Headlight bulb - correct way round?

bobbycfc

Active Member
Jun 6, 2007
200
1
Motherwell
Fitted new headlight bulbs yesterday. Now the bulb itself has what I would describe as a prong sticking out an otherwise circular base.
The bulb holder on the car has a cut out at the 6 o'clock position so I assumed that is the way the bulb went in. However once I did that, and took the car out at night, it was lighting up the 2 metres of tarmac in front of the car and nothing else (no it wasn't the headlamp adjustment).

So took bulbs out and turned 180 degrees so that the prong was in the 12 o'clock position although I couldn't feel any special cut out bit for it there. Road was now lit a lot better but I am wondering if anyone else has changed bulbs and can they remember what position they were fitted.

Don't want my lighting to have the wrong beam pattern etc!
 

goonerjs

Guest
Tab goes at the top as far as I recall. Been a while since I changed mine though.
 

stuwbafc

Active Member
Aug 30, 2009
176
7
bearwood
glad you brought this subject up buddy i need a new bulb but have been toying with the idea of getting some brighter bulbs ie white light ones has anybody changed theirs and got any recommendations.....
 

pdh 14a

Mr Fussy
Jan 21, 2008
836
0
Swansea
Fitted new headlight bulbs yesterday. Now the bulb itself has what I would describe as a prong sticking out an otherwise circular base.
The bulb holder on the car has a cut out at the 6 o'clock position so I assumed that is the way the bulb went in. However once I did that, and took the car out at night, it was lighting up the 2 metres of tarmac in front of the car and nothing else (no it wasn't the headlamp adjustment).

So took bulbs out and turned 180 degrees so that the prong was in the 12 o'clock position although I couldn't feel any special cut out bit for it there. Road was now lit a lot better but I am wondering if anyone else has changed bulbs and can they remember what position they were fitted.

Don't want my lighting to have the wrong beam pattern etc!

I did exactly the same today,scary how bad it is upside down isn't it! :-o
 

klawit

ALTEA 1.4 TSI 4YOU (my2015)
Oct 13, 2005
477
10
Germany, Cologne-Area
Hi guys ...

when looking at the H7 bulbs for the main headlights ...

71479_s01_reflektorh7r.jpg


... I can hardly imagine, how the fixation spring will get closed at all with the bulb's socket sticking out (i.e. not fitting in the cut-out) when mounting it the wrong way round in a 180 degrees turn? :confused:
 
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