Car lamps : one-eyed monster and other outrages

[jb]

Is it my imagination or are there more people driving about with one head light out these days?

Can they not be bothered to buy a new bulb or are they too tight. or is it that they don't know how.

Do they not realize that the light they do have working completely obliterates the side lights and prevents you seeing the dark bit of their vehicle?


I had my last car 12 years and I only replaced a headlight bulb once, I did it immediately with no fuss - took about 5 minutes.


Thanks for listening - rant over.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
As soon as I hit a dual carriageway I flip the rear view mirror, motorways its mandatory.
I don't think drivers realise at all.

[tim-b]

Hi

Can they not be bothered to buy a new bulb or are they too tight

Have you tried changing a bulb on some modern cars? Batteries sometimes need to come out, headlamp and grille off, Torx fixings on rear lamp clusters, etc
Regards
tim-b

[Cyril Haearn]

Hi,
As soon as I hit a dual carriageway I flip the rear view mirror, motorways its mandatory.
I don't think drivers realise at all.

Best not to dip, with dipped mirror one sees less

[pwa]

I've never had a front light fail. Back lights umpteen times, but never a front. I wonder why.

[foxyrider]

Not just front lights but rear too. The other thing i've noticed lately is the use of headlights when sidelights would suffice.

Difficulty of replacement is no excuse for not getting them replaced - places like Halfords will do it for you if you aren't mechanically minded / tooled up.

Another case of lack of policing

[Cugel]

Hi

Can they not be bothered to buy a new bulb or are they too tight

Have you tried changing a bulb on some modern cars? Batteries sometimes need to come out, headlamp and grille off, Torx fixings on rear lamp clusters, etc
Regards
tim-b

Well, that's alright then. And if the other light goes, then everyone will just need to keep their eyes peeled for the dark & dangerous fellow.

Does the rule apply to the brakes too? If they're a bit difficult to fix, are we fully justified in putting off that fix? After all, pedestrians can jump, scurry or other wise get out the way, eh? And those other drivers will just have to swerve a bit.

Cugel

[pwa]

Hi

Can they not be bothered to buy a new bulb or are they too tight

Have you tried changing a bulb on some modern cars? Batteries sometimes need to come out, headlamp and grille off, Torx fixings on rear lamp clusters, etc
Regards
tim-b

Well, that's alright then. And if the other light goes, then everyone will just need to keep their eyes peeled for the dark & dangerous fellow.

Does the rule apply to the brakes too? If they're a bit difficult to fix, are we fully justified in putting off that fix? After all, pedestrians can jump, scurry or other wise get out the way, eh? And those other drivers will just have to swerve a bit.

Cugel

I think tim was offering an explanation, not a justification. And I imagine he is correct. Combine a lazy person and a difficult task and you end up with procrastination.

[mjr]

Well, that's alright then. And if the other light goes, then everyone will just need to keep their eyes peeled for the dark & dangerous fellow.

Does the rule apply to the brakes too? If they're a bit difficult to fix, are we fully justified in putting off that fix? After all, pedestrians can jump, scurry or other wise get out the way, eh? And those other drivers will just have to swerve a bit.

Cugel

I think tim was offering an explanation, not a justification. And I imagine he is correct. Combine a lazy person and a difficult task and you end up with procrastination.

Yep. Faulty brakes are an obvious immediate danger to the driver, whereas faulty lights are more of a nuisance to everyone else, especially in lit areas.

[Tangled Metal]

Not just front lights but rear too. The other thing i've noticed lately is the use of headlights when sidelights would suffice.

Difficulty of replacement is no excuse for not getting them replaced - places like Halfords will do it for you if you aren't mechanically minded / tooled up.

Another case of lack of policing

We are lazy plus the car we have is a Pita to change bulbs in so Halfords usually do it for their fee. We do get them replaced at the earliest possible opportunity indeed we only use the car in daylight if a main light is out.

The trouble with halfords is they are incompetent. Changed headlights fail quicker than I've ever experienced in the past with other cars. Usually they get dull and fail the mot at which point the garage replaces for £6 including fitting. Halfords charge £10 or more for fitting plus the bulb.

Plus the last mot the garage tells me the bulb was put in wrong. It seems every time I've had Halfords fit it they've messed up the light works but is at an angle. Probably a resulting in a dodgy connection which. Might explain quick values. We've used three branches with the same result. If you need lights changing go to the garage you get your mot and car servicing done at. They'll do it right and probably suppply the bulb too at a cheaper price than Halfords.

[mjr]

The trouble with halfords is they are incompetent. Changed headlights fail quicker than I've ever experienced in the past with other cars. Usually they get dull and fail the mot at which point the garage replaces for £6 including fitting. Halfords charge £10 or more for fitting plus the bulb.

People misread the Halfords banner as advertising "we fit" whereas it's actually a clear warning "we F it" (where the F stands for foul, of course, in case any moderators read this...).

[fastpedaller]

I do keep an eye on mine, but a few years ago we had it spotted at MOT that the main beam bulb on one of our lights had blown - I admit to not checking main beam, as it's something I don't often use . These were separate dip/main bulbs (Mondeo). Anyway, 3 of the guys in the garage tried, but couldn't remove it - it required steely-strong fingers and was just about in reach. I asked if they minded if I had a try (I have very strong fingers) and dived my hand into the abyss and came out with the bulb (much to their astonishment) - they offered me a job as chief bulb -changer

[fastpedaller]

The trouble with halfords is they are incompetent. Changed headlights fail quicker than I've ever experienced in the past with other cars. Usually they get dull and fail the mot at which point the garage replaces for £6 including fitting. Halfords charge £10 or more for fitting plus the bulb.

People misread the Halfords banner as advertising "we fit" whereas it's actually a clear warning "we F it" (where the F stands for foul, of course, in case any moderators read this...).

They (H) probably put their fingers all over the halogen bulbs, thus increasing the chance of future failure so you go back again

[mjr]

People misread the Halfords banner as advertising "we fit" whereas it's actually a clear warning "we F it" (where the F stands for foul, of course, in case any moderators read this...).

They (H) probably put their fingers all over the halogen bulbs, thus increasing the chance of future failure so you go back again

Ah, maybe the F stands for Finger!

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
New fangled single filament headlights
Well I managed the correct bulb.......after taking out the old one on high beam.............must of taken me 15 minutes to force my hand and arm in to the front of car from under bonnet.
And on fitting new bulb I can say that I scraped my arm twice for the privilege
I have long arms, I would like to see any mechanic change that bulb not having previously done it.