anyone replace a burnt out light bulb on their car???
 

is it easy to do this on your own? My dealer can not take me till FRIDAY... was curious if its an easy job that I can run to store and buy my own bulb and do this...

if anyone has done this, let me know... and any insider tips.

thanks

where is the bulb?

i do everything on my own car except engine work, you would be surprised a $100 job at the mechanic takes you MAYBE 5min.

I've done it, you might have to take out the battery but you have to make sure you don't rip any rubber pieces and not to break any metal springs but I did it when I was 16 without any help so it can't be that hard even though I'm a wonder kid :thumbsup

the car is a 2005 clk conv. its the low beam bulb.

are there any special tools needed?

Wow, seriously?

Usually you don't even need any tools. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and you'll figure it out.

it should be honestly SUPER easy to replace, just jack the car up and have a look at the back end of the light, maybe put it on blocks to be safe up to you, just slide under and have a peak at the setup of the screws, should be extremely basic to do, even the electrical should just be a "plug" that snaps in the back of the casing.

remove the casing, open it up and replace the bulb, getting it back in will be easier.

i am talking about EXTREMELY easy to do.

Go into a automotive store and read thew Haynes manual for your car and memorize how to do it and then go out and do it :)

Goto Autozone, if its one they can do they will change it for you, and I've changed probably 5000 headlight bulbs if not more over the years lol.

alright... i will give it a shot manana... suppose to be 10 degrees warmer outside hahahahahaha way to cold today to be out there...

thanks y'all

You can probably find easy to follow instructions over the internet on how to change the bulb on your car. It shouldn't be too difficult.

Make sure you don't touch the lamp glass with your fingers, that leaves a faint trace of oil which can reduce the life of the globe. If it does have any smudges, wipe them off carefully with a tissue and some alcohol.

Depending on the size of the engine bay and what side headlight you're replacing you could have oodles of room, or it could be totally cramped... my headlight is a bitch to change on the battery side as even with the battery removed there's still not much room to move. I usually have a quick look at the other side first then do it purely by feel.

BTW, my car (a 2002 model) has several incandescent globes which are not user replaceable. When a 50c globe blows, you are supposed to replace the whole $80 module. Who said after-sales spare parts wasn't a lucrative business?

Most auto parts places will throw in the bulb for free if you buy it there

Jeezus, even my ex-girlfriend was able to change bulbs on her car.....

wow, no manual with that car???

Very easy

You have major electrical problems. :2 cents:

unscrew cover if necessary ( i still dont know if youre talking taoil light head light or dome light)

pull bulb out...

replace new bulb...

cover and screw back in...




its usually that simple with the possibility of removing something in the way if its your tail light or twisting the bulb and you pull it out...


certainly dont take it in to a shop for that unless you have it under warranty

huh, you don't have an owner's manual?? Mine explains in detail and is easy, except the headlights which takes ~5 mins.

Dude, your car either has serious problems, or you've got to stop pissing off the neighbours so they stop taking their baseball bats to your lights :1orglaugh :thumbsup

If your car has HID head lights I would take it to the dealer..

i do have manual... its in my car which is down the block in the parking garage. didnt know the manual would have DIY instructions to replace the headlight. in 12 years of driving i have never had a headlight burn out on me. this is the first car i have owned that will need this....hence my lack of knowledge on this. my dealer called me back about 30 mins ago to confirm the loaner car and told me they will replace it free of charge so i am just going to let them change the bulb for me... thanks for the feedback

LMAO Well I worked in auto parts for almost 12 years, you know that though ya smartass hehe.

Aye, make me wonder if all these people saying its easy have driven a newer car.

Our Escape is about a 15-20 minute job (if you know what you are doing) to change a bulb. Blinkers for the front are 20 mins and must be gotten too from the underside of the drivers side wheel. Not an easy task for someone who isnt mechanically inclined.

Yah if you can get it done for free and get a loaner you can beat on, why not. Usually changing those bulbs are super easy, at least they were on my old benz.

I had a brake light that was out and I was right next to the dealers so I popped in there and asked them to swap it out. They told me it would be $38 for them to do it, so obviously screw that. So I went to Wal-mart to get bulb and do it myself.

While in walmart the guy said if I bought the part there he would put in in for a $1, so I went for that.

key word, "mechanically inclined" which i donot claim to be. Mix in the fact that i live in the city and do not have access to ramps or anything to prop my car to get under it. Plus these bulbs r not your standard go to sears auto....

getting loaner car because they have to road test my car. my climate control is messed up. 64 is cold and 65 through 80 all feel like 80. they r trying to tell me that i am doing something wrong. so i told them i think i know how yto turn teh dial to 66, 72, 74 etc... and i knwo the difference between hot and cold. so i am getting loaner for the day while they test it out.

I have a French car, and it is EASY! But I have done some that has been a fucking pain in the ass!

HAHAHA how useless are you that you can't change a fucking bulb. You should read your owners manual when you buy your car, then you'd know they give directions for basic maintance.
I've never needed to jack up a car to replace a bulb, that's stupid too.

Lets remember that this is a webmaster forum and not a muscle car forum, lots of computer 'geeks' and not motorheads. Granted we have some that are both, but I would imagine its not the majority.

hahahaha c'mon....

dropping the car off for other issues than a bulb, therefor i get my loaner car.
havent read the owners manual since the day i got the car. didnt recall that it had instructions. im sure im not alone that not to many people read the owners manual on a regular basis...
had a friend call me that owns the same car in coupe version and told me u have to go in from underneath to replace the bulbs....

anyways, u have yourself a great nite