I'd say there's more room on dad's fabia than my ibiza, just use some long nosed pliers for the clips and draw the cover out to the left.

Offside side light on a diesel is a whole other story.

Did mine the other day. If you remove the front face of the battery box as said before you will easily remove the lamp cover. Then it's really simple to switch out the bulb.

Ryan

Cheers all. Other one's gone tonight so I can't drive at night until I sort it. Anyone know whether the bulb that fits an 03 focus will also fit the Fabia? Is it a standard part? Looks the same on photos but I don't know enough about these things

Halogen dipped beam bulb is a H7

 

Main beam is H3

Edited 25 December, 201510 yr by TMB

If you have girly hand like me then its pretty easy, once you've done it a few times it will only take a minute or so to swap over.

As the others have said, be careful not to touch the glass.

If you've got Xenons then it's s real pain, especially the near side. For me it was bumper off and headlight out.

Are Halogens standard on these?

 

Cheers all

Are Halogens standard on these?

 

Cheers all

 

No, some Fabias have xenon lights. The xenon bulb is a D2S

Edited 26 December, 201510 yr by TMB

All sorted; thanks for all the help guys!

It's worth re-checking that the bulb is seated correctly otherwise you will end up like most folk running around with one headlamp shining anywhere but the correct pattern on the road and dazzling oncoming traffic.

 

DB.