help! I need to change my headlight bulb on a 2004 Scenic 1.9 dci. I've opened the bonnet & it looks impossible! In the handbook it says take to the dealer, but that's going to cost a fortune isn't it? Surely this is something one should be able to do oneself. Has anyone any experience of this?
SLT
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 11/11/2007 at 19:40
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uncleben
Depending on type of headlight; the dealer's book time is up to 1.2 hours to change a bulb. Half the front of the car has to come off.
Yes; it should be made possible to change any bulb yourself on any car - but where's the dealer's profit in that.....?
They call it progress....
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 11/11/2007 at 17:16
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On the continent it is mandatory (in some countries) to carry a spare set of bulbs.
It is not mandatory for manufacturers in these countries to engineer cars that allow you to change the bulb anywhere far less at the roadside.
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 11/11/2007 at 17:16
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FB
Funnily enough it's the French cars that are the worst. Although they're all going that way.
I'm sure the Gendarmes will soon learn which cars are the pigs to do and sit in their nice warm car, laughing, while you struggle for hours in the rain and spray trying to take the front of the car off....
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 11/11/2007 at 17:16
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This is 21st French engineering at its finest;Make the simplest of jobs as difficult as possible!On a standard Megane there are removable panels in the wheel arch behind h/light which allow a bit more access.(could be the same on a Scenic?)If it is the o/side bulb ,then remove the w/wash filler tube.hth
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 11/11/2007 at 17:17
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It takes literally 5 minutes to change the headlight bulb, I did mine yesterday. Open the bonnet look at what bulb needs changing and put your hand inside the bonnet where the back of the bulb is, take off the rubber cover and pull out the bulb put the new one in, put the cover back on and job done.
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You can do it yourself as I did several times in my 04 scenic,that was petrol -so I dont think it is different as regards accessibility, the offside is worse as the battery is positioned behind the headlamp .You will end up with scrapped knuckles and is fiddly but can be done without removing anything apart from the rear of the headlight assembly.
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rustbucket (the original)
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 11/11/2007 at 17:17
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Thanks rustbucket, that's reassuring. This is the drivers side. How do I remove the headlight assembly?
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 11/11/2007 at 17:18
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Uncleben, the drivers side is a complete dawdle compared to the passenger side. I have previously posted a thread here on how to do it but IIRC for the driver side, you simply unclip the windscreen washer bottle or something like that which obstructs the headlamp and then you have access to it?
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2007 Seat Altea XL 2.0 TDI (140) Stylance
2005 Skoda Fabia vrS
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Thanks rustbucket that's reassuring. This is the drivers side. How do I remove the headlight assembly?
You do not need to remove the headlamp assy ,at the back of the unit is a plastic / rubbery bung which you remove this exposes the rear of the lamp and holder held in with a spring wire from memory the lamp is fitted to a plug which is a tight push fit onto the lamp. Just keep you fingers off the new lamp glass and make sure its located correctly when you put it back.It sound more difficult than it is.
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rustbucket (the original)
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Yes, I successfully replaced the offside one in ours without removing anything. It's definitely the easier of the two. Went outside set for an epic battle, and was all done and back indoors in 5 mins.
Unclip the washer bottle filler neck and tuck it back out of the way for better access. There's quite a lot of movement on it thankfully. Then it's just a case of pulling out the bung, pulling off the wiring connector, and unclipping the spring wire (squeeze the ends together IIRC) as Rustbucket says. Access is OK, but visibility is not, meaning you're doing it by "feel". If you look from the front of the headlight though, you can see through the bulb hole to help you guide the new one in, making sure not to touch the glass part of the bulb of course.
I really found it to be not too bad a job all in. Make sure the bulb is sat "square" before you try and do the spring wire back up. When you put the bulb in, rotate it gently and you'll feel it "give" a little and then won't rotate any further. This means the bulb is in the correct position.
Really not too bad a job, and I've got fat hands! Unfortunately, the nearside is nowhere near as easy.
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
Edited by DP on 12/11/2007 at 22:28
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Just changed nearside headlamp on Scenic 1.9DCI 2004. It is possible but harder than it should be!. This was the dipped bulb. Remove the cover over the car battery which is located just behind the bulb - two screws/bolts at the back and a clip at the front. This gives you just enough space to insert your hand (be careful of cut ends of cable ties). Managed to remove cover over back of bulb, then rotate bulb holder and remove with bulb. At this point I couldn't work out if I just pulled the bulb out of the holder, it wouldn't come easily, so I resorted to removing the car battery to give more working room (if you are going to do this check you have the code for the radio!). The bulb does just pull out of the holder but is hard to do one handed and the cables are very short. Took me about an hour overall, but probably could do it now in say 15 minutes.
