Hi all

 

One of the headlamp bulbs went in the car today while my partner was out...  Shame on me, but I have always left it to the garage to change bulbs etc.  I'm no mechanic and never will be, but I do want to learn more and more about how to take car of the simpler tasks.

 

So I punched it into YouTube and this came up:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft0OtQL72UY

 

Is it really as easy as he makes it look?  Any tips to bear in mind?  I'll get to googling now, but anything in the meantime from you experts would be great.

 

Also, what should I be looking for when I buy the bulb?  Are own brands ok or is it best to pay extra and get something decent?  Do I need to see what is in on the other side?  What kind of price?  Halfords start at £10 for their own brand...  

 

Huge thanks

Shame on you indeed, there are many counties where you wouldn't even be allowed to drive if you couldn't carry a spare bulb and change it yourself.

 

If it's the nearside you might find it tricky because access is restricted by the battery, offside is easypeasy.

Well, I'm trying to make amends

 

I'm pretty sure from memory that the battery is on the nearside (passenger) on my car.  I'll have to check in the morning...  I hope so though because the bulb that has gone is offside (driver).

 

Thanks for the help

On some Fabias there is a cover on the front of the battery box which you can slide upwards and remove to give enough room to get to the headlamp bulb.

 

Remember not to touch the glass of the new bulb with your fingers as the oil from your skin will shorten bulb life. If you accidentally touch it you can use a solvent like meths to clean the glass. Just get a decent brand of bulb like Osram, GE, etc. If you want improved light output you could fit some Osram Night breakers. I have them in my dip and main beams and they are good.

Edited 18 January, 20188 yr by TMB

Sorry sepulchrave, just re-read what you wrote and can see now that I misunderstood it.  Had an early start this morning and it's catching up with me now!  So yes, we are  both saying that the battery is on the nearside

 

Thanks TMB.  But like I say, my blown bulb is on the driver's side so the battery won't be a problem.

 

Synchronised posting!  

 

Thanks for that tip as well TMB.  

 

So, is it easy to tell the dipped and full beam bulbs apart?  

2 minutes ago, Hawthorn654 said:

Thanks TMB.  But like I say, my blown bulb is on the driver's side so the battery won't be a problem.

 

 

I know that. I was just telling you for info purposes.

Halogen headlight dipped beam bulb is H7

 

Main beam is H3

 

H3 has a wire coming out of it...

 

 

 

H7 (dip) looks like this...

 

 

 

Edited 18 January, 20188 yr by TMB

8 minutes ago, TMB said:

 

I know that. I was just telling you for info purposes.

Oh, right - sorry about that...    

 

Those pics are very helpful, thanks for those.  

 

I'm seeing on eBay pairs of bulbs for £5.  Is it best to avoid cheapies?  You get what you pay for?  Or are they all much of a muchness?    

 

Halfords start at £10 for a single and go up from there.  The other local seller to me has them for £5 each but they are showing an H4 as the correct bulb when I put in my reg number... Which I'm presuming is wrong?  Here's what they give me:

 

https://www.wilcodirect.co.uk/skoda-fabia-1.2-petrol-2003/product/lighting-li-bulbs-bulb-li/head-light/RL-R472

 

Many thanks

No need to apologise

 

H4 are the wrong bulbs.

 

Halfords own brand are usually OK I think. Not sure about the real cheapies. I probably wouldn't use them in mine.

How annoying that they should list the wrong bulb!  That was after putting my reg number in.  Plus it lists all the cars the bulb is for and the Fabia is right there.  Never mind.  

 

I'll go for a £10 Halfords job in that case then.  And try my hand at fitting it.  Before doing any of that I will just check the connection hasn't worked loose (something I just read in another thread).  

 

Presumably there's just one fuse for both bulbs?  So if it were the fuse they'd both be out???

 

Cheers

The dipped beams have seperate fuses.

 

Right dip, fuse 50 (15 amp)

 

Left dip, fuse 54 (15 amp)

 

Main beams also have seperate fuses.

