headlight replacement

[dieseldiva]

Hi! I've got a beautiful 2000 bug with a slight problem. My passenger running lamp burned out and my son (who is also my mechanic) hasn't ever worked on a bug before. I've got a book on order from the auto parts store but could someone tell me how to change the bulb? I've never owned a foreign car before and it's very confusing. Thanks!

[from Margaritaville...]

Originally Posted by dieseldiva

Hi! I've got a beautiful 2000 bug with a slight problem. My passenger running lamp burned out and my son (who is also my mechanic) hasn't ever worked on a bug before. I've got a book on order from the auto parts store but could someone tell me how to change the bulb? I've never owned a foreign car before and it's very confusing. Thanks!

First of all, do them BOTH. The other one will burn out very shortly.

The process is a real P.I.T.A. Your son must remove the entire headlamp assy. from the body through the front. He's gotta press that white-painted tab with the "X" marked on it and simultaneously pull that lever down (it's gonna be REAL stubborn). Then he needs to push the lamp assembly through the framework (likely, he'll need to jar it a few times). Once it moves forward about 1/4", he can try to pull it from the front. He can figure out the rest.

Before replacing the lamp assy., he should clean out the two tracks that the assy. slides on and apply white grease or some other heavy lubricant to make it a bit easier the next time.

This is the most ridiculous and unneccesarily complicated design I've EVER seen on any vehicle!!!

[00132936]

Pls check this file.
Eduardo
Mexico

[buggin2662]

umm its not hard it takes me bout 5 min a light inculding fiddling with the light bulb package i use to take them out when id race= ram air

[bman]

The headlights are a bit of a pain, but once you figure it our it's relatively easy.

I'd suggest (in warmer weather or a nice heated garage) that you lubricate the mechanisms for the headlamp assemblies after you get them ought. Grit and dust build up in the tracks and bind on the cams making it more than just a little likely that you will break one of the tabs you need to slide to get the assembly out the front of the car.

Once lubed the whole process will go much quicker in the future.

As far as replacing both lamps at the same time, I don't. Rather, I keep a spare bulb (actually two) in my arm rest as I can change them when needed in just a few minutes and without tools.

[ChristopherC]

I noticed this morning that my left is out. It's 20F outside. Figures. Why this never happens on a breezy summer day is a friggin mystery.

Anyways, the service manual says to disconnect the battery. Anyone see a problem with skipping this step?

[fuel110]

^^that's so if you stick your tounge in the socket and turn on the headlight you can't sue VW.

[orrenk]

i have now replaced my daughters drivers side headlight twice. The passenger side burned out this weekend and the drivers side burned out tonight. They work fine when i replace them. I haven't touched the bulb with my bare fingers.
Any thoughts about what's happening?

thanks
orren

[gordy49]

Originally Posted by orrenk

i have now replaced my daughters drivers side headlight twice. The passenger side burned out this weekend and the drivers side burned out tonight. They work fine when i replace them. I haven't touched the bulb with my bare fingers.
Any thoughts about what's happening?

thanks
orren

Yes it is called Day light Running System.

[dieseldiva]

Wow, Y'all weren't kidding about PITA!! I now have two headlights again so hopefully officer friendly will leave me alone. Thanks for all the help!!

[bman]

Originally Posted by gordy49

Yes it is called Day light Running System.

Hogwash. I've never modified my DRS so my lights are always on when the engine runs, and have been since I bought the car. I've replaced 3 lamps in nearly 8 years. I'd suggest that DRS is not the cause.

[LadybugEwa]

I haven't had to replace a bulb in a good while.
Stopped buying 'supper-duper-white-fancy-crap-bulbs.'
Got REGULAR H1 GE bulbs for $7 each. They are cheaper than the fancy ones, and last MUCH longer.

[ChristopherC]

Replaced my low beam last night. Total PITA. On top of that I broke the latch on the rear cover.

EDIT: Replacement plastic cover for the rear of the headlight: $50.

[grumblebunny]

Heck. I'm just glad I don't have to get out my wrenches to change the headlamp elements -- like I did on my wife's old Pontiac.

Ugh... Now That was a PITA

[No Slug]

I replaced the driver's side dim for the 3rd time overall yesterday. Was on track for an 8 minute switch our then going back in, the lower and right rails came out when the handle(?) was pushed down to lock it in. Now, there's a gap and I can't pull the headlight assembly out because the two rails are off........my fingertips are SO SORE...

Later, Rich

[01turbo]

OR...

to avoid bulbs burning out all the time, buy an HID kit! I'm getting a pair from koperformance. They are Philips D2S bulbs, refitted into H1 bases. No more burnt out halogen bulbs! But this cost me 400 bucks.

[No Slug]

Fixed my headlight lack of seal problem today...the slider mechanism with the lever broke, the headlight came back out. Replaced the slider mechanism for $15 from the stealership, 3 8mm bolts is all and it actually works well.

Later, Rich

[sqlbug]

I don't mean this in a Matrix "There is no spoon" kind of way!
I have a 2006 TDI NB and I'm trying to change the driver's side headlight (low beam).
A friend with a 2002 showed me what I need to do, only he had the "latch" everyone is talking about. I found a couple of write ups online which discuss the latch as well. I even found a post about the 2006 which indicates there is a metal wire (I have this!) but no latch. There is a small hex bar that needs to be turned 1/2 a turn, I've done that. Also That post indicates I need to press the latch down 1-2" - however, my latch only goes up - not down. Also, there are two small white torx-type screws (really the only thing that I found that fit was an allen wrench).

The assembly comes out about 1/2 an inch, but it definitely still being held in by something. I've unscrewed the white torx-type screws, but they don't appear to come out all the way....they just kind of spin.

Does anyone out there have a 2006 tdi who has done a headlight swap? What am I missing?

Apologies in advance for all the typos - it's 3:30am and I just finished working. Off to bed!
Thanks in advance!

[sqlbug]

Ok - I figured this out.
There IS a metal bar that need to be pushed down. It's VERY hard to see, and it's NOT a wire, but it looks like a thin piece of flat metal. I am in the process of doing a write up and posting pix.
The white torx type screws are NOT related to this at all!
I have two headlights now!
WHOO HOO!

[zeusenergy]

Originally Posted by from Margaritaville...

This is the most ridiculous and unneccesarily complicated design I've EVER seen on any vehicle!!!

Yeah... Why wouldn't VW do the same for the fronts as they did for the rears? ONE thumbscrew. How simple! Maybe they were afraid people would leave the screw out and on braking the lamps would fly out and impale a small child???