changing bulbs

[Archangel]

i have no probs with rear lamps or headlight bulbs , but i cant get to the damn front sidelights

[gumby6371]

If you're struggling for access it might be worth undoing the bolts and pulling the whole assembly out a little. From memory there are 2 bolts and a spring but you shouldn't need to take the spring off. The top bolt is obvious and the other is under the main beam access cover if memory serves.

[jonsowman]

The D8 sidelights are an interesting engineering design decision.

Take the full beams cover off and disconnect the wiring. Then remove the full beam bulb to give yourself more room. Now grab the white L shaped piece next to the full beam bulb holder and, looking at the rear of the headlight unit, turn it one quarter turn clockwise for the n/s or anticlockwise for the o/s (so the end of the white handle moves towards the bottom of the headlamp unit). Now pull the handle backwards towards the rear of the car and do a bit of wiggling to get it out into the open air so you can replace the bulb.

This is definitely doable with the headlight unit in place and without and further disassembly, and in true Haynes style, refitting is the reverse of removal

[Archangel]

Thanks for that Jonsowman

[Archangel]

managed it , but what a bitch of a job , got big hands ,train one of the kids to change it .

[jonsowman]

Glad you got it sorted, I agree it's a complete pain of a job!

[steve_earwig]

It's a bit tight down there, worse on the ecu side if I remember correctly. Still, most modern cars you start by jacking that side up, removing the wheel and arch liner. The Toyota's supposed to be like that but I found an easier method: Turn the steering away from the affected side, take 1 large blunt chisel...

Or the stop & tail bulbs: Remove all the plastic covers and cubby holes (10 minutes) Unscrew all the nuts you can find holding the tail light cluster on,. Discover this still doesn't release it. Turn bulb holder anticlockwise with your finger tips and wiggle it out of the tiny gap (20 minutes). Find it's a type of bulb you've never seen before & certainly don't have a replacement for. Reassemble and go to car spares shop. Complain bitterly about what a pain in the arse it is to get the bulb out, then complain bitterly about how much the replacement costs. Repeat process with new bulb. Hate the car just that little bit more

[lozz]

Ichanged the Front bulbs on my mates Rav last night.
what a polava them plastic studs that hold the cover on over the rad fkin things just ping off.(carnt they make owt anymore thats got screws in

and after all that hed bought the wrong bulbs

[leestudd30]

Without sounding too stupid, how do you change the rear ones? Do I have I to remove the plastic stud things to get at them? On my old vectra it was just a case of unclipping a small bit of trim, unplugging and removing the bulb holders.

[gumby6371]

Lee it's not too disimilar, pull the boot carpet back and if I remember correctly there's a nut in the middle holding the bulb holder in place.