Auris headlamp bulb stuck in place

[CourtRd]

Hi, I have a 2013 Auris with a failed headlamp bulb. I can see from online videos that it takes about 2 minutes to change the bulb. I can get to the bit where you turn the bulb holder 90 deg to release it but at this point the bulb refuses to come out.

Is this a common problem with a known cause.

I think the only way to fully see what is going on is to remove the complete headlamp and work with it in full daylight. Am I right in thinking that to do this I have to remove the front bumper assembly ??

Thanks.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Moved to the Auris club.

[Gerg]

On 10/27/2021 at 7:47 PM, CourtRd said:

Am I right in thinking that to do this I have to remove the front bumper assembly ??

This answer is likely too late for you, and you've sorted this already.

Yes, the bumper does have to come off to remove the headlamp -  the headlamp protrudes below the bumper line.

 

Perhaps these pictures from a breaker's-yard-damaged headlamp will show you 'what goes where' with the fitting, if you haven't fixed it already.

 

 

The whole bulb mount moves (on beam adjustment springs?) without much effort, which can make it feel quite fragile.  Yours is not a problem I've heard of before, perhaps this is an aftermarket bulb with plastic mounting tangs that are not accurately cast, and are a tight fit in the holder?

I think that in your case, wiggling the bulb with judicious effort will eventually get it out.

[rajivrattna]

Is your so called original bulb a Philips long life bulb or an aftermarket badly designed bulb that refuses to budge, I wonder.

[CourtRd]

Thanks for the replies on this. The bulb is still stuck and I can't get it free but I am getting it into my parents garage this week and over the pit so that I can get to all the relevant components and remove the bumper (and do an oil change). It looks as if the car has been poorly maintained so I suspect the bulb is an aftermarket component and the tangs are too large for the moulding and the previous owner has just forced it into place.

Cheers.

[Gerg]

Whilst I've never tried it, you might consider loosening the three prominent Torx screws (as per the photo) that secure the bulb holder in position. Obviously, if one of the screws fell into the headlamp then it'd have to come off the car to tip it out.

The 9012 bulbs are now readily available from motor factors, but that wasn't always the case.  It might be that a previous owner has 'experimented' with a different, but similar, bulb because that's all that they had, or as an attempt at an 'upgrade'.

The 9012 bulb (your one) is very similar (but different) in base dimensions to a 9011 and a 9006.  With a small file, or wire cutters, the plastic base profiles can be changed. There are people who have done this (but usually in the US).  I can't remember which bulbs can be modded to fit into which bulb holders. There is a small chance that this is your problem. 

A new headlamp is around £300, if it all goes terribly, horribly wrong, just so you know!  

[TonyHSD]

34 minutes ago, CourtRd said:

Thanks for the replies on this. The bulb is still stuck and I can't get it free but I am getting it into my parents garage this week and over the pit so that I can get to all the relevant components and remove the bumper (and do an oil change). It looks as if the car has been poorly maintained so I suspect the bulb is an aftermarket component and the tangs are too large for the moulding and the previous owner has just forced it into place.

Cheers.

Hi, if that’s the case you can use some silicone spray and spray little bit at these 3 points,  wait 10 min and try to turn and take the bulb out . Wearing a mechanic gloves helps a lot when doing jobs like that too, highly recommended to use them. 

[Gerg]

I just remembered that I had a lightly damaged 2013 Auris headlight in the garage.  It's slightly different to the one at the breakers, pictured earlier (perhaps that was an Auris Mk2 facelift?).  This one has 3 x Philips screws securing the bulb holder, and they're quite tight!!  If you remove them, the bulb holder comes apart, which must surely release the bulb!

This is one I've just done.  A Philips no.2 driver with a good tip seems in order - the screws are tight enough for the driver to 'cam out' if you aren't pressing firmly enough, which could be slightly awkward with the headlamp in situ.