stavanzer Posted March 31 Posted March 31 This about correct. The New headlights have replaceable bulbs, but the question of "HOW" do you replace the bulb, and "CAN" you replace the bulb, no longer have good answers. Very few things are "Owner serviceable" any more, and we are moving closer to sealed hoods, and factory service being your "Only" options. Which begs the Question. Who really owns your car? You or the Manufacturer? Cars eventually will be another subscription service, a model that has already been rolled out on some High End Cars. (Mercedes, BMW, Audi) Aka: Monthly subscription for Seat Heaters!!! 2
89AKurt Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Get this, my '16 Honda Civic owner's manual has NOTHING about replacing freaking taillight bulbs. You Tube University saved the day. Wonder why insurance costs so much now? 🙄 2 1
Russell C Posted March 31 Posted March 31 It's why I'm keeping my 39 year-old daily driver. Where the bulb connects in the back to the headlight bucket is in plain sight, twist the plastic retainer sleeve to remove the bulb, buy a replacement for around $20, unplug the old one, plug in the new one. 3
dmthamade Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Meh. Not much shocks me any more concerning car repairs. Re+Re bumpers for headlight bulbs isn't too rare any more, though not always necessary. For the past while, i just shake my head and get to the repairs. End of the day, car needs to be fixed, no matter what. Don
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 31 Author Posted March 31 Just now, Russell C said: ...Where the bulb connects in the back to the headlight bucket is in plain sight, twist the plastic retainer sleeve to remove the bulb, buy a replacement for around $20, unplug the old one, plug in the new one. In a rational world...
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 31 Author Posted March 31 (edited) 12 minutes ago, dmthamade said: Meh. Not much shocks me any more concerning car repairs. Re+Re bumpers for headlight bulbs isn't too rare any more, though not always necessary. For the past while, i just shake my head and get to the repairs. End of the day, car needs to be fixed, no matter what. Having spent a large part of my professional life designing and engineering and fabricating stuff that was not only functional, but also easily serviceable, I just don't get it. Good thing I'll be dead soon, eh? EDIT: The guy in the vid demonstrates that the bulbs can be accessed in literally seconds by going through the fender liners, so 'splain to me why the factory "service data" doesn't reflect that? Intentional ripoff of the owner by the factory department that prepared the data (to justify insanely inflated dealer labor prices), or just total incompetence? It's one or the other. Edited March 31 by Ace-Garageguy 1 1
dmthamade Posted March 31 Posted March 31 I worry about the stuff i can control. Design/engineering of vehicles, not my job. I'm at the service/repair part of it. What vehicle manufacturers produce is what we fix, same now as when i started, gravytrain or time killer. All part of the job. Don 1
dmthamade Posted March 31 Posted March 31 20 minutes ago, Russell C said: It's why I'm keeping my 39 year-old daily driver. Where the bulb connects in the back to the headlight bucket is in plain sight, twist the plastic retainer sleeve to remove the bulb, buy a replacement for around $20, unplug the old one, plug in the new one. Ford? Don
Russell C Posted March 31 Posted March 31 3 minutes ago, dmthamade said: Ford? .. 1986 VW GTI. Got it used in late '93 with 86k, little gear broke on the odo the next year, my estimate is it now has around 330k miles. 1
peteski Posted March 31 Posted March 31 (edited) Most new cars have LED headlights and most other lights are also LED-based. LEDs last much longer than halogen (incandescent) light bulbs and they are usually integrated into the housings (not replaceable). For example the taillight in my car is LED-based (except for directional and backup, which are standard bulbs). If the red taillight/brake light dies, the entire taillight housing needs to be replaced. Fortunately my headlights are still halogen bulb based and the bulbs are accessible. Edited March 31 by peteski 2
dmthamade Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Just now, Russell C said: 1986 VW GTI. Got it used in late '93 with 86k, little gear broke on the odo the next year, my estimate is it now has around 330k miles. Forgot the Vdubs. IIRC the first ones i remember doing were on Tempos and Taurus, mid eighties.... Don 1
