Hi, I'd like a bit of advice please before I do anything stupid, I'd rather ask a stupid question and avoid a stupid action........

 

I've bought some Phillipe X-treme 130 H4 bulbs to repalce the standard bulbs, and having read a number of threads on how awkward it is to replace the bulbs I've had a go and failed to even get the old bulbs out.

 

I removed the wheelarch panels which allowed me to get my hands in and to see what was what.  I was able to unclip the bulb and to clip it back up again - I did this a number of times so I'd know how to do it with the new bulbs.

 

I didn't manage to remove the bulb, does the wiring connector have to be removed from the bulb terminals before the bulb is unclipped? It seemed to me it should be but I couldn't get it to come off.

 

Passeneger side is a really tight to get my hands in. If the battery is disconnected and removed will that create errors when its reconnected? I have VCDS so could reset them but wouldn't want to do anything more complicated with VCDS, I should probably do an autoscan before I disconnect the battery.

 

Thanks

Yep - they are a pig. As for battery disconnect - I removed the battery, and had no probs reconnecting.

One of others on here - made a timber tool that sounds like it was a kind of off-set spanner that engaged the plastic connector and rotated connector and bulb.

I just used dogged determination and ground away 3 mil of tooth enamel. But they came out - and went back in.... eventually. Simply Unclever.

The main beams are even stupider. (on the LED DRL, projector type headlamp unit).

I tried to fashion a heavy rubber hose to help the job. I failed miserably.

 

General rule of thumb - just go at it like a mad thing - grunt, growl, and use magic words.

Edited 3 December, 20169 yr by Dithane

Or - get your Skoda garage to do it for you - ok it costs (about 1 hrs work I would guess) but saves an awful lot of grief. 

When I had my Volvo S60, (phase 2), the headlamp bulbs were a nightmare to replace. Volvo dealers were happy to replace bulbs - without labour charge - if bought from them. I always had both replaced at the same time, whilst having a coffee. Wonder if nice Mr Skoda will do the same, when required?

 

 

I've bought some Phillipe X-treme 130 H4 bulbs to replace the standard bulbs

 

 

If you bought H4 bulbs I hope you have the S model with reflector headlights because all the other models with projectors have H7 bulbs.

At least with the Volvo Headlights they worked well (& so did Dim Dip) & the lighting was very good until a bulb failed, and then the palava was just replacing bulbs if they failed, not having to upgrade new cars.

Some of these cars even have badly aligned lights from the factory and this will not be found out for 3 years when picked up on at the first MOT in the UK.

 

The Skoda OEM fitments and lighting quality and efficiency is ridiculous on so many cars and has been for years now.

Not Simply Clever, just simply hopeless Engineering Design and Component choice and very bad lighting in the dark.

 

no Vorsprung Durch Technik coming from the Czech Republic division of the Volkswagen Group.

Edited 4 December, 20169 yr by Offski

If you bought H4 bulbs I hope you have the S model with reflector headlights because all the other models with projectors have H7 bulbs.

Thanks for the prompt, I've checked again, as its an SE on the V5.

 

Each headlight only has a single bulb for both dipped and main beam, which I believed was the H4, the indicator is a separate orange tinted bulb positioned next to the grill, the DRL bulb that's positioned to the outside edge, and the sidelight is a small bulb beneath the main/dipped bulb..

 

My Touran has separate dipped (H7) and main beam (H15), so I hope I got it right.

Edited 4 December, 20169 yr by thamestrader

Looks like I'm mistaken re only the S having the reflector headlights. I've just had a look at several on the Skoda used car site and it looks as though at least some SEs have reflectors. That's good, at least a few more Fabia drivers can see where they are going on dip.

The SE has the basic headlamps as standard, same as the S. I need to change my bulbs too, they're fine in the city but crap out on country roads! Not much of an issue as I don't drive on country roads much, but still. 

I got dealer to change mine. Fitted phillips extreme 130. A lot brighter but headlights still have that yellow glow compared to led drls.

