MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: T30GUE on October 31, 2009, 06:53:14 pm

Title: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: T30GUE on October 31, 2009, 06:53:14 pm
 Just had a set of the Autobulbs 1 watt led's delivered.

Been outside ars*ing about now for about an hr. Managed to remove the skin from most of my knuckles but have sorted the Passenger side headlight out. (Can no longer feel my thumbs!)

Problem is there is less room on the Driver's side and the bulb holder is really tight. I am even struggling to rotate it at all  :ashamed:


Been searching and reading the Forum too - tried a pliers, but the ones I have don't really fit into the small space.



Afraid if I pull any harder the reflector will be damaged.

Can't understand it, I managed this job with ease on my other mk5??

May attack it again tomorrow.   :fighting:

Any advice would be appreciated,

Thanks,
Chris.
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: WhiteGTI on October 31, 2009, 06:54:41 pm
Yeah its ridiculous!

Just pull hard, thats the only advice I can give! Mine were the same.
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: QD MBE on October 31, 2009, 06:58:25 pm
Chris,

It is an absolute pain of a job.................  I used a pair of long snipe nosed pliers.
 :fighting: :fighting: :fighting:
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: T30GUE on October 31, 2009, 07:08:20 pm

Thanks guys!

will give it some extra Welly tomorrow!

Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: stealthwolf on October 31, 2009, 07:21:33 pm
As above, it's quite tricky. I have short, stubby fingers which didn't help but even I didn't take an hour. Took me thirty mins max to change the indicators, sides, dipped and mains.

Persevere. I tried pliers but I felt that I was going to damage something so I just used fingers and brute force. Keep trying.
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: JPC on October 31, 2009, 07:39:40 pm
Try not to pull with the wires too, you can damage them aparently
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: Greeners on October 31, 2009, 08:43:27 pm
Long nosed pliers did the trick on the most stubborn one for me too!  :happy2:
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: candyman on October 31, 2009, 10:13:34 pm
Best tip is to wear some rubber washing up gloves, this way you can get hold of the little devil and gently pull it out. Keep at it and it will come.
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: QD MBE on October 31, 2009, 11:30:10 pm
Best tip is to wear some rubber washing up gloves, this way you can get hold of the little devil and gently pull it out. Keep at it and it will come.
Are we talking about the same thing...
 :chicken: :chicken: :chicken: :chicken: :chicken: :chicken:

Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: JPC on November 01, 2009, 01:44:31 am
Trust you dave!! Haha
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: Pauli on November 01, 2009, 01:56:03 am
I too have suffered the skinless knuckle bulb technique
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: Steve Baker on November 01, 2009, 09:43:01 am
Once you have the nearside out bend an old coat hanger or similar piece of wire to fit the bulb holder. Then use thiis to remove offside holder in about 30 seconds!  :happy2: Worked for me.  Would post a pic of said bent wire but it's not pretty!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: T30GUE on November 01, 2009, 02:53:12 pm
Thanks for all the suggestions!
Had another go this mrning and managed to get them both out in a few minutes with a mini long nose pliers. (Needs to have a snipe or angle though to reach inside)

Will try and get a pic up later to help other out

Thanks again!
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: T30GUE on November 01, 2009, 03:14:54 pm
Right bear with me  - first time posting pics!


The Pliers I used:
IMG]http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/xx140/t30gue76/003.jpg[/IMG]

and
Where to grip the bulbholder, and pull straight back (do not pull the the wires)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi749.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx140%2Ft30gue76%2F004.jpg&hash=4441ce72816620ee87e87d4ca2f2c8f81184fbaa)
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: T30GUE on November 01, 2009, 03:17:13 pm
Don't know why the first pic didn't work?
Will try again:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fxx140%2Ft30gue76%2F003.jpg&hash=9071eb594b571f94830d2f880b1b42792ff1a9be)
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: T30GUE on November 01, 2009, 03:18:06 pm
Who hoo!
Simple minds and all that!
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: k6kny on November 01, 2009, 05:51:06 pm
Had the same problem doing my sidelights, and same as you guys lost a lot of skin on my knuckles  :laugh:
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: T30GUE on November 01, 2009, 05:53:43 pm
And the final result!

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fxx140%2Ft30gue76%2F010.jpg&hash=d1f58b907c2119491d7898325e075554f460eabd)
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: T30GUE on November 01, 2009, 05:55:16 pm
And the Osram Nightbreakers - really impressed with them, nice white light.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fxx140%2Ft30gue76%2F011.jpg&hash=ea5372bba0044accb3acd9657bebe829ba712bee)
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: vwrascal on November 05, 2009, 01:04:30 pm
when removing the sidelight bulb holder, do you have to rotate it first or just pull the little bligther straight out???

 :confused:
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: Greeners on November 05, 2009, 01:29:06 pm
when removing the sidelight bulb holder, do you have to rotate it first or just pull the little bligther straight out???

 :confused:

You don't 'have' to rotate it but it does help to coax it out!  :happy2:
Title: Re: Removing sidelights - Arghhh!
Post by: vwrascal on November 05, 2009, 01:36:10 pm
Cheers nath, took 2 minutes after a set of 'Normal' pliers was found  (couldn't find needle nosers) just a small cheap mod to liven up the sh***y halogen units, they look quite cool   :happy2: