Noticed a headlight out

ionapaul

Hi all,

Just noticed this morning that one of the headlights on my old Hyundai Coupe is out - do I need to go to a Hyundai dealer to purchase a new one or are headlights that specific? Is it much of a job to replace it once I've the new headlight? Obviously I'm not particularly savvy when it comes to motors!

docmartin

DO YOU MEAN IT'S A BULB BLOWN??

EPM

Depending on how much room there is and the size of your hands you'll pick up a bulb in any filling station and it's simple to do. Have you an owners manual, that'll explain. If you can't or there's anything unusually complicated bring it to any independent garage - no need to go to Hyundai

DundalkDuffman

The coupe is an easy bulb replacement compared to a lot of other cars. Any motor factors could take it out and stick in a new one if you aren't confident but it really is quite simple, just pop the bonnet and you will see.

Berty

In your non motor savvy question I would suggest that you head to Halfords and they will fit the bulb for you for an extra little price.

homer90

Berty wrote: »

I would suggest that you head to Halfords and they will fit the bulb for you for an extra little price.

Could they even manage that ??

Berty

homer90 wrote: »

Could they even manage that ??

Do you mean the OP because they don't have a clue how to change their light? Spare a thought for people like my father who rang me because he had a headlight out and couldn't find how to change it. I found out after some searching that you had to turn the wheel to full lock and there was a little door in the wheel arch to get at the lights.

Now in all fairness who would have thought to look there?(without reading the manual).

Or

Halfords because they are quite overpriced and make out like its brain surgery when doing anything to a car.

EPM

homer90 wrote: »

Could they even manage that ??

Well you'd probably be off the road half a day...

homer90

EPM wrote: »

Well you'd probably be off the road half a day...

:D

langdang

EPM, Duffman (oh yeah), I think ye might be jumping a small bit ahead for the OP.
OP, get your manual. It will tell you how to do it, and more importantly - the right bulb to buy. There's a limited number of bulb possibilities, I'd guess it's a H1 or H7.

You can get these in lots of places, they'll even have em in Tesco in the hardwarey section(no idea what price, 5-6yoyo max for a pair?). Osram or Bosch are two well known brands, but I'm sure the tesco ones are fine. You may get ridden if you get bulbs in a filling station (some have em, some don't).

If it's a dipped beam bulb, get two sets - when one goes the other may not be far behind it, I often replace both when one goes(personal choice, I use high brightness, shorter life bulbs)
Keep the second set in the car as a spare in case you get caught out somewhere some night. (You'll manage without one main beam, but best to have spares for dipped beams).

Do it OP, you'll have learned something practical and saved a few bob.
The connectors on the back of the bulbs can sometimes need a firm pull, but don't go gorilla on them...

Berty

If you take langdangs suggestion then ensure they are put in correctly, not just in enough that they fall out otherwise they will be at an angle and will blind oncoming traffic and not actually give you the appropriate amount of light on the road or signs.

DundalkDuffman

langdang wrote: »

EPM, Duffman (oh yeah), I think ye might be jumping a small bit ahead for the OP.
OP, get your manual. It will tell you how to do it, and more importantly - the right bulb to buy. There's a limited number of bulb possibilities, I'd guess it's a H1 or H7.


Do it OP, you'll have learned something practical and saved a few bob.
The connectors on the back of the bulbs can sometimes need a firm pull, but don't go gorilla on them...

Double check but I think that it was H7 all right ( 4 years ago!). Also as Langdang says a firm pull, wiggling it a little was how I managed it. Also I resisted mentioning Halfrauds earlier on for the reasons mentioned above by others!

homer90

Try this site... http://www.powerbulbs.com/

Enter your car details to give a list of bulbs for that car

96 to 02 - Dipped/Low Beam: H1
02 onwards - Dipped/Low Beam: H7

EPM

The outer ring at the base of the bulb will have what looks like a cut out making an arrow. Make sure when you put this in its pointing up and you'll be fine

Thoie

Thoie's handy tip #3452:

Either wear clean gloves while handling the bulb, or ensure that you don't touch the "glass" - car bulbs sometimes don't like body oils.

Denisejcc

ionapaul wrote: »

Hi all,

Just noticed this morning that one of the headlights on my old Hyundai Coupe is out - do I need to go to a Hyundai dealer to purchase a new one or are headlights that specific? Is it much of a job to replace it once I've the new headlight? Obviously I'm not particularly savvy when it comes to motors!

Hi there, I had a headlight out and very old wipers and got both replaced and fitted by Halfords, was only a few euro extra for fitting and I would definitely recommend them..

RandomAccess

Didn't see anyone else mention it, but, Don't touch the glass part of the bulb when you're fitting it. It's said that the oils on your skin will cause the bulb to fail earlier than normal. Might be an old wives tale but I doubt it.

Denisejcc

I heard that was the case with all bulbs so maybe it is true!:D

zilog_jones

Denisejcc wrote: »

I heard that was the case with all bulbs so maybe it is true!:D

It's only really true with halogen bulbs as they operate at much higher temperatures than normal bulbs. If you do accidentally touch the glass you can clean it with isopropyl alcohol.