Side Light Bulb

[rambler]

Hi folks

Can never remember (offside or nearside).....

But my drivers side front side light seems to have a mind of its own,some times it will come on upon cold starts,other times it wont.

I just popped the bonnett,...i cant even see how to get to the bulb,let alone check out connections.......

So....does the headlight unit have to be undone / removed to do this ?

Anyone done this before...

[shcm]

Rambs,

No, you don't have to remove the headlamp, I have changed side lights on a 4.2, without doing that, but it was a while ago and I think it was a potential hand scraping job and I don't have particularly fat hands.

The bulb is obviously right at the edge against the wing on your 4.2. Wish I could remember more. Sure another current 4.2 owner will advise.

Nearside & Offside - Easy way to remember. I've always assume it referred to where the curb was when driving on normal 2 lane road in UK. So left hand side is nearest to the curb. i.e. left hand is the nearside.

[Big Kev]

I am the vacuumer / washer / valeter of a 4.2 Rav, and DO have fat hands. It is my intent to write to Her Majesty's Government and ask for a letter of dispensation re ever having to change a sidelight bulb on wifey's 3 door Rav. If it's an MOT failure for that reason, Godness only knows what I would do....my degree in gynaecology doesn't even cover it...!

If shcm or anybody remembers that there is an easy way, please do postificate at your leisure. Looks like headlight removal for me, eventually.

Big Handy Man Kev

[vRS Bob]

A while back I bought some upgraded headlamp bulbs for my wife's 4.2 and with them came a free pair of LED sidelight bulbs so I decided to fit them too. The headlamp bulbs took me about 10 minutes and the sidelights about an hour. It was a b*****d of a job and left me with somewhat less skin than I started with. In fact I eventually had to get the missus to get the second bulb in place as she has somewhat smaller hands as me. Should have got her to do it in the first place - her :censor: car!

Bob

--

[pgp001]

I just did the nearside one on my 2004 4.2.

I have small hands and could "just" get to the bulb holder with the tips of two fingers.

It was touch and go but I managed to do it, its best to remove your watch first if you use that hand.

I have seen somewhere on the internet that it is much easier to do this job from under the car wing,

Apparently by pulling the plastic inner wing away from the outer one to make a way in.

Phil

[Bristim]

Somewhere there is a thread telling you how to do this - I am sure someone will point in the right direction.

The simplest way is to pull back the plastic liner to the wheelarch - it is held on with the same press stud type fixings as elsewhere and after pulling out a couple you can then get your arm in, although it is very tight and best done somewhere warm and dry as you end up rolling round on the floor. ;)

I replaced the sidelight bulbs with LEDs on the basis that they should last a while.

[anchorman]

Its easy. You just pull the wheel arch liner back near where the bumper and wing meet.

[Big Kev]

Its easy. You just pull the wheel arch liner back near where the bumper and wing meet.

The weather in Scotland right now is absolutely beautiful.....

Big Kev B)

[rambler]

Hi folks

Well.......as per usual, superb helpful suggestions...many thanks everyone.

I shall avoid the ' hand scraping ' as i value my skin as it helps to hold my blood in & give the wheel arch liner a tug at the weekend instead.

Although this morning both lights worked ok

& Shcm,thanks for tip re Nearside...ah ha,ive now found the bold button :D

Cheers.

[bothwell_buyer]

Goodness me - what a shower of mosochists - masochysts - people wanting to self-harm. Visit yer local ironmongery store and buy a hole saw... diamond tipped if necessary if yer lights are glass. If yer skint I can lend you one.

Using a slow speed drill like they use at dentists, cut a hole in the front of said lamp housing to access bulb - taking care to save the removed circular bit. Replace bulb quickly and easily, then stick circular bit back onto the assembly using a suitable adhesive. It worked for my Previa. :o

As this involves little skill, I cannot be held responsible for any mistakes, breakages, or overdoses.