dmthamade Posted March 31 Posted March 31 31 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said: Having spent a large part of my professional life designing and engineering and fabricating stuff that was not only functional, but also easily serviceable, I just don't get it. Good thing I'll be dead soon, eh? EDIT: The guy in the vid demonstrates that the bulbs can be accessed in literally seconds by going through the fender liners, so 'splain to me why the factory "service data" doesn't reflect that? Intentional ripoff of the owner by the factory department that prepared the data (to justify insanely inflated dealer labor prices), or just total incompetence? It's one or the other. Like i said, not always necessary. FSM says to pull cover/grille, look around first. When we get a car in we've never done bulbs on, first thing we do is see if there is a workaround. Sometimes there is, sometimes not. Don
stitchdup Posted March 31 Posted March 31 1999 renault laguna. passenger headlight blown. bought in 2002 for £750 as an mot(roadworthiness test) failure. figured how hard can it be to replace a bulb. to get to the headlight i had to remove the front bumper, radiator, intercooler, top end of the exhaust and the airbox and pretty much everything in between. spent 30 seconds swapping the bulb. i put it through a test and sold it for 6k a week later and gave the guy i bought it from another thousand to make myself feel better. just the lightbulb took 18 hours but that cars still a local taxi today. 1 1
johnyrotten Posted March 31 Posted March 31 My last vw (2008 gli) had the awesome but awfully expensive bi-zenon auto leveling headlights. 110 dollars a bulb locally. And not the most accessible location unless you've got the arms of a school girl. 1
stitchdup Posted March 31 Posted March 31 33 minutes ago, johnyrotten said: My last vw (2008 gli) had the awesome but awfully expensive bi-zenon auto leveling headlights. 110 dollars a bulb locally. And not the most accessible location unless you've got the arms of a school girl. swap the airbox for an aftermarket cone filter, it makes the lights much easier to work on. you can find the bulbs cheaper if you go to a hella dealer as they use the same bulb in some of their own brand spot lights
johnyrotten Posted March 31 Posted March 31 47 minutes ago, stitchdup said: swap the airbox for an aftermarket cone filter, it makes the lights much easier to work on. you can find the bulbs cheaper if you go to a hella dealer as they use the same bulb in some of their own brand spot lights I no longer have the car, at the time I already had my 05 gti as well, that was the "toy". The gli was just a daily, no mods for my daily drivers.
NOBLNG Posted March 31 Posted March 31 3 hours ago, stitchdup said: 1999 renault laguna. passenger headlight blown. bought in 2002 for £750 as an mot(roadworthiness test) failure. figured how hard can it be to replace a bulb. to get to the headlight i had to remove the front bumper, radiator, intercooler, top end of the exhaust and the airbox and pretty much everything in between. spent 30 seconds swapping the bulb. i put it through a test and sold it for 6k a week later and gave the guy i bought it from another thousand to make myself feel better. just the lightbulb took 18 hours but that cars still a local taxi today. I think I’d drill a couple of holes in the hood and mount a $50 set of driving lights and call it good!😬 2 2
Belugawrx Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Went thru this myself with my 2016 Silverado,..HID bulb replacement at dealership,..$350 EACH Found the bulbs on Amazon $100 a pair...replaced them myself...only cost a couple beers 2
Dave Van Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Kinda looks like NISSAN WANTS the $500+ charge when a real world GOOD mechanic does the work in minutes and not 1.6 hours. 2
slusher Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Car manufacturers really don’t worry about what we can afford. Repairs like headlight bulbs should not be so Shockley expensive.. 1
stitchdup Posted March 31 Posted March 31 but how do they sell the extended parts and labour warranties if you can fix it at home. its the only real chance car makers have to grab you into a subscription. they saw tesla do it and now they are desperate to do it too cos its like free money. the customer no longer matters, you'll just take what your given and like it is policy now 2
johnyrotten Posted March 31 Posted March 31 19 minutes ago, stitchdup said: the customer no longer matters, you'll just take what your given and like it is policy now Truth. Exactly why my gmc will be the newest vehicle I'll own going forward and the second I find a decent 60's through 80's whatever I'm jumping on it. No longer interested in modern over-complication and headaches. 1 1
johnyrotten Posted March 31 Posted March 31 (edited) 30 minutes ago, stitchdup said: Edited March 31 by johnyrotten Double post
stavanzer Posted March 31 Posted March 31 8 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said: Intentional ripoff of the owner by the factory department that prepared the data (to justify insanely inflated dealer labor prices), "AND" just total incompetence! Embrace the Healing Power of "And" 1
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