MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: GeeTeeI on November 13, 2010, 01:16:17 pm

Title: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: GeeTeeI on November 13, 2010, 01:16:17 pm
I'm replacing my sidelight bulbs but can't for the life of me see what is holding the old ones in place - I've taken the rubber cover off the back and tried pulling the bulb but it doesn't come.
Doesn't help that the access to the bulbs is a bit restricted.

Can anybody advise?
Do they screw in or something?
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: Gene Hunt on November 13, 2010, 01:25:15 pm
It is a pain but the way i did mine was ''borrow'' a small make up mirror off the wife to get a good view of the bulb holder from the rear of the lens. Next get your fingers as far along the bulb holder as possible i.e as close to the rear of the light lens & pull the bulb holder NOT THE WIRES & they will come out. Drivers side one is made easier if you lift & remove the black filter box at the rear of the right headlight,just pull from the mounting holder & move to the side. :happy2:
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: CAPTAIN BRITAIN on November 13, 2010, 03:25:53 pm
To add to what gene hunt said, the bulbs are pointing sideways not forwrds like the other bulbs and so are not as easy to remove, Just get a good grip with the tips of your fingers and pull real hard, they will come out, But your knuckles will look like raw meat lol.  :grin:
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: stealthwolf on November 13, 2010, 04:02:05 pm
Brute force. You'll get scraped knuckles, blood and better sidelights in return.
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: GeeTeeI on November 13, 2010, 10:04:35 pm
 :signLOL:

I'm going to admire my half scuffed knuckles this evening and then attempt tomorrow afternoon and be ready to look like a bare-knuckle boxer by tomorrow evening.
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: keano on November 14, 2010, 12:10:40 pm
To add to what gene hunt said, the bulbs are pointing sideways not forwrds like the other bulbs and so are not as easy to remove, Just get a good grip with the tips of your fingers and pull real hard, they will come out, But your knuckles will look like raw meat lol.  :grin:

So they pull out horizontally? Last time i tried pulling towards me i used all my strength, and i'm not a small lad either, and they still wouldn't come!!

Need to get back to the gym to work on my...fingers  :grin:
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: Gene Hunt on November 14, 2010, 01:40:58 pm
To add to what gene hunt said, the bulbs are pointing sideways not forwrds like the other bulbs and so are not as easy to remove, Just get a good grip with the tips of your fingers and pull real hard, they will come out, But your knuckles will look like raw meat lol.  :grin:

So they pull out horizontally? Last time i tried pulling towards me i used all my strength, and i'm not a small lad either, and they still wouldn't come!!

Need to get back to the gym to work on my...fingers  :grin:
........all i did was get a good grip,sort of rocked the bulb holder & pull like hell & they will come out.
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: Boothy on November 14, 2010, 03:17:20 pm
Don't they twist first to unlock them from there position? I'm sure thats what I had to do with mine?
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: black-a4 on November 14, 2010, 06:52:15 pm
I tried to replace mine today, as I've had a replacement pair sitting for a while.

But gave up after too many knuckle related injury's and the cold weather outside!!
Leaving it for another day!
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: chungE on November 14, 2010, 08:36:22 pm
As advised already in this post pliers or tweezers are your friends.
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: Chris on November 14, 2010, 09:10:57 pm
i found that if they have never been out before they are hard to get out, mine were like that so i turned them on to get some heat in the socket and gently twisted back and fourth while pulling
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: keano on November 14, 2010, 09:12:15 pm
i found that if they have never been out before they are hard to get out, mine were like that so i turned them on to get some heat in the socket and gently twisted back and fourth while pulling

Did you find that helped Chris?
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: Chris on November 14, 2010, 09:17:07 pm
seemed to work yer as they came out after a bit, possibly the heat from the bulb expanded the tube the socket goes in slightly
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: GeeTeeI on November 15, 2010, 10:46:26 pm
To add to what gene hunt said, the bulbs are pointing sideways not forwrds like the other bulbs and so are not as easy to remove, Just get a good grip with the tips of your fingers and pull real hard, they will come out, But your knuckles will look like raw meat lol.  :grin:

So they pull out horizontally? Last time i tried pulling towards me i used all my strength, and i'm not a small lad either, and they still wouldn't come!!

Need to get back to the gym to work on my...fingers  :grin:
........all i did was get a good grip,sort of rocked the bulb holder & pull like hell & they will come out.

that's what i did in the end and it worked.

Thanks folks.

For some reason though the canbus led bulbs didn't work - after a few seconds they switched themselves off  :confused:
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: Gene Hunt on November 16, 2010, 02:54:17 am
I think l.e.d bulbs need some sort of resistor in the wiring mate?. I changed mine to the ones that match the Osram night breakers & there fine & fully road legal.
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: dnLcal on November 16, 2010, 10:59:09 am
Just SEND! Stop being a jessy and pull it (from the bulb holder)! Did mine last night for the 1st time they pull directly back (well they do on an ed30 with halogen bulbs) I thought they twisted at 1st but they don't. Follow the exposed red and brown wires to the holder and just pull the holder out. Do the passenger side 1st as it's got more room so you know exactly how to do it when you come to the more fidely drivers side.

HTH
Cal
Title: Re: How do I get the sidelight bulbs out!?
Post by: GeeTeeI on November 19, 2010, 08:07:43 am
Just SEND! Stop being a jessy and pull it (from the bulb holder)! Did mine last night for the 1st time they pull directly back (well they do on an ed30 with halogen bulbs) I thought they twisted at 1st but they don't. Follow the exposed red and brown wires to the holder and just pull the holder out. Do the passenger side 1st as it's got more room so you know exactly how to do it when you come to the more fidely drivers side.

HTH
Cal

Yep, I've got the knack now.
Its a wiggle and pulling action (isn't that the case for lots of other things too?!?). That way you don't break the holder or rip the wires out.
 :happy2: