how many ibiza owners does it take to change a lightbulb?

[DJowen]

Hi,

It's my first posting so go easy! hehe

The sidelight on the drivers side of my Ibiza has gone pop, manual says simply remove the back cover and swap bulb, manual fails to take into account that Seat put an engine in what was otherwise an empty space when they wrote the page on changing bulbs!

I can get the panel off, but then my hand doesnt fit between the headlight casing and fuel filter. Looks like the fuel filter housing is bolted to the chassis right at the bottom of the engine bay, which is handy, and some of the pipes for power steering or air-con, etc, seem to run directly over the mounting bolts (no room for Torq bit to unscrew).

Next theory was to remove headlight unit, but it seems this requires the whole front bumper to be removed!!!

Anyone got any advice?

Also I need a replacement aerial after some ASBO tried to steal mine , decided they couldn't remove it, so they snapped it out of spite, tossers. How do you remove the aerial? it must be anti-theft as it unscrews but doesn't release.

Also both front suspension coils went within 3 weeks of each other, car is only 3y 6m old, is this normal?

Sorry I have gone on a bit, hope you are awake as you read this! lol

OWen

 

[Brummy]

there were about FOUR or FIVE people huddled around a Mk4 Beeza Cupra last weekend at the brum Meet changing bulbs over

 

[spyke85]

It takes alot!

Worst bulbs I have ever changed!

 

[davels]

unbeleieveably tricky(totaly wrong spelling buts it early and i haven't been to bed yet ) even when you manage to get a hand in there they are so tight that you think your gonna pull the cables out of the fittment. not the best design really putting a bloody great engine in the way but if bumper nees to come off at least it's easy. i dropped a bolt when changing my strut brace and manage to remove the front bumper in under 20 mins. for a novice i hink it's pretty good

 

[mja_fin]

The sidelight on the drivers side of my Ibiza has gone pop, manual says simply remove the back cover and swap bulb, manual fails to take into account that Seat put an engine in what was otherwise an empty space when they wrote the page on changing bulbs!
...
Next theory was to remove headlight unit, but it seems this requires the whole front bumper to be removed!!!
...
Also both front suspension coils went within 3 weeks of each other, car is only 3y 6m old, is this normal?

I bought a pair of white Philips sidelights but have avoided swapping them ever since. Will probably remove the front bumper when the old lights burn. My TDI 130 is now ~3.5 years old and the right hand side front spring broke three months ago (a good excuse to get coilies )

 

[DJowen]

Hi davels,

regarding taking off the bumper can you give me a clue as to how many screws there are?

When I looked at it i could only see about 4 within the wheel arch that look like they tap the bumper, and then about 8 under front lip.

Do I need to fanny about with any screws within the lower grille, or near the foggies?

Ta muchly

Owen

 

[tommmineh]

this may help

http://www.forgemotorsport.co.uk/media/FMIBFMIC.pdf

 

[deezal]

My passenger sidelight has just gone, and because of where the battery is I dont see how I can get my hands in there let alone change the bulb. I have done the headlights before, after a lot of cursing etc. but this looks impossible -bumper removal job I think .

 

[Yella Beeza]

I just changed the nearside indicator and sidelight bulbs on my TDi FR this afternoon. It's actually pretty straightforward as long as you haven't got big hands.

Push the clip holding the cover on to the left as you look down, and the sidelight housing just pulls out fairly easily. Just pull the bulb out.

Be prepared for some sharp edges though on the bodywork.

If you think the nearside is difficult, just try the offside! You really do need small hands.

 

[deezal]

I just changed the nearside indicator and sidelight bulbs on my TDi FR this afternoon. It's actually pretty straightforward as long as you haven't got big hands.

Push the clip holding the cover on to the left as you look down, and the sidelight housing just pulls out fairly easily. Just pull the bulb out.

Be prepared for some sharp edges though on the bodywork.

If you think the nearside is difficult, just try the offside! You really do need small hands.

