Hi guys, didnt really want to post and risk sounding like an idiot but i have no choice. First time i have had to change the headlight bulbs and of course hit a stumbling block when i went to fit the passenger side bulb.

I have a haynes manual and have read countless other posts about removing the battery or even the box that surrounds it but i'm still struggling. On my fabia the black box around the battery is held on by four clips, one on the right and one on the left of the battery and another two at the back. I didnt notice these ones at the back at first but i simply cant unclip them as there is no room to get in. I only have small hands and tried my best but still scuffed my hands to no avail.

Any tips on how to remove this box? do i need to anyway? and do i need it off to get the battery out if ever needed to?

Sorry if these questions have been asked before but i couldnt find any answers, hopefully i can return the favour one day, all my posts so far have been asking for help or advice.

Thanks for any help

Cheers

Tony

Sounds like they have changed the design since my Fabia where you were just able to pull the top and front off. I guess if you have small hands you might be able to do it with it in situ?

Chris

Its an '04' vrs like, its only the black casing that goes around the battery that i guess is in the way, the top cover and fuse cover lift off easily enough. It almost had me in tears last night as the 5 minute job turned into a much longer one, the weather didnt help

/\ i have massive hands and replace all bulbs on my Fabia without having to remove the battery cover, mines is an 04 VRS aswell, was a bitch however

I changed mine about 6 weeks back. I undid the clips and removed the battery cover. I though it was quite easy and I am absolutely not a mechanic!!! From memory there were 4 clips but I'll check later.

It was a '55 vRS BTW.

Maybe it didnt help doing it in the dark, was a bad night for me as i managed to break one of my windscreen wiper clips and one of those clips holding on the box. I didnt want to force anything in case i broke anything else

I had to replace both dipped headlight bulbs at the weekend too, tho I didn't take the battery out. I've wee hands and a '01 SDI.

Moving my battery to the boot had a side benefit of making nearside bulb changes a lot easier.

It is hard to change the bulb, but it is possible to do it without removing the battery cover.

BTW mines a 04 vrs

Im going to have to give it another go when i get my car back, just went in today for door leaks. This is my second vrs thats had them

Maybe it didnt help doing it in the dark, was a bad night for me as i managed to break one of my windscreen wiper clips and one of those clips holding on the box. I didnt want to force anything in case i broke anything else

Daylight does help a bit

I don't know if non-vRS Fabia's are slightly different, but I changed my headlights today and it was a piece of p1ss. I didn't need to take the battery cover off.

I don't know if non-vRS Fabia's are slightly different, but I changed my headlights today and it was a piece of p1ss. I didn't need to take the battery cover off.

Different size battery???

Different size battery???

It's a 16V and as a result the air filter is built into the engine cover which allows the battery to be placed further back, you can also check the PAS fluid without removing the battery on a 16V.

Ah, that explains it then. I was dreading doing the job after all I'd read on here, but I was relieved at how easy it was.

I've changed the passenger side bulbs without taking out the battery and admittedly it is tight but not impossible. I find if you just take off the flat cover in front of the battery and not the entire battery surround, it makes it a lot easier.

I find if you just take off the flat cover in front of the battery and not the entire battery surround, it makes it a lot easier.

That was what I was trying to describe above. I wonder if they changed the battery box on later models....

Chris

Managed the dipped main on the passenger side on a '55 VRS last weekend. It's not easy, but it's not impossible. No manual needed either, nor the need to remove anything relating to the battery.

- Unclip headlight protect/cover

- unclip bulb [holder]

- remove bulb

- replace bulb

- reclip bulb

- replace headlight cover <-- that was the hardest bit.

oh. And I don't have girlie hands. :P

Having done the dippeds and mains on both sides since I've had the car (54 vRS), I've found that the trick is to disconnect the wires before attempting to remove the bulbs. The other thing is to make sure the covers are located correctly when you're finished as they will stay in place even if they're not, which'll mean your clusters mist up. The trick there is to locate the out-board bottom lug, then the in-board bottom one, then rotate the cover forwards so that both of the clips on the top clip in at the same time. If one goes in before the other, the bottom lugs aren't set right. You don't need to take the battery out IME, but you do need good light and a bit of patience...

I had no problems replacing bulb.

I paid £6.47 for a bulb at my local dealer and he fitted free within 2 mins, as they have the knowledge how to do quickly.

Its a 5min job just made difficult.

You dont need to take the cover out just unclip it and that will give you the room to get in (Unless you have very large hands).

Be patient and you will do it!

ApOqee is right. It's possible and you must remove wiring to one side and it is very important to have lots of light because unless you can see, the feeling of your fingers on the bulb holders is misleading and leads (well me anyway) to pulling/turning at an angle - which doesn't work. On our 1.4Tdi and Sdi there is a big battery, but changing bulbs has always been possible without disturbing the battery.

It's also useful to put something in the area below, because, if you drop a bulb, it will roll out of sight under the battery. A magnetic wand is useful for picking them up and meths for cleaning before trying again.

V

Picked up my furby-vRS from the garage yesterday... first trip out in the dark showed the nearside headlamp bulb blown. In datlight today I had 10 minutes of swearing practice whilst I changed the bulb - it is possible to do without removing the battery or its cover, but its tight.

Once the backing plate is off you can unplug and unclip the bulb, then fish out the duff bulb with 2 fingers.

Getting the new one in is just as awkward but it IS possible - replacing the plastic backing plate is the worst part.

Its still easier than changing the nearside dipped beam bulb on a old Mondeo 2l, Had to move the A-C piping!

I have got to change my N/S headlight bulb this weekend:eek: hope it will go smooth:thumbup:

I have got to change my N/S headlight bulb this weekend:eek: hope it will go smooth:thumbup:

Ditto, not looking forward to it either :(