Hi,

I've just been out trying to remove the cover behind my OS (driver's side) headlight.

What a PITA. Currently nursing a case of failure frustration :(

In attempting this, I spotted a wire ringpull thing underneath the headlight bulb cover. I thought it was part of the cover. Now I'm not so sure.

Anyone know what it is or what it does?

PS

PPS: The headlight is coming out so I can have a nose around if I can't figure out what it is.

PPPS: Why are modern cars made so only small children or ET can perform seemingly simple operations?

J.

The wire ringpull thing might be the headlight aiming control. Not had to change the bulbs yet so someone with a bit of experience might shed some light on this matter (no pun intended!).

Re: PPPS - 100% agree with you - there is absolutely no space under the Fabia's bonnet without getting your knuckles scraped! I miss my Merc 190E - doddle to do anything, especially bulb changes.

Right, kind of figured it out.

Pull the ring-pull down, towards the floor and it "pops off". It doesn't sproing off or anything, just goes loose.

There's a U shape in the wire, underneath the headlight cover. This is what holds that side of the HL cover in place.

My car's a 2005/55 plate. Just clips on mine, no self tapping screws.

Might still try to take out the headlight. The bolt/washers near the aircon radiator on mine can be manipulated out without moving the bumper.

J.

IIRC you can undo all the screws but the light drops down lower than the bumper so you cant get it out.

PPPS: Why are modern cars made so only small children or ET can perform seemingly simple operations?

Because you want a 130bhp diesel engine with six speed gearbox with ABS and god knows what else in a small hatchback. Piece of cake on a 1.2 HTP

Because you want a 130bhp diesel engine with six speed gearbox with ABS and god knows what else in a small hatchback. Piece of cake on a 1.2 HTP

Now you're trying to tell me that a Fabia is a small car. My Citroen AX was a small car.

What fills up the Fabia engine bay is emmissions bolox and designer engine/battery covers etc.

J.

Yeah but your AX didnt have a near on 2.0 diesel engine in it..lol. the 02M gearbox weighs more than the whole Citroen and i'm damn sure what car i'd rather have an accident in.

The battery box is the same on all the Fabias near enough and a requirement for modern safety regulations, and how much emissions stuff can you actually see under your bonnet? There isnt hat much aside from an EGR valve on the back of the engine.

Because you want a 130bhp diesel engine with six speed gearbox with ABS and god knows what else in a small hatchback. Piece of cake on a 1.2 HTP

Exactly!

PD130:

1.4 MPi:

Bags of room!

The cramped nature of the engine bay was one reason my battery went into the boot. I had to make some damn room in there!

Also that has freed up access to the passenger side headlight no end.

This wire ringpull? This isn't the bit of wire you push down and out which holds the dipped bulb in position is it? :confused: I'm struggling to work out what's being referred to. I've never had an issue changing light bulbs, but have had an issue with not putting the cover back on right, and it falling off mid-drive and wedging itself in my gearbox cables. Never seen an AA man resolve a "breakdown" so fast!

that wire pull thing seems only to be on the O/S headlamp on mine , i have xenons though , i think i asked on here when i first registered whether anybody knew what it was for , but never got a definative answer

1.4Tdi, so little room between battery and N/S headlamp. Not too difficult if you poke things in from the side and look through the lens to see how close you are. One of those little wands with a magnet on one end is well worth the £1 - if you drop a bulb it goes where no human fingers could possibly reach!

I erm... took piccies

Camera on top of the slam panel facing the Driver's front wing. The orange thing is cable protector around the high tension HID cabling. Headlight is to the left and you're looking at the back of it. Boost pipe to the right.

There is only one of these ringpulls that I can see. The LHS by the battery cover doesn't seem to have one.

J.

Yeah but your AX didnt have a near on 2.0 diesel engine in it..lol. the 02M gearbox weighs more than the whole Citroen and i'm damn sure what car i'd rather have an accident in.

The battery box is the same on all the Fabias near enough and a requirement for modern safety regulations, and how much emissions stuff can you actually see under your bonnet? There isnt hat much aside from an EGR valve on the back of the engine.

I'd rather have an accident in the 02M gearbox than my Citroen too but I wouldn't fit - LOL

What's the black vertical cylinder thingy behind the OS headlight then? The one with several pipes going into the top and attached by a substantial knuckle chaffing metal bracket?

J.

The fuel filter.

Yeah, the ringpull is a spring wire clip thing. Why they can't have both sides the same I'm not sure.

Slightly OT but what's the best way to get rid of moisture in the headlight ?

Moisture....

IMO there really shouldn't be any but there's enough seams, joints and accessories that I guess it could spring a leak or something.

My guess would be to pull the light out and have a damn good look around it to see if anything's misplaced or any seals have been damaged.

Favourite place to start would be the indicator bulb holders. As they twist in/out but can be slightly fiddly.

To dry it out Stick it in the airing cupboard or even plonk it in the oven on low heat for a while. Have you got any of those desiccant silica gel things that come with computer stuff, shoes, trainers etc? Maybe stick one of those in it whilst it cools down.

J.

I found the heat from the lights themselves is enough to clear the moisture once the back's clipped up correctly. The seal's enough to keep liquid water out, but it won't top the vapour escaping!

I just fitted my philips extreme bulbs. 2 mins each side.