2004 Corolla

[Steve McClean]

Good afternoon everyone.

Complete noobie here. What a great Forum, so much to see!!

My wife's beloved Corolla failed its MOT because the, drivers side, headlight bulb clip is missing.

Halfords couldn't help, any idea where I might buy a replacement clip?

(The car currently does fewer than 3000 miles per year and is never driven at night.)

Thanks in advance,

S.

 

 

 

 

[TonyHSD]

Hi, 

is the metal wire clip that secures the bulb plastic cover? 
These might not be sold separately and only way will be to replace headlight unit. You can buy used on of eBay for example. 
Other option is to try to do something as diy fix. Bend some metal wire same or similar shape and attach to the headlight. Do it yourself or ask someone to help. 
 

[Steve McClean]

Thanks Tony,

Wrong clip I'm afraid. The one we're missing is the BULB retaining clip.

It's an absolute PITA to access on our model, the ABS unit sits exactly where you wouldn't want it to.

The man who designed it never had to fit one.😱

 

Thank you for your response,

Steve.

[TonyHSD]

2 hours ago, Steve McClean said:

Thanks Tony,

Wrong clip I'm afraid. The one we're missing is the BULB retaining clip.

It's an absolute PITA to access on our model, the ABS unit sits exactly where you wouldn't want it to.

The man who designed it never had to fit one.😱

 

Thank you for your response,

Steve.

Aaa, ok 

These can get off and fell down instead the light unit. Perjury if you try to stick something like a magnet stick those for reaching metal things deep inside engine bay and if lucky you get it out and try to fix but if no much room to work around then not sure. 

[oldcodger]

Yes, those bulbs are an absolute pain to get to, we normally have to use a mirror and torch to see what we are doing.

Seems you can buy those bulb retainng clips  from various sources like eBay, Amazon and some car part suppliers, though cannot say which one will actually fit yours other than it should be a H7 bulb, expect you will have to look at or remove the one from the other headlamp to be sure.

Wonder in your local Toyota dealer will stock them as well ? - at least they should supply the exact part, give them a ring or use the Toyota eBay store.

eg  - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221553922168

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/toyotaofficialstore

[Steve McClean]

25 minutes ago, oldcodger said:

Yes, those bulbs are an absolute pain to get to, we normally have to use a mirror and torch to see what we are doing.

Seems you can buy those bulb retainng clips  from various sources like ebay, amazon and some car part suppliers, though cannot say which one will actually fit yours other than it should be a H7 bulb, expect you will have to look at or remove the one from the other headlamp to be sure.

Wonder in your local Toyota dealer will stock them as well ? - at least they should supply the exact part, give them a ring or use the Toyota Ebay store.

eg  - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221553922168

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/toyotaofficialstore

Thanks oldcodger, very kind of you.

I will try those sources.

👍

[Steve McClean]

Just to let everyone know.....Toyota, don't sell the bulb CLIP as a separate part.

I may have to buy a used h/light unit...to get the clip.

 

Does anyone know if I can hold the bulb in place any other way, that will pass an MOT?

Given that the car is never driven at night, would a lump of Blu-Tac do the job, (it goes quite hard at low temps).

[aidank]

go to a breakers yard, should be plenty cars crashed in the front end lying about with broken headlights.  they might give you a clip from said light

[oldcodger]

What about that £5 clip kit I linked to earlier ?  worth a try ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221553922168