Projector headlamps (with the dipped beam in a tube) use the smaller H7 bulbs for dip and main beam. I managed to change the dipped beams quite easily, using long nosed pliers through the wheel arch opening but I could not for the life of me rotate the main beam bulbs into the locked position. There must be a special, double jointed tool for these so a visit to the dealer is called for. Bulbs were very tight in their holders but they just pull straight out.

Projector headlamps (with the dipped beam in a tube) use the smaller H7 bulbs for dip and main beam. I managed to change the dipped beams quite easily, using long nosed pliers through the wheel arch opening but I could not for the life of me rotate the main beam bulbs into the locked position. There must be a special, double jointed tool for these so a visit to the dealer is called for. Bulbs were very tight in their holders but they just pull straight out.

Might have to try the long nose pliers trick

Daft question are they extra long nose pliers

When I had my crappy Renault Modus, the front bumper had to be removed to change the headlight bulbs. When I had my Octavia II, you could take out the whole unit to replace bulbs without altering the angle of beam. Never replaced a bulb on my Fabia II despite being awful headlights and non so far for my Polo.

Might have to try the long nose pliers trick

Daft question are they extra long nose pliers

Just regular long nose pliers like these, Malcster. And remember the locked position before you remove the bulbs so you can replace them at locked position minus a quarter turn.

Just regular long nose pliers like these, Malcster. And remember the locked position before you remove the bulbs so you can replace them at locked position minus a quarter turn.image.jpg

 

cool thanks wsnt sure if they needed to be the upturned type 

 

ordering some night breakers 

There is some additional data on headlights, bulbs and other subjects at the end of the pinned 'owners manual' thread above that may be of assistance if you (like me) have had the vehicle since they became available and not referred back to that thread since..!

Just seen that Amazon has the Phillips Xtreme 130 H4 bulbs on offer right now. Going to pick up a set! These are for the S and SE models, with the dual filament bulbs, not the cars with the LED running lights and projector dipped beam like the SEL and Monte Carlo.

Philips 12342XV+S2 H4 X-Treme Vision +130%, Headlight Car Bulbs (Twin-Pack) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NMEEOV2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_PdrvybK20F1W3

And if you scroll a bit further...

OSRAM NIGHT BREAKER UNLIMITED H7, halogen-headlamp bulb, 64210NBU-HCB, 12V, duo box (Pack of 2) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EPLCPRG/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_QkrvybFAC0ZZ8

These are Prime deals though, and not on just yet (starting at 11:59 today 17th December)

I'm still struggling to get the connector with the wires on detached from the bulb, becasue untill the connecter is detached the bulb retaining clip can't fully release the bulb. Currently the  wiring connector has a greater grip on the bulb terminals than the retaining clip has on the bulb. Very loath to use metal pliers to grip the wiring connector, especially as its impossible to really see what is going on.  

 

Access is not too bad once those wheel arch access panels are removed, found that actually pushing them from under bonnet they come out easily, I smeared some silicon grease on the edge before I put them back to make them easier to remove again.

 

Tempted now to try using a hair-dryer to blow warm air over the connectors which might make the plastic a little more pliable and loosen them a bit. So frustrating, theres so little room to work and the amount of force that seems to be needed runs the risk of either breaking the retaining clip fixings or ripping the wires out of a connector.

I'm still struggling to get the connector with the wires on detached from the bulb, becasue untill the connecter is detached the bulb retaining clip can't fully release the bulb. Currently the  wiring connector has a greater grip on the bulb terminals than the retaining clip has on the bulb. Very loath to use metal pliers to grip the wiring connector, especially as its impossible to really see what is going on.  

....

So frustrating, theres so little room to work and the amount of force that seems to be needed runs the risk of either breaking the retaining clip fixings or ripping the wires out of a connector.

 

Clips ?  Take it that that's the H4 bulbs in the single-reflector lamps?  Hair-dryer might help OK - and even to warm your hands, so you have more strength/grip. 

That sounds like really bad design if the clip and the connector snag each other and prevent removal of bulb. 

 

I had imagined that the single reflector headlamps might be easier.

