How to change headlight - VW Polo?

wallbash

Thread is over twelve weeks old , betting the other posters have got their bulbs sorted by now.

If you want to post start a new thread.

Strider590

wallbash wrote: »

Thread is over twelve weeks old , betting the other posters have got their bulbs sorted by now.

If you want to post start a new thread.

On the other hand, if it's relevent to the thread then it makes it much easier to find when doing a forum search, as opposed to getting 3 and half thousand results for the same issue and then having to spend an entire weekend trawling through them

wba31

travel_freak wrote: »

Hi

Many thanks everyone. I found a manual in the library! Have read it and looked under the bonnet and it is deceptively simple...it doesn't require any parts to be removed. I just remove a black rubber cap and then can see the bulb. Manual tells me to "pull off" the wires which attach on to the bulb ends and then to release a spring that holds the bulb in place.

For the life of me I can't get the wire parts to come away from the bulb - no idea why! I don't want to overly force it and risk breaking it. It is awkward to get at but I can see it well enough, just cannot free the bulb.

So maddening! I just can't believe manufacturers can get away with this sort of thing - or the stories above about removing a bumper - how crazy!!

I'll just have to get a few quotes from smaller garages I guess...thanks anyway for the helpful advice.

FORCE THAT THING!!! My old man's a mechanic, hands the size of dinner plates and made of leather, he's not gentle in his ways at all, whne my Bora bulb needed changing i thought he was gonna break something and never did. These cars are more durable then you would think...

Broadwood

angry_bob wrote: »

Ignore the myth & legend. It's not hard & can be done by any owner if they are determined to do so. No tools are necessary except possibly a small hand mirror. This probably applies to other makes/models too, have a go & don't be put off by the dire warnings in the owners handbook. This book is to help manufacturers & dealers, not you!
Open the bonnet & find a round rubber cover with a tab behind the headlamp. This pulls off. It's possible to see inside the lamp if you stick your forehead to the top of the coolant bottle or, try the hand mirror to have a look. The bulb is retained by a circular black plastic ring with 2 tabs which need to be twisted a very small amount (it should click). This releases the bulb still attached to the wires. Prise off the wires now the bulb is in your hand & replace, reversing the sequence. It is important to replace the bulb the right way up (there are only 2 ways) as there is a flat on it which engages with the lampholder. This means you need to replace the 2 wires the same way they came off. If you lose track it's possible to see which way up the bulb goes by peering inside the lamp. Replace the rubber cover & check the light. Bulbs cost about £5 from any motor factors/parts shop.

This is spot on. I watched my son (VW trained but now self-employed), fit me a new bulb recently and he has large hands and hates fitting bulbs to models like these Polos.

On discussing the proceedure with him, the vital bit is locking the bulb back in place with the black plastic ring otherwise when the next MOT comes around the loose bulb will cause the headlamp alignment to be all over the place and lead to an MOT failure. Also will have caused dazzle and annoyance to other drivers in the meantime, not to mention potentially being stopped and fined.

Si_Rockson

1 pop the bonnet
2 remove the rubber dust cap
3 turn the black ring around the headlight bulb anti clockwise (looking from behind the headlight) about 5mm and you will hear and feel a distinct click.
4 remove the bulb and disconnect the wiring.
5 insert your new bulb, lug (square sticky outy bit) to the top.
6 when your bulb is securely in place, turn the black ring clockwise about 5mm and again, you will hear and feel a click as it locks into place
7 reconnect the wiring (it’s easier once you have the bulb in the housing)
8 replace the rubber dust cap.
9 shut the bonnet and you’re done.

jblack_2

I reckon they might have done it by now Si .

jiflemon

Thanks Si, that was spot on and helped me no end.

Tricky bits were getting connectors off and finding the black ring.

gpk_

Thanks for the tips - Si's instructions are good, also angry bob. You shouldn't need to loosen the screws holding the locking ring.

I actually copped out and popped in to a really friendly garage. This was for a RHS headlamp where the a/con unit is completely in the way. Took the poor guy a good 15 mins of fiddling around seeing if he could improve access but in the end just shoving his hand down the tiny gap between a/con and radiator header tank was the only option (after moving an a/con pipe slightly) - apart from removing the bumper which is apparently how you are supposed to do it. He seemed to be in pain afterwards!!!!! Then they only wanted to charge me a fiver including bulb!!!

Best of luck to anyone else needing to do this!

Update: well unfortunately the nice chap at the nice garage put the bulb in upside-down.... make sure the lug is to the top...!!!

red_eye

travel_freak wrote: »

Hi,

I wondered whether anyone has/had a VW Polo and could explain how to change the headlight bulb? Mine has gone. I've looked at the manual and there is no info. at all - it just says to take it to a dealer!! I rang VW and they want to charge £55 to change the bulb!!

If anyone could help with any steps that would be great. I am reasonably handy but don't have any specialist tools, beyond screwdrivers.

Also, is it an automatic fine if you are stopped by the police? I'm working late shifts this week and not sure when I'll get a chance to try and fix this myself.

Thanks in advance.

its a plastic ocver with meatl clips, just pop off the clips to remove plastic cover.....

might not be a plastic cover I cant remember

gemsurf2

Thank you everyone! This thread has saved the day - and me some money - 4 years on :-)