One Headlight

richardvc

This post started as a whinge about people with one headlight out and now it's spiralling out of control with lectures on car maintenance and drug dealers !

String 'em all up I say !

By the way, some of you need to get out more often !

Jamie_Carter

WestonDave wrote: »

Those who think they can and should be replaced as soon as they are noticed to be out have clearly never driven a C3. First time mine went on that, I figured I could change it in my lunch hour before the dark drive home in the evening. An hours swearing, fiddling around, skin losing later I gave up and it got driven home in the dark with one out. I ended up having to borrow a handbag mirror and then after having removed most of the battery cover, it was just about possible to see enough to wriggle a hand into the almost inaccessible space to get the bulb changed. (To be fair that was the passenger side one - the drivers side one whilst not easy is at least a bit easier as there is less obstruction).

Out of sheer devilment the next time that bulb went, I paid Halfords £7 to change it. Lets just say it was a good job I wasn't paying the employee directly and that he was under 18 as it would have run into issues with the Minimum Wage by the time he finished!

Perhaps some of the outrage should be directed at manufacturers who start assembling the car around the front lights and never think about access for servicing!

Oh dear, my daughter has a C3. And as part of teaching her to drive I am also teaching her general car maintenance, but haven't got around to changing bulbs yet. So it could be fun.


It must be a Citroen thing. Years ago my mother had a Citroen GSA. To change the spark plugs I had to remove one headlight unit and the air filter box.

WTFH

richardvc wrote: »

By the way, some of you need to get out more often !

They would except the headlights have blown on their cars.

...and if it's a Renault Megane:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPgGyAp5Q68

or, the alternate method:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPBnFx1I4YA

BeenThroughItAll

sinbad182 wrote: »

I'm afraid that your zealousness borders on obsessive and puts you very, very much in the minority.

And that's why in 20 years I have never had a car fail an MOT, or been pulled over due to a vehicle defect.

I'm sure I am in the minority, but I'll stay in my ivory tower thanks.

Your points are indeed valid, although I disagree with the way you put them; but the original question was "Why do so many people drive around with only one headlight?" and my response was to that question - you surely can't be suggesting that every single one of the people who are doing so has been subject to a sudden and unnoticed failure, or that they're all waiting to take their car into a garage to have it fixed (when Halfords will fit a bulb for you without an appointment, why would you wait for a garage?)?

At least some of the numerous people I see every day (in the semi-rural area where I live) without a full-complement of functioning lights must simply be too lazy to sort the problem out. In the dark lanes of County Durham 'I didn't notice because the street lights are on' just doesn't cut it.

You and I will clearly have to agree to disagree.

BeenThroughItAll

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

And that is precisely how the police do catch many people for many offences or crimes. People who disregard the law in one way, will often disregard the law in other ways. In fact many criminals wouldn't get caught if they break road laws.

Exactly what I was getting at with my initial reply. Thank you

Building_Surveyor

So who actually carries spare bulbs with them.. Because your head light could actually blow whilst driving? Very easy to check before a long journey but who here actually carries spares?

A car driving with one light, who's to say it didn't blow out 5minutes ago..

Btw I do carry spare bulbs, but wondered if anyone else does, because it could easily happen?

notanewuser

goonarmy wrote: »

It also worries me that they cannot see their speeedo and dash cos they havent put their lights on. Must be an insurance industry cop out"how fast were you travelling?"
"Dunno couldnt see"
"we aint paying BYEEEEEEEEE!"

New cars have an annoying habit of lighting the dashboard whether the lights are on or not.

notanewuser

Building_Surveyor wrote: »

So who actually carries spare bulbs with them.. Because your head light could actually blow whilst driving? Very easy to check before a long journey but who here actually carries spares?

A car driving with one light, who's to say it didn't blow out 5minutes ago..

Btw I do carry spare bulbs, but wondered if anyone else does, because it could easily happen?

I do actually.

custardy

tykesi wrote: »

It's because they're idiots. They're the same people who never check oil levels, tyre pressures, fluid levels etc... The only upside is that they're quite obvious to spot so it's easy to give them a wide berth!!

I have noticed this year more and more people are forgetting to switch their lights on at all, I've given up trying to warn them as they are oblivious to ANYTHING on the road that's not two feet in front of their bumper. :mad:

How do you know? My headlight went as I left the house the other day
At 4am,nobody had spares
I returned home in the dark
So that was 2 trips before I could get it replaced

Building_Surveyor wrote: »

So who actually carries spare bulbs with them.. Because your head light could actually blow whilst driving? Very easy to check before a long journey but who here actually carries spares?

A car driving with one light, who's to say it didn't blow out 5minutes ago..

Btw I do carry spare bulbs, but wondered if anyone else does, because it could easily happen?

Didnt have headlight bulbs ( used my spare when it blew the last time)
carry the other bulbs

Captain_Flack.

custardy wrote: »

Didnt have headlight bulbs ( used my spare when it blew the last time)
carry the other bulbs

If you were switched on you'd have replaced it.;)