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DP
Thanks for this info - did the bulb change in 15 minutes this afternoon - except my Scenic dCi had no spring wire - perhaps lost by a previous owner. Managed to get the holder to sit properly, twisted it about 30 degrees until it didn't rotate anymore. Went out for a short run this evening and bulb & holder haven't moved so hope it is in the correct position. Also saved at least £20 in garage fitting fee!
rick
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The advice from DP here is good.
Mine is a 55 dci 130 which differs slightly from DPs...
Once you've unclipped the washer bottle filler neck and pushed it out of the way, reach down behind the headlamp assembly and behind the bulb you'll feel a large (8cm diameter) flat rubber. This just pulls off but it's not permanently attached so take it out so that it doesn't fall down inside the bay. Now you'll be able to feel the wiring connector on the back of the bulb. Twist this about 45 deg and the bulb, still attached to the wiring connector will come out. Now replace the bulb.
You can't see much, so feel where the bulb is going to go before trying to put the new one in - there are lots of obstacles for it to hit. when you're nearly there, do as DP suggests and watch it in from the front of the headlamp.
Twist it back to lock it, then replace the cap.
I'm no Engineer and only averagely handy so I went outside expecting this to take an hour or so - was back inside in 10 minutes.
This was the offside dipped bulb.
Good luck and thanks to DP and everyone else on this forum.
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hello all
I've just had the dubious pleasure of having to change the nearside (passenger) dipped beam bulb on my 53 plate scenic dci80. The advice above is all very helpful, however.....I must add when you remove the battery cover (just removing the front mounting screw is enough as its quite bendy) whatever you do, DON'T try to thread your arm through the seemingly obvious gap to the right of the battery (when viewed from the front of the car). Its far too tight. Put your arm down the front of the battery and there's loads if room.
I you think these bulbs are difficult to change, you should try changing them on a smart 4-2 its in a different league.
You could always go to the dealer, but personally I prefer to keep my cash
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HI. This is my 1st post so bear with me...My '55 1.9dCi n/s dipped bulb failed. managed to replace it without loosening battery, but very fiddly. two bits of advice to add to above 1. when inserting the new bulb wear a silicon glove(clean) on the (left) hand holding the new bulb, to prevent contamination of the quartz envelope with acidic sweat from the skin,,, and 2. I removed the plastic covering on the top of the crossmember above the left headlight as this uncovers a couple of holes so you can at least see where you are trying to replace the bulb with more accuracy. Check bulb is ok before u fit... as 1st one I bought (Ring) turned out to be open circuit (ie filament intact but didnt work) and I only realised this after an hour of looking for h/lamp fuses which were tucked away under a relay board under a cover next to the battery).
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Considering that having two headlights are needed for safety it goes to show what a low priority it is with Renault. It's the same story with their bonnet catches. They should ditch formula one and put their resorces into making safe reliable road cars.
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Considering that having two headlights are needed for safety it goes to show what a low priority it is with Renault.
And most other manufacturers. Renault is by no means alone in this (not that I'm excusing it of course - it's a shameful state of affairs). In all other safety respects, they're pretty much the best out there.
It's the same story with their bonnet catches.
Eh?
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Just managed to change the passenger side dipped bulb without removing anything major thanks to all the advice here. Thanks very much. Another possible tip though. For me it was really difficult getting the bulb out of the holder using one hand etc.. Eventually I worked I could get a screw driver through the hole revealed by removing the plastic cover over the headlight described above. The bulb was prised out quite easily by placing the screwdriver between the bulb and the holder and turning it. Good luck !
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Thanks to the advise above I got my bulb on the offside changed. A further tip is to spot the little hole which gives access to a screw head below the bonet level. By squinting through that you can see your hand below which is a help to fitting the bulb. A warning that I by mistake pulled off the control which adjusts the headlamp pitch, so now my headlamp is pointing far to low and I have to figure out how to sort that in the daylight.
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Hi,
Did you manage to figure out the headlamp adjuster mechanism? I have changes the n/s dip beam, but now it is pointing up in the air and I can't figure out how to adjust it. Any ideas?
