Errr Break Bulb Replacement O/s/r

[Guest JBrannan]

I have a 2002 Galaxy Zetec. Please see below the email sent to my local dealer for help!

 

Subject: Help Please!

 

Hi,

 

I own a 2002 Galaxy 2.3 Zetec. At the weekend I was told that my rear offside break light wasn't working. Assuming this was a simple bulb replacement, I went to Halfords, picked up a bulb and went to fit in the car park. 20 mins later and feeling like a village idiot, I returned into the store with my tail between my legs asking if one of the staff members could show me how to replace the bulb - this was an ego busting mission for a 32 year old man <_<

 

The member of staff came outside with me following behind feeling very stupid that in a matter if minutes I was going to be shammed by some spotty oik. 15 mins later both me and the oik are now best friends in our new found stupidness. He calls upon another member of staff who again walks out with high intentions - obviously one of the countries leading bulb changers, or so I was made to feel by his arrogance - 5 minutes on, there are now 3 of us scratching our heads like scabby chimps. Mission was aborted and I traveled home in the hope that the local constabulary would pull me over just so that I could glee and say - go on then, you try changing it!.

 

So here's my problem. After taking of the vanity cover to access the bulb holder (the side that has the jack and other bits in) and unclipping the bulb assembly - I am unable to release this assembly due to a black metal bar which runs along the side in the rear. I have tried all combinations of twists and turns but I am still unable to release the bulb holder.........please help, if not for me then for the Halfords oik who can get one over the arrogant one.

 

Any help or advice will be much appreciated.

 

Kind regards

 

Jeff Brannan

West Sussex

 

 

 

Hello Jeff

 

Feel free to call our service department on 01444 440116 and make arrangements for a technician to be introduced to your Galaxy and I feel sure we will be able to insert your bulb in the appropriate place.

 

Dinnages Garages Ltd

Wivelsfield Road

Haywards Heath

West Sussex

RH16 4EQ

01444 440116(T)

01444 440141(F)

daniel@dinnages.co.uk

 

As you can see, my dealers are as much help as an underwater hairdryer....anyone out there that can help me?????

 

Thanks

 

Jeff

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Yes - mine went a couple of months ago; You need to remove that black bar. IIRC 2 screws, not easy to get to the head of the one nearest the bulb holder. Empty out the rear storage area, also IIRC you don't need to remove the jack as this bar passes above it.

 

You will NOT be able to change the bulb until you have removed this bar, trust me ! ... and don't bother re-fitting the offending rearmost screw afterwards, so that the next time, it is easier! I left the screw out and have not heard any rattle from the bar (yet).

 

Good luck.

 

<_>

[Guest JBrannan]

Thanks for that! Im gonna take a couple of weeks of work to do this..<_< Seems mad doesnt it...a bulb..just a bulb..how many men does it take to replace a........

 

I recently sold my S80 for this brick on wheels....I used to own a car that told me when it wanted a hug!! now i own a car that cant even tell me how hot or cold it is outside. Totally dissapointed with overall ownership.....the cars on the market!

 

2002 (02) Galaxy 2.3 Zetec

20,000 miles

 

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to change the blown bulb. Don't get a Touran - it is also a VW (the Galaxy is designed and built by VW under a joint venture agreement). Anything wrong with a V70 after an S80, or do you need more than 5 seats?

[tom8848]

I had this problem and with the help of the good people of this forum sorted it.

it only takes a few minutes armed with a long philips to get the rear upper screw on the bracket this should push up high enough to detatch the bulb assembly. to change the bulb. I didnt put the screw back and had no problems.

 

check this link. <_<

 

 

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...wtopic=4651&hl=

[Guest JBrannan]

ahhh talk volvo to me... <_<

 

30 mins or so to change a bulb!!! this is wrong, in 30 mins i could have left folkestone and be in France! and as for VW, I dont wanna sell my soul to the Germans but 6 speed box and all the gadgets and compartments a man could want for a fraction of the price...come on! I had a V70 before the S80 and it was gorge, allbeit a 2.0 10v, my granny is quicker...but it aint about speed, its about comfort and at nearly

[Guest JBrannan]

Thanks for all the advice but are we all missing the point here.....i wanna change a bulb! In the house the only thing i have to worry about is if i need a step ladder and if when i channge the bulb the missus has forgotten to turn the switch off! It seems to me that I have to unscrew parts that i shouldnt have to i order to change the bulb!!!! is this right...its a simple task, god help me if i need to change a tire...ohhh yes I have and that was a mission, specially when shes been to Sainsburys and I need to empty the whole boot to drop down the spare wheel...perhaps ford should introduce dramatic music as it lowers! Like the launching of a new ship. Hey wouldnt it be good to drop a bottle of champers that hits against the spare wheel...would make me feel better!