 

Right main beam, fuse 23 (10 amp)

 

Left main beam, fuse 30 (10 amp)

 

Edited 18 January, 20188 yr by TMB

Oh right - I'm glad I asked!  Will check that as well before heading to the shop....

 

Thanks for everything

More than welcome

Just be careful not to push so hard you dislodge the headlight reflector from the mounting. Depends on the condition of the rubber mounts inside but i've done it before all to easily when trying to clip the metal bulb holder back over. It's not the end of the world if you do, can be reattached easily but best to avoid as headlamp aim will probably go out. Also make sure the bulb is seated correct orientation as otherwise you wont have a very effective headlight.

Ive attached a photo of what the drivers side light looks like, the one you want is the bigger fitting to the right of the two (looking from the rear)

Also note which direction the metal retainer unhooks from

Edited 19 January, 20188 yr by JWvrs25

Morning all

 

So I've been out and checked the fuse and connection.  Neither made a difference, so it's pretty much certainly the bulb.  

 

Osram Night breakers...  Are these the right ones for dipped?

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BREAKER-UNLIMITED-headlamp-64210NBU-HCB-passenger/dp/B00EPLCPRG?th=1

 

If so, I might as well get them...  It's £10 for ONE from Halfords, and that's just a standard bulb.  You can get the GE bulbs in a twin pack for £20, but still, that's £6 more than what Amazon has and it isn't the fancy model with all the "extra this and that" benefits like the Osram is.  I'll get the twin pack and change both bulbs.  I'm guessing it is best to have a match rather than different types of bulbs left and right?  That will also give me a spare which will keep sepulchrave happy   

 

Thanks for those tips JWvrs25.  

 

1 hour ago, JWvrs25 said:

Also make sure the bulb is seated correct orientation as otherwise you wont have a very effective headlight.

 

How do I ensure it is the correct orientation?  Or will that be obvious?  

 

Huge thanks to everyone

 

Max

 

PS - I found this cheapie as well which seems to get good reviews.  I'm pretty sure it is the correct bulb:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-477-Carded-Bulb/dp/B001CSUJCI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

The tab sticking out the side gives you the orientation. It probably won't fit unless that is in the right orientation, but just look at where the tab is as you pull the dead bulb out and put the new one in the same way round.

 

Thanks Wino, that sorts that bit out   

 

So if the Osram Night breakers I've linked to above are correct (here they are again):  

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BREAKER-UNLIMITED-headlamp-64210NBU-HCB-passenger/dp/B00EPLCPRG?th=1

 

Then I'm all set.  it's good to have the info RE the battery front cover as well, as I'll try to change both so that they're the same.  

 

Cheers

 

(PS - is there scope for a "how many forumites does it take to change a light bulb?" joke here?)

They'll do. Popular choice, possibly due to naming/marketing as much as anything else. They sound good.

Edit: love the way the Amazon listing gives them a class A rating for wet grip.

Edited 19 January, 20188 yr by Wino

They get a fair few good reviews, but amongst them are people who also say they noticed no difference compared to the standard bulbs.  Still, they are quite cheap comparatively so I thought them worthy of a punt.  So long as I've chosen the right ones to fit my car!!  

 

Are there bulbs you prefer Wino?  

 

Cheers 

I choose ones that claim long life, rather than high brightness. I've always found the standard Fabia lights, with standard bulbs perfectly acceptable.

Sorry to keep harping on, but I just want to be 100% sure the Amazon ones I have linked to will fit my Fabia.  I've done the reg plate thing and it says they wil, but then benath the confirmation it says:

 

"This fits your:  Skoda Fabia Combi 1.2.  Only if all of the criteria are met in any one of the following groups:  Light Design - Xenon"  

 

That bits got me a touch unsure, so if anyone could confirm these are the right bulbs for my car that would be great.

 

Cheers

Duff info on Amazon. Xenon lights have a completely different designation - D2S; and they cost a lot more. See here, one of the most useful posts in the Fabia section:

 

Any H7 bulb will fit, dont need to put your plate in to check.

Just get the osram bulbs and replace both, good quality and you can be sure they arent going to be complete rubbish like some of the cheap bulbs. With the battery front cover off the access is limited but still easy enough to change.