I can get my hand on the clip fairly easily , but theres a bodywork screw that catches my arm every time! Its a case of almost , but not quite and Im afraid of getting my hand stuck. But I'll have another go tomorrow .

 

[Yella Beeza]

Try both hands to see if you can get a better angle.

I'm attempting the other side tomorrow with the help of my 9-year-old daughter!

 

[MTIbiza]

Not to be sexist but I get a female friend of mine to change my sidelight bulbs - she has much smaller hands than me! although she does make me put the covers back as she is scared she may drop them in to the wheel arch!

Mike

 

[deezal]

Useful to have someone else around in case you do get your hand stuck ! All joking aside.

 

[KaraK]

there were about FOUR or FIVE people huddled around a Mk4 Beeza Cupra last weekend at the brum Meet changing bulbs over

I remember that... in all fairness though I was just hovering around trying to find a spot that was more sheltered from that s***ing downpour!

 

[keefy]

Are the bulbs sorted?

My passenger side went about a month after i got mine and I got some great advice about changing the bulbs.

With the diesels you just need to remove the top cover from the batter and then unclip and lift out the front (side?) cover as well. This gives you about and extra inch and makes it much less painful.
Before doing this, i couldn't change the bulb. Once I took the front part of the battery cover off it took about 5 mins.

I think it is trickier in the petrol though.

 

[deezal]

Are the bulbs sorted?

My passenger side went about a month after i got mine and I got some great advice about changing the bulbs.

With the diesels you just need to remove the top cover from the batter and then unclip and lift out the front (side?) cover as well. This gives you about and extra inch and makes it much less painful.
Before doing this, i couldn't change the bulb. Once I took the front part of the battery cover off it took about 5 mins.

I think it is trickier in the petrol though.

I just spent over an hour at this (unsuccesssfully) . My battery has a cover on top ,I can take that off but cant see how the front/side cover comes off.
I managed to get the bulb cover off , but couldnt get the sidelight bulb out.
In fact I couldnt even see it ,theres a wire disappearing into a hole in the back of the sidelight holder .
So I gave up and then had a job getting the plastic cover back on .After dropping it into the wing , I thought Id lost it for good
But eventually, got it back on and the clip in place .
Also noticed that the cover in the drivers sidelight wasnt on properly . Possible water ingress there ? No sign of condensation in any of my lights .But I couldnt get my hand in there , think I need a pair of long handled pliers.
But Im not giving up yet , dontlike it to beat me and no way am I paying a stealer £20 to change a bulb .

 

[Yella Beeza]

OK. Have done all the bulbs now without taking the bumper off.

Passenger side - I found this straightforward. The sidelight bulb isn't in tightly. In fact the manual suggests pulling on the wires, and the holder with the bulb will come out easily. If you want, change that horrid orange indicator bulb for something a bit more stylish at the same time (eg Osram Diadem which has a bluish tint).

Driver's side - definitely take off the headlight/mainbeam cover first for more room. Again, I did this without too much trouble. The problem I had was getting the cover back on for the sidelight/indicator. It was getting the clip to go on. Eventually levered it back on with a screwdriver.

I replaced the main H3 bulbs with some 50% uprated ones from Ultra. They are crap. Far too blue. And I discovered the mainbeam needs aligning anyway. So those will be coming out.

 

[deezal]

OK. Have done all the bulbs now without taking the bumper off.

Passenger side - I found this straightforward. The sidelight bulb isn't in tightly. In fact the manual suggests pulling on the wires, and the holder with the bulb will come out easily. If you want, change that horrid orange indicator bulb for something a bit more stylish at the same time (eg Osram Diadem which has a bluish tint).

Driver's side - definitely take off the headlight/mainbeam cover first for more room. Again, I did this without too much trouble. The problem I had was getting the cover back on for the sidelight/indicator. It was getting the clip to go on. Eventually levered it back on with a screwdriver.

I had the same problem with the drivers side clip. On the passenger side, tried pulling on the wires,could see the holder moving about, but was afraid to pull too hard. Will have another go tomorrow . Getting there slowly but surely.