Headlamp Query

[aigoro]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and hope someone can help me. I need to change one of my headlamps because my car failed MOT due to it being insecure. On inspection, I found that both top and bottom fixings/brackets were all broken off and the headlamp had been fitted using two metal plates which were bolted to it on top. It had not been secured at the bottom at all. My problem is that the lights varied on the different ibizas manufactured that year. The headlamps I have are difficult to find second hand (see first image). The common ones are like the second image.

.
My question is, can I use the 2nd type? I will obviously have to change both headlamps so they are the same but will they work? The fixings are exactly the same so that is not a problem, but it has 2 bulbs where mine has only one. Will I need to do some wiring or will both bulbs work?

While I'm here, I have another quick question. Apparently, my offside rear fog light isn't working. Where is the bulb???? My car does not seem to have seperate rear fog light bulbs, just tail and brake lights (or am I being stupid?) 04 Reg Seat Ibiza.

Thanks in advance.

 

[R1ch85]

you should be able to use the twin bulb headlights as a straight swap i think, I'm fairly sure they're just plug and play..

the rear fog light bulb is on the right hand side of the tailgate. Inside the boot on the trim there is a removable plastic cover which allows you access to the bulbs.

 

[aigoro]

Thanks R1ch85. I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[Leigh15]

I'd be surprised if the headlamp units were plug and play - surely the single lamp units only have one plug going to them that runs the H4 lamp, whereas the twin lamp units will require two leads - one for each lamp?

 

[Altech]

I'm not too sure if it is just plug and play. I remember when Guinness changed his headlights on his 1.2 he had to alter the wiring for the additional bulb to work.

They are a nice uprgrade however and i don't think it is too difficult to alter the wiring. There's normally a few headlights on ebay. I bought a pair of the double bulb headlights for about £30 for my old black Ibiza....very cheap and were nearly brand new!

 

[tom_ibiza]

yeah its a pretty simple job to do, your old headlamps use a h4 bulb and the new ones will have h7, h4 is a twin filliment bulb, so you just need to find the power source for the main beam bulb, cut the wire use a couple of insulated spades and connect it up to the other bulb, and then earth it to the chassis or use a piggy back to connect it to the existing earth wire...

or if you wanted to you can go to any parts shop and get h7 connectors rather than having spades connecting to the bulbs......

remember when you put your new lamp in the car will more than likely fail the mot again because the positioning will be wrong so it will have to be adjusted,

and your fog lamp is in the same position as the reverse light just on the other side of the car..

 

[muddyboots]

Also remember that it's a bumper off job to access the lower 2 mounting bolts
There's a thread or two on here explaining how to do it, it's fairly easy.

 

[aigoro]

yeah its a pretty simple job to do, your old headlamps use a h4 bulb and the new ones will have h7, h4 is a twin filliment bulb, so you just need to find the power source for the main beam bulb, cut the wire use a couple of insulated spades and connect it up to the other bulb, and then earth it to the chassis or use a piggy back to connect it to the existing earth wire...

or if you wanted to you can go to any parts shop and get h7 connectors rather than having spades connecting to the bulbs......

remember when you put your new lamp in the car will more than likely fail the mot again because the positioning will be wrong so it will have to be adjusted,

and your fog lamp is in the same position as the reverse light just on the other side of the car..

Hi tom_ibiza,

Is the headlamp adjustment something I can do myself? If so, how do I go about it? Thanks.

 

[tom_ibiza]

nah not normally u can but its normally a case of you get it almost right but the mot inspector says nah its out by a fraction, when i put these lights on my old beefa i took my car for its mot and they were well out, i new it because i coudnt see bugga all at night, so wen i took it 4 its mot i told em, they said they would do it free, but the did have to issue a fail then adjust them and then issue a pass, if ur mot garge says a free retest if u fail then get them to do it

basicly on light units theres normally some screws which you turn to raise the unit up down left right etc, in the mot centre they should have a wall with markings on it so they can adjust them 2 the right position, my father said when it used 2 be not such a big deal u basicly stand in front the the lights with them on and the top of the beam should be just below your knee, but obviously every1 has different size legs so it aint gona help in this day and age.......

hope i helped if not ask again lol i do like to go on and on and on and on

 

[aigoro]

Hi again tom_ibiza,

If it's something they can adjust easily, then no problem. I thought maybe it was a major job and they would charge me for it. I only ever use a garage that does a free retest (I'm a bit tight like that), so that's okay then.

Thanks for this. Now all I need to do is get hold of the headlamps! I've seen a few on ebay.

 

[tom_ibiza]

let me know how much you can get them for on ebay and ill see what i can do on price as i have an account with valeo (the people who make them) chances are tho if you can find some second hand ones on ebay they will be cheaper.........

 

[Guinness]

it is all plug and play, I changed mine dead easy, just get the aligned after

 

[aigoro]

and your fog lamp is in the same position as the reverse light just on the other side of the car..

Back to the issue of the rear fog light, should I be looking for a double filament bulb; with one filament being for the tail light and the other being for the rear fog light? I ask because as far as I can see, I have a brake light, an indicator, a tail light and a reverse light.

Maybe I have the wrong kind of bulb (single filament instead of double)????

 

[tom_ibiza]

i beleive its just a single filliment bulb "r380" 21watt, its on the tail gate of the car, on which there are 2 lights on each side, on one side its a tail light and a reverse light, on the ova side its a tail light and your fog light...........

heres a pic i found on google,

http://www.seat-ibiza-mk4.co.uk/ibiza_photo_galleries/004/seat_ibiza_sx_003.jpg

you see the white circle on the left side, well on the opposite side in the same location, thats the fog light

 

[aigoro]

I get it now. Sorry for being so thick and thanks again.

 

[aigoro]

I created another thread yesterday regarding a repeater lamp, but there's no harm in asking here............
I'm looking for part number 6L0 949 117 A. If anyone has a spare or knows where I can get one, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[tom_ibiza]

thats ok we hall have thick days every now and again, especially me! lol

 

[Aimez]

Cost next to nothing to get them alined as i did after installing HIDs 6 months ago so mine better not fail MOT tommorow on alinement!

 

[tom_ibiza]

aimez hav you installed washer yets etc? if not id like 2 see how u get on with gettin thru the mot, im thinkin of doin it 2 my beefa but always thought the whole mot issue was a bit 2 much effort, can u let us know? thanks in advance, oh and good luck!

 

[frenchy]

aimez hav you installed washer yets etc? if not id like 2 see how u get on with gettin thru the mot, im thinkin of doin it 2 my beefa but always thought the whole mot issue was a bit 2 much effort, can u let us know? thanks in advance, oh and good luck!

As long as they are aligned correctly it is not necessary to have headlight washers/ self levelling installed.

This is only an OE requirement. The law surrounding retro-fit HIDS is a grey area at the moment. Mot stations will only be interested in the aim adjustment.