Easy jobs made harder than they need to be.....

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Fat Controller, Dec 13, 2014.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    I am all for technology and progress, and there can be no doubt that many things are now better than any of us could ever have imagined, however not everything is for the better....

    At the back end of last week, one of my headlights blew, so I popped online and ordered two sets of good quality bulbs; I was happy to wait a few days for them to arrive, not least as it was going to allow me to replace all four bulbs at the same time with upgraded, whiter bulbs, and the fact that I was getting them for over fifty quid on shop prices.

    They arrived on Tuesday, and I thought I had nothing else to do but pop them in, so on Tuesday afternoon I popped the bonnet and quickly arrived at the conclusion that unless I was fitted with hands that were about the size of a toddler and had the dexterity of a surgeon, as well as having three wrist joints, there was no chance I was changing the bulbs in a hurry.

    After asking the experts on another forum that I frequent, I was armed with the information that I needed to change the bulbs, and successfully managed to do just that this morning.


    The process? Open bonnet, remove engine bay cover above the radiator, remove headlight assembly from the car (yes, completely) before removing the rubber cover to access the bulbs. Don't get me wrong, there was nothing particularly difficult about the job, but having to completely remove the headlights from the car to change a bulb??!?!? Not a chance of this being a roadside repair nowadays.
     
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    • Lawnman

      Lawnman Gardener

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      This morning I have replaced brake bulb on my Berlingo van.
      Process remove backlight assembly, secured by 2 screws, none standard of course , special head required which fortunatley I had . Dismantle assembly replace bulb and re-assemble.
      Again nothing complicated or difficult if you have right tools and some DIY skills.
      I have a suspicion that car manufacturers presume we will not do simple maintenance but will take it to the dealer who will turn a £1 bulb into a £50 repair job.
      Or is that just me being a little cynical?
       
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      • clueless1

        clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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        I had to change an indicator bulb on Gothilda recently. The process: Come out of Halfords having bought the replacement bulbs, opening packaging as I walk. Pop the bonnet of the car, casually reach in and unclip the assembly thing, pull out the failed bulb, push in the new one, push the assembly back in and feel for the spring clip thing latching, drop the bonnet, drive away.
         
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        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          Yep, cars have become too complicated, even the main dealer struggled to work out what was wrong with mine.
          It was only when I contacted Ford directly by E mail that they got themselves moving and sorted out the problem.
           
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            Unfortunately, FC, that seems to have been the trend for some years. My Focus CMax is the same, if I want to replace the bulb of a headlight I have to take the complete unit out which is a time consuming, fiddly and frustrating job.:gaah::dunno::hate-shocked::snork:
             
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              Like Clueless, the job on Mrs Shiney Volvo was very simple the other day. She needed a new headlight bulb.

              I had the choice of driving into town (12 mile round trip) and spending 45 minutes (including parking and buying) and then working at replacing the bulb - I'm useless at DIY, or doing the two mile round trip to our local garage.

              I phoned the garage first and they told me to come down at 3 p.m. I arrived two minutes early! They changed the headlight bulb and one of the (twin) rear bulbs that we hadn't noticed wasn't working. I was back home at 3.10. Cost:- £6 :yay:. Thanks Martin :blue thumb:
               
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              • HarryS

                HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                I have a C-Max Armandii , got Halfords to change my first bulb . You just unscrew one bolt flick off a clamp and the unit tilts forward. My car before was an Alfa Romeo , now I worked out that the assembly line starts with a headlamp unit and the rest of the car is built around it ! You need a specialist to change the front bulbs .
                 
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                • Sheal

                  Sheal Total Gardener

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                  My daughter bought a C-Max on Saturday, I'll have to pass this info on. :)
                   
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                  • ARMANDII

                    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                    I think you'll find it differs from model to model of the CMAX, Harry. The Garage who has serviced my cars for nearly 30 years and knows his stuff had to phone his friend at the Ford Dealers because he was sure that is how it should have been but there was no clamp for the unit. The whole unit is held in by 6 bolts and the Dealers advice was to remove the whole unit. My CMAX is the 2 litre diesel Ghia with the electric handbrake. Now while I love the car, as it's fast and very comfortable, with all the gizmo's the clutch was expensive to renew [over a £1,000:hate-shocked::dunno:] as was the electric handbrake control box [over a £1000 again:gaah:]
                    So while I will get another new CMax next year I will make sure it's got a mechanical handbrake:doh::snork:
                     
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                    • longk

                      longk Total Gardener

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                      Yes cars are too complicated now. I have a 2008 Astra in at the main dealers with no indicators - two weeks and no progress!

                      Reno Espace headlamp bulb? Remove the under wing trims and engine undertray, remove front bumper, remove headlamp, change bulb and then refit everything. :wallbanging:

                      I was driving a 2010 Merc the other day and it just stopped and the electrics went haywire (lights flashing, wipers going, rev counter at 1000rpm even though it had broke down and so on). The fault was the SAM unit which is a box that takes all the signals from the various ECUs and switches and sends that signal on to the ECU that it is intended for. One box fails the whole car fails. And it only costs a grand to fix :yikes:
                       
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                      • HarryS

                        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                        Sheal , Armandi this is the change routine for a 2003-2008 Focus / C-Max . It may differ on other models . If in doubt Halfords will change a bulb while you wait for a few quid . They do most models but not all , I think some Audis they cannot do.
                         
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                        • HarryS

                          HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                          I agree with the electric handbrake what a pointless invention how else can I slide park into the last available spot :biggrin: ( This is incredible :dbgrtmb:)
                           
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                          • pete

                            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                            Hill start assist anyone?

                            luckily I can turn it off.

                            Just never lets the brake off fast enough, end up lurching forward.
                             
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                            • ARMANDII

                              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                              Are you talking about after a session at the Pub, Pete??:hate-shocked::heehee:
                               
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                              • Sheal

                                Sheal Total Gardener

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                                My nearest Halfords is 60 miles and a boat trip away Harry! :heehee:
                                 
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