 

Skoda/VW really need a slapping for this kinda stuff.

Edited 17 December, 20169 yr by Dithane

Yep H4 bulbs. As far as I can see/feel (using an old interior mirror to look) the clip is a continuous piece of bent wire, it hooks on at the 12 oclock position and should hinge down to the 6 oclock position where the ends of the clip are (probably) in little holes. So naturally the clip can't hinge down if the electrical connector is attached to the bulb.

 

Its probably one of those things where a brave sharp tug will detach the electrical connector release the clip and the bulb will self eject into the spare hand of the owner.....but knowing my luck the connector wont' come off the clip will completely detach and theres no way to reattach the clip without dismantling the whole of the car from the headlight! :sweat:  :sweat: 

Crumbs ... yeah, I was almost giving up, several times, when changing the bulbs on the projector ones.  Also took out the main beam ones - just to see what it was like to do! They were a pig also. A different kind of pig - but still a pig.

Assuming that a patient "pull-wiggle approach" has not worked?

 

Any ideas here - changing H4 bulb on a 6R Polo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx9PYL8CShs  (may have to turn off the sound in case the music tips your, now fragile, nerves over the edge :-) )

 

Love how simple he makes it look - especially pulling that connector off ...

On the headlight bulb connectors for the H4 I find that the best way to remove the connector is to

wiggle the connector up and down from 6 to 12 o clock while pulling away from the bulb at the same time.

Sometimes I found that a finger from your other hand put on the back of the top of bulb/wire clip to stop it moving will help.

 

Don't touch the glass on the new bulb when it goes in as this shortens their life.

 

If anyone is passing me I will do it for free. :)

 

Thanks AG Falco.

Well that was a thoroughly unpleasant experience, and my hands are cut to shreds, but I have succeeded!

 

My thoughts on changing a bulb in these cars- whoever designed that system needs to be shot. Repeatedly. It's terrible.

 

The driver's side was OK, bit tricky but not too horrific to get access. The passenger side, however, was nigh on impossible. I ended up removing the battery. Car was perfectly happy starting it up again afterwards but it had reset the trip (not an issue, just an FYI!).

 

To open the little flap in the wheel arch liner, I used a wooden spoon to push from the engine bay and the little wire puller thing from the toolkit to pull from the wheel side. It was still a struggle and I bent the wire thingy. Don't bother with the driver's side one, at least in the TSI, as there's enough space to do it without spending 15 minutes swearing. 

 

The wiring harness has to be removed before you can remove the bulb- the wiring goes over the top of the little metal clip that holds the bulb in place. This requires two hands- one to wiggle the wire, and then a finger to hold the bulb in place while you do that as otherwise it doesn't come off, as AGFalco said. Once off, it's easy enough to remove the bulb, but make sure you don't get the wire clip folding back up again as you won't be able to get the new bulb in- I only realised when I looked in through the front of the light and could see it in the hole.

 

It would be so much easier if you could just remove the headlamp cluster....

Been searching for some info on how the Fabia headlights are fixed to bodywork, found this item on Ebay for sale which has good photos of all the fixings.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-SKODA-FABIA-O-S-DRIVERS-PROJECTOR-HEADLIGHT-14-ON-6V2-941-016-B-/182377295155?hash=item2a7688ad33:g:ju4AAOSwxg5XzJov

 

And now found a good example of a non projector

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-15-17-Black-Headlight-Headlamp-Left-Passenger-Near-Side-N-S-Valeo-/272345596070?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3AFabia%7CCars+Year%3A2015&hash=item3f691000a6:g:aBAAAOSw0UdXtbV9

 

 

There appear to be 3 Torx bolts one on top and one either side at the bottom. This is going to be my next approach, I am assuming of course that my non-projector headlamp has the same mountings as the projector sample in the link........

 

I watched Halfords techies replace the headlamp bulbs on the '06' plate pool car Octavia today - piece of cake - undo one plastic nut, release a catch and the lamp unit slides right out

Edited 19 December, 20169 yr by thamestrader