Changing Rear Indicator Bulbs GUIDE

VRSLOZ · Oct 16, 2010

Tools/Parts needed :

Rear Indicator bulbs (Y21W 581(s))
Hands
Tissue or toilet paper
Your keys

Car used :

10 Plate Ibiza 1.4 SC Sport

Time needed :

5 Minutes per side, get a cuppa ready just in case

Difficulty :

2/5 - Looks easy but can be a little fiddly

I'll be using these bulbs :

Cost £11.99 @ Halfords Linky

Other bulbs can be used but I got these.

This is what we will be getting rid of today, nice "Fried Egg" look! :

Open the boot up and look behind the light cluster, you should see a screw top :

This will need turning ANTI CLOCKWISE until the screw top has come off :

You can hold the light cluster if you want but mine stayed in place even when the screw top was off.

Next you will need to gently pull and wiggle the light cluster to ease it from the car, this may take a little time (mine did) but don't get disheartened, it will budge! It should look like this :

Flip it over and you should see this, I've circled where the retaining clips are :

You will need to pull up the clip covers (make sure not to snap them) so you can prise the holder from the light cluster. Three of mine came off fine but one wouldn't move so I used my car keys to prise it off (This is optional, I don't want you breaking your keys!)

You'll then be left with this :

Put the front cover somewhere safe :

Now you're ready to tackle the bulb, you should now have this to look at (lovely orange bulb, looks nasty!!)

VRSLOZ · Oct 16, 2010

You will need to grab some tissue/toilet paper, put it over the top of the bulbs, push down slightly and twist ANTI CLOCKWISE. If done correctly the bulb will come out a treat, put the old bulb somewhere safe before getting the new one out.

Put tissue/toilet paper over the new bulb and line it up with the holder, push in slightly and twist CLOCKWISE, it should now be sitting securely in the light holder.

You should now have something like this :

**REMEMBER TO NOW CHECK THE INDICATOR BULB WORKS BY PUTTING ON YOUR HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS - LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS PUT IT BACK TOGETHER JUST TO TAKE IT APART AGAIN!**

Grab the light cover, line it up with the bulbs and retaining clips and push back over, you should be able to feel the clips ping into place. You can now push the light cluster back into the hole in the car (I cleaned the inside of mine first) and then grab the twist top and turn it CLOCKWISE on the bolt until it's nice and secure.

You should now be looking at your new light cluster looking all nice and fresh!

Repeat the steps for the passenger side and you'll get the same look!

Stand back, give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy the rest of your day!

Dave 77 · Oct 17, 2010

Gr8 guide, used it to finally work out how to take off the rear bummper

Thanks :thumbup:

VRSLOZ · Oct 17, 2010

No worries fella

Beenz · Nov 10, 2010

Is there a socket to fit another rear fog light bulb on the left side rear cluster (and reversing light on the other) side or is it just a hole? It looks like it but can't be sure from the pic.

It would be good to have that extra reversing/fog light to even out the back.

Shelby · Mar 7, 2011

Beenz said:
Is there a socket to fit another rear fog light bulb on the left side rear cluster (and reversing light on the other) side or is it just a hole? It looks like it but can't be sure from the pic.

It would be good to have that extra reversing/fog light to even out the back.

Yes, I too would like to know this before I start pulling things off the back of the car! I was told by my dealer that the 3 door only gets 1 reverse light, the 5 door gets both! Seems a bit odd.....
Cheers

nantucket · Mar 12, 2011

that does seem a bit odd but sometimes the people they hire at the dealership don't really know that much

CDNY18 · Mar 15, 2011

wow they are a pain to get off took me about half a hour to mange to get them off

heres what mine look like
Before

After

looks awesome

Michael Andaz · Mar 23, 2011

Just done mine

Thanks

Shelby · Apr 1, 2011

SC16v said:
You will need to grab some tissue/toilet paper, put it over the top of the bulbs, push down slightly and twist ANTI CLOCKWISE. If done correctly the bulb will come out a treat, put the old bulb somewhere safe before getting the new one out.

Put tissue/toilet paper over the new bulb and line it up with the holder, push in slightly and twist CLOCKWISE, it should now be sitting securely in the light holder.

You should now have something like this :

**REMEMBER TO NOW CHECK THE INDICATOR BULB WORKS BY PUTTING ON YOUR HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS - LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS PUT IT BACK TOGETHER JUST TO TAKE IT APART AGAIN!**

Grab the light cover, line it up with the bulbs and retaining clips and push back over, you should be able to feel the clips ping into place. You can now push the light cluster back into the hole in the car (I cleaned the inside of mine first) and then grab the twist top and turn it CLOCKWISE on the bolt until it's nice and secure.

You should now be looking at your new light cluster looking all nice and fresh!

Repeat the steps for the passenger side and you'll get the same look!

Stand back, give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy the rest of your day!

Looking at sorting out the front and side bulbs next week once a variety of them come through the post, and this thread has reminded me to get the rear indicators sorted, but wondered if the reverse light could be substituted for an LED bulb? Having had the cluster off, whats yr opinion fella? I'd definitely do that if it was feasible!

VRSLOZ · Apr 1, 2011

Good question mate, not too sure to be fair, will look into it

apmaman · Apr 2, 2011

You could, but almost all orange LED lights are utter gash. Better sticking to silvertechs.

VRSLOZ · Apr 2, 2011

apmaman said:
You could, but almost all orange LED lights are utter gash. Better sticking to silvertechs.

Think Shelby was talking about the reverse light matey

Shelby · Apr 2, 2011

Indeed I was referring to the reverse light. Looking at the exposed light cluster there does appear to be an empty socket under the existing reverse lamp bulb. I'm now assuming you could whack in another bulb to get another fog light and would therefore imagine on the right cluster there would be an empty socket above the existing fog light meaning you could in theory put in another bulb in that socket to gain an extra reverse light. Or am I assuming away with the fairies?! Must investigate futher! After all my dealer said the 5 door versions have 2 reverse lights whilst the 3 doors only get 1...

apmaman · Apr 2, 2011

Ah, reverse lights, yeah you can do that no bother. I have two in my mk1 fabia and the light you get is brilliant. Its like having mini headlights when you reverse.

Although the mk1 fabia lights up on both side, rather than one like the Ibiza.

Id imagine you'd need to get a European Rear light cluster for both reverse to come on.

Nothing stopping you trying though. LED bulbs are cheap as chips

nightflight · Apr 3, 2011

Has anyone any experience with the cheaper chrome bulbs on ebay, or is it really worth forking out teh £12 for silvertecs?

Shelby · Apr 3, 2011

You can find the SILVATEC bulbs used in this guide on Ebay for @ £6.

ntemis21 · May 24, 2011

looking very good

IDan · Feb 6, 2012

I just used 4 i got of ebay for £5.50 which are exactly the same as the silvertec one

johnbev · Feb 6, 2012

I have purchased silvatec bulbs in 501 form(side indicator) and as pictured from ebay, may or may not have been genuine? But they were not bright enough, they were much too dull imo, I gave up on the 501 bulbs but bought philips silver vision which are as bright as standard, they are however not as silver as other brands. If you make sure they are e marked you have a better chance,

Changing Rear Indicator Bulbs **GUIDE**

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