GOD!! How do you change the headlight bulb in a 55 Corsa!?

Cool_Username

Anyone help me out here? I have the old shape (facelift) Corsa and one of my headlight bulbs is knackered so I've been trying to change it. It's on the driver's side next to the air filter. I took the pipe off that to get better access behind the light but for the life of me I can't get that bulb out of there!

It's the 'middle' bulb that needs replacing, the dipped beam I think it's called if I'm right in thinking it goes sidelights, dipped beam, main beam.

Surely I haven't got to remove the whole light unit to change a bulb!? :mad:

only_mee

found this

right i done loads of these..if its angel eyes type..the dipped beam light on nearside needs fusebox lid off unclip the cover on the lamp the clip for the bulb is clipped from the top.the metal tag goes to the side of the bulb and pulls down to get the bulb out.off side the same but needs the flexi air pipe removed.it pulls out.....main beam is bumper off and headlights out..no other way..normal halogen type just as normal....it tells u how to do all 3 types in the owners manual btw....xenon type is bumper and headlight off as its easier that way with that type.......allow about 30 mins if doing dipped beam..and 1 to 2 hours depending how rusted the bolts are on the bumper.

wallbash

I posted in the 'praise ' thread , how good the Halfords service was.
Got nothing but 'stick' ,saying any one can change a light bulb ,
Yes took guy from halfords only a couple of minutes... took me an hour the previous failure.
Money I still think well spent.
So , I cant help .... but think about Halfords.

Strider590

Cool_Username wrote: »

GOD!! How do you change the headlight bulb in a 55 Corsa!?

Your supposed to go to the dealership, cars are being built more and more this way, even to the point of using security/tamperproof bolts and screws to stop anyone doing DIY.

You probably need to remove various bits and pieces like the air filter box and the battery tray to get into the headlamp units...

Got a Vectra and it's a complete nightmare to change the bulbs....
Lucky to have small hands

foofi22

Strider590 wrote: »

Lucky to have small hands

Erm...yeah...:D

vikingaero

I unbolted the air filter for extra room on our Corsa. It was still a pig to change with my sausage fingers.

only_mee

foofi22 wrote: »

Erm...yeah...:D

:rotfl:

10 characters

eamon

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread. A work colleague has an 04 plate Corsa with a dead sidelight bulb (nearside). We have both read the manual and agree that in theory it should be a simple process. But in practise it isn't. Is it really a dealership or similar job?

yours

Eamon

vikingaero

eamon wrote: »

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread. A work colleague has an 04 plate Corsa with a dead sidelight bulb (nearside). We have both read the manual and agree that in theory it should be a simple process. But in practise it isn't. Is it really a dealership or similar job?

yours

Eamon

I've got this exact problem tomorrow after noticing that Mrs V's Corsa headlight has blown on the nearside. From what I can remember I'll be getting the tools out to remove/unbolt some fuse box to allow access.

knightstyle

Megane has the same problem!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZWqU9X6PR4

vikingaero

Just done it! Start to finish about 15 minutes. Easier than the drivers side bulb for some reason.

This is what I did:

(1) Removed the top of the fuse box cover to provide vital 1 cm clearance!
(2) Removed a socket plug from the ABS unit by sliding the purple clip out at one end. The cable going to the socket plug obstructs the cover on the rear of the headlight.
(3) Remove the headlight cover and jiggle it out.
(4) Unplug the black plug on the rear of the bulb
(5) Unclip the two wires holding the bulb in place by pushing the top part of the wire in and around the latches.
(6) Remove dud bulb noting the tab part of the bulb being at the bottom
(7) Insert new bulb with tab at bottom
(8) Hook the retaining wires back on - the fiddliest part.
(9) Reattach the black plug
(10) Turn on headlights before reassembly to check it all works
(11) Refit everything!