 

Thanks for all you help, im off to take my Galaxy to bits

 

Jeff

[HJT]

You should have gone for the Ghia version then. It has the bells and whistles you want i.e. outside air temp gauge, fuel computer, cruise control, 6 disc cd changer etc and the diesel has the 6 speed box. My Galaxy gives me a hug everytime I get in <_< Mind you the bloody aircon packed up last weekend and I'd been feeling so smug that mine hadn't had a problem hohum.

 

Howard

[Andrew T]

Obviously the Ghia has a built in smugness detector as well........

[seatkid]

Mk 1 - any bulb in under a minute <_< that's progress for you.....

[Guest JBrannan]

Would you believe it...this morning travelling to work I find myself behind a 52 reg Galaxy and to my complete amazement, o/s/r break light was out. I felt the compelling need to get him front of him and slam my anchors on just to say...LOOK IM LIKE YOU...I chose not too due to the rain and the fact that although I only have one bulb out, his failing to stop would wipe out my rear end..although thinking about it, it may be easier then to change the bulb.....hmmmm

 

Anyway a new problem now! went to adjust the seat this morning and the wheel which adjusts the backrest position came of in my hand - not realising that this was a mobile device I checked to see if I could clip it back but nope, snapped off completely...i am scared to even try and fix this as I feel from previous that I will need to remove the exhaust pipe or something even stupider!!!!!

[Ivor]

Mk2 Alhambra, no bar, 1 min to change bulb.

 

After 4 years, my passenger side seat adjuster handle broke off, (I think the kids must have kicked it off from behind). They are

[Guest JBrannan]

This really is a handy place to know - thanks for the last post, I will order a new one...

[HJT]

[Ivor]

[Andrew T]

What else am I likely to find falling off or not working..

Are you sitting comfortably ?

 

Leaking rear washer pipe and/or blocked scuttle drains causing flooding under the front passenger seats and the electronics sited there.

Failure of Condensor and /or most other components in the Aircon system.

Spare wheel winch cable tangling up (yours has worked once but did it get tangled on the way back up?).

Silver Calcium battery failing after 3 winters.

Wiper linkage seizing up.

Anti roll bar Drop links need replacing every of couple years.

 

The good news is that this site offers cheap solutions to most of these problems. As for the Aircon.......do you have a warranty ?

 

Thank goodness everything in life isn't as unreliable as a Volkswagen!

[Ivor_E_Tower]

JBrannon - a bit off-topic, but .... last year my parents had a brake light blow on their Volvo 850 estate. Dad went to Halfords and bought a bulb, paying the extra for someone to come outside and change it (he's in his 70's and not too mechanically minded).

Bod in overalls-type costume duly appeared, struggled for about 15 minutes, claimed he couldn't do it as the entire lamp cluster had to be removed, refunded my dad's labour charge and left. Dad went home, studied the situation for a minute or so, and changed the bulb in about 30 seconds.

 

And the moral of this story is ........

[Guest JBrannan]

Gutted!!!!! :o

 

I had to have them changed on the way back from a family holiday. The outer wall of both tires had a huge blister so I wasnt going to risk it - passed an MOT only a week before!!

 

Anyway looks like Hi Q in Taunton has well and truly ragged me on this one. I had 2 Dunlops fitted and was told that they had to be reinforced - looks like I had reinforced there walletts more than anything. There loss in the long run as I will never visit one of there centers again now.

[HJT]

They were right about needing to be reinforced but

[Guest JBrannan]

Howard,

 

I certainly will thanks - I must admit I normall do shop around but on this occasion with 300 miles to cover and 3 small kids onboard, my hands were tied. Thought it was a bit pricey as I had 4 new Goodyear NCT 5s fitted on my S80 only a couple of months earlier and they came to under

[HJT]

My local Ford dealer in Herne Bay charges about

[Tigger]

Yep

[Guest JBrannan]

[Ivor_E_Tower]

I could do with 2 new front tyres at

[tim-spam]

For heavens sake - yes there is a black bar and you do have to remove it (2 philips screws - hardly rocket science). Took me 2 minutes! I remember my first car (a VW Beetle) and you had to remove one screw and the headlight unit to change a headlight bulb and 2 screws to remove the rear lense to change a tail / brake light bulb. On an old Mini, it was 3 scews (yes 3!!!) to remove the old Lucas sealed beam unit. I really don't know how people managed!