I've just given up trying to change the oil on my Fiat Multiwagon, having discovered that my new Halfords wrench for removing the drain plug wont't fit (this has nine heads and 'fits most cars'). I've also found that it is impossible to replace any of the front bulbs myself, as the battery blocks access on one side, and the washer fluid bottle on the other, and have been unable to help with jump starting a neighbour's car due to my battery being boxed in by a cover attached by star screws, which I couldn't remove without the appropriate tool.
This whole thing with manufacturers trying to tie customers to their dealers for even the simplest of jobs is annoying and potentially dangerous (ie inability to replace bulbs).
I'd like to rename a few FIAT cars before I finish my rant. Obviously mine should be a Stealo (you money), there's also one that should be called Idiot (which is clearly what they think of their customers), and how about the Creama (more profits from customers).
Now I've finished, and feel a bit better!
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If driving over in france you are expected to have a spare set of bulbs and are liable to be pulled over if you have a defective bulb- I was pulled over on the drive back to the port.
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Yes, I wonder what the legal position would be if you had the spare bulbs but were unable to replace defective ones?
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Some Citroens (and probably other makes) need the front bumper removed to fit bulbs! My C5 has xenon bulbs, which should last a long time, but other models have conventional halogen and getting to them is a nightmare.
Graeme
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And have you seen the price of Xenon bulbs? A litle change out of £200 if you own a Renault!
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I remember years ago Renault getting a bad name for making cars awkward for the diy man. I think the manufacturers pursue a deliberate policy of making diy difficult to get you into the dealers which from their point of view is great. My machine needs plugging into a computer at the dealers to get all the systems operating correctly. I look back with some nostalgia for the times when most things could be done by me and mates and a Haynes manual.
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For all I care they can weld the bonnet shut when it leaves the factory. My old man spent millions of weekends on his back under the car and I made a vow that I never would. I check water and tyre pressure every week and I don?t even pump my own fuel if I can find a station that still has pump attendants.
The irony is that I collect tools. I just love ?em. Power tools, spanners, wrenches, lathes... I buy something every week.
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You can have my Halfords 'fits most cars' wrench if you like? I'm sure it would be very happy to become part of your tool collection. Actually, it might come in handy for prizing open welded on bonnets?
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Nice one Pete!
Is it heavy? It could be my under-the-seat road rage wrench
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It looks like it's your's Dave. I've just re-read the packaging, and it actually says 'Hits most cars'. I'll be sending it by Polish Express in the morning!
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Polish Express?
I look forward to receiving an empty package early next year
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>>For all I care they can weld the bonnet shut when it leaves the factory.
Amen to that.
I check water and tyre pressure every week
I check the water if the car gets hot and the tyre pressure if a) the car is driving funny b) one of the tyres looks flat or c) I'm bored and haven't checked them for a few months.
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"I check the water if the car gets hot and the tyre pressure if a) the car is driving funny b) one of the tyres looks flat or c) I'm bored and haven't checked them for a few months."
Yeah I got into the habit cos my old 605 lost a litre of water a week and always ran hot. Haven?t lifted the bonnet on the 406 yet to be perfectly honest and I put 4 new tyres on it last month so won?t be going near there again this year.
Won?t be sniffing around inside any tellies, fixing any plumping or shoving my hand down any cysterns either. Changed a bulb in the living room two days ago cos it was too dark to find the remote.
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>>Changed a bulb in the living room two days ago cos it was too dark to find the remote.
I suppose your wife had gone out for the evening ?
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I really dont see any difference between any man,even going back years it was the same.Certain cars suffered certain problems as regard access to bulbs and other problematic features.In a few cases it is to do with having correct tools to sort problem out,If you have not got them you need either main dealer or an independant,but it is helpfull to either have a manual or get advice as to tools needed to do the job
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Steve
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You'd have to carry a fairly comprehensive tool kit to change the bulb in my car: www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?+=35734&highlight...s
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unable to help with jump starting a neighbour's car due to my battery being boxed in by a cover attached by star screws,
Probably saved you another load of grief - I'd not risk jump starting ANYTHING these days.
Sure to do some nasties, to yours or the other cars electrics, one way or another!!
VB
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>>> I really dont see any difference between any man,even going back years it was the same<<<
What's the oldest car backroomers remember, where you couldn't change the bulbs yourself?
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What's the oldest car backroomers remember, where you couldn't change the bulbs yourself?
Helluva struggle on a Mini with sealed beam units.
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Volvo v70 reputed to be dificult.
This thread reminds me of the time I tried to change the bulb in my trooper only to find that the manual did not cover it. Deciding that this process must be complicated I started by removing the plastic radiator grilee and starting to take off the glass lense. It was at this point that it became aparent that the bulb change is the simplest of all my previouse cars -simply undoing a large plastic nut.
paul
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It's not just 'fancy' cars that are awkward - even on a Ford Ka you really need to remove the wheel arch liner to change a headlamp bulb. I think it's a 40min job at a dealer.
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Anybody who's tried changing the spark plugs on Citroen GS would probably argue that DIY proof cars go back to the early 70's (launched 1972 I think?). Flat four aircooled engine, the plugs were totally inaccessible - they had to be changed by feel, and a piece of hydraulic hose was required to get the rear ones in and out.
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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Now I've finished, and feel a bit better!
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IIRC the cry was RTFM. Well they are not so great these days.
I would suggest Haynes is not available for a very large no of common vehicles so that option is out.
Change the oil on my Focus or Mondeo. You need a new sump plug.
Change the headlamp bulb then remove grill etc.
Yaris side repeater bulb. Oh thats a complete new unit.
Agree re beware of jump starting. RTFM re switching ON heated rear window etc.
Replace battery? My Mondeo 1998 needs a specific battery type.
Washer bottle should be in the boot and then lock the bonnet.
IMo all warnings should be on the dashboard.
Fluid levels and temperatures etc.
I think it should be mandatory to have bulb failed indications as in my Mondeo
Since I now have low profile tyres I am even more concerned with correct pressures as the Mk 1 eyeball test is not so good.
I would vote for mandatory on dash tyre pressure display.
A great friends son was killed in a brand new VX220. Official police report stated that the cause was a punctured tyre and the driver would not have known this.
An oil change using the manufacturers parts and oil is about all I will undertake these days.
I would not even search out cheaper oil as the savings are so little in the overal motoring cost.
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While we're on the subject of £200 Xeon bulbs is there anything to stop you just replacing them with cheaper Halogen ones?
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While we're on the subject of £200 Xeon bulbs is there anything to stop you just replacing them with cheaper Halogen ones?
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IIRC these £200 Xeon bulbs are to fit HID units- High Intensity Gas Discharge units. These operate on a totally different principle to conventional headlamps.
High Intensity Discharge H.I.D. Lamps create a light source that is produced by a stabilized arc that burns at a much higher color temperature which creates a whiter light output than a standard halogen bulb.
On new vehicles they are an expensive option.
So you cannot use any type of so called normal bulbs in HID units however the bulbs are described.
To use conventional bulbs instead of HID would probably require a complete pair of headlamp units plus I would guess some wiring changes.
There are now kits to convert convential units to HID.
www.piaa.co.uk/lamps/lampshow.asp?ID=HID
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