>>A warning that I by mistake pulled off the control which adjusts the headlamp pitch so >>now my headlamp is pointing far to low and I have to figure out how to sort that in the >>daylight.
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Make sure the bulb is sitting correctly (square) in its holder before you do anything else. I have done this before on various cars, and it throws the beam pattern well out.
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Hi,
I too am having problems with headlamps on my 2006 Grand Scenic. I've only had the car a few days and noticed a headlamp dipped beam bulb out. On visiting Halfords i decided to buy 2 x super illuminace bulbs (50% brighter) as i thought these would be safe. On fitting both bulbs and driving for the first time at night i found nearly every oncoming vehicle flashing me. I had not selected main beam nor had the fog lamps on. I quickly blamed Halfords and got a refund on the bulbs but after fitting standard halogen bulbs and road testing again, cars were still flashing me.
I have now arranged to get the headlamp alignment checked at my local garage but it begs the question; if they are not aligned properly how did the previuos owner drive safely at night?
Any ideas anyone? Could changing the bulbs affect the alignment? I'll let you know the outcome of the headlamp alignment.
PS - changing the bulbs was relatively easy (provided you have a little patience!) just with a small screw driver and a small mirror and no removing of any parts (apart from unclipping the windscreen washer fluid bottle pipe and easing it to one side). Took about half an hour for both.
Thanks Marky73
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Just wanted to write to let you know how easy it was to change the nearside dipped beam bulb on a 2004 1.9 dci Renault Grand Scenic.
After reading horror stories on the internet saying that you have to take your car back to a main dealer and for the pleasure of £50 - £100 they will change the bulb for you, I was a bit apprehensive about trying the job myself, until I came across this site.
I read up and found the nearside bulb to be the harder of the two to change, but thought I would give it a go.
I removed the battery cover, slide my hand down the small space between the battery cover and headlamp, removed the rubber protective cover, unscrewed the bulb, removed the bulb from electric fitment with a small screwdriver, fitted the new build, re-twisted it back into place, replaced the rubber cover and battery cover and was back in-doors 15mins later and saved myself £50. Oh and it was also raining?.
Give it a go, it isn?t that hard and a lot cheaper that Renault will have you believe.
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Brilliant!! Now if you could work out a method of changing a shattered release bearing and kippered concentric slave cylinder on the same car for £100, I'd be very interested! :-)
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Had the same issue with my Scenic, details here gregh1968.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!BF7BD01A27A5DDA...1
Good luck, and don't pay those dealers!
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Well done to all the above.
Lovely clear instructions which worked (for me) first time!
5-10 minutes and new drivers side bulb all ok.
Managed to pullout the washer filler tube though, but only a little fiddle and a push put it back.
Thanks again, Toozalii
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very easy, just done it in 10 minutes. remove the rubber bung from the back of the light casing, twist the bulb clock wise and it will come out. remove the electrical connection and replace. Main beam bulbs are done in the same way.
Edited by mattyboyahoy on 27/11/2010 at 11:34
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very easy, just done it in 10 minutes. remove the rubber bung from the back of the light casing, twist the bulb clock wise and it will come out. remove the electrical connection and replace. Main beam bulbs are done in the same way.
Followed this sequence today and it worked perfectly. Also, Halfords sell 2 bulbs for the price of 1 at £16.99
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Followed this sequence today and it worked perfectly. Also, Halfords sell 2 bulbs for the price of 1 at £16.99
If a car has difficult-to-change headlamp bulbs (and I thought my H4s were difficult to change but not now I read some of the Internet forums!) then why not go for a long-life bulb such as Ring Vision 24 Long-Life, Osram Ultra-Life, or Philips EcoVision? The Philips EcoVision (which claim to use less current and thus save fuel and last longer) are currently advertised at £14.75 a pair on-line at
www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/H4-Philips-EcoVision-12v...l
And Osram Ultra-Life at about £12.30 the pair. I'm currently using the Philips bulbs.
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2years on and I have just changed the passenger side headlamp bulb. Bit fiddley but as I'm left handed was not too bad. Thanks to all the above for their advice.
Now, anyone know how to fix an intermittent exterior door handle locking button on the rear driver side door?
Toozalii
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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it themselves.
In no time at all, you'd have economic stagnation and decline. millions unemployed, the UK and USA economies overtaken by nations who think they can do it themselves!
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