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For the 1st time in the 6 years I've had it, (2001 Passat 130tdi) I knew it was going to cos I also pre checked it for a knock on the suspension which I located to the top front supension arm. Anyway it took me about 2 hours just to get the well & truly seized in pinch bolt out just to get the strut off, replaced both top arms in about 3hrs, changed both front brake flexy hoses as well.
It also had a sidelamp bulb off. I've been on all day working out how to change the t*at without taking the headlamp out. (bumper & trim off by the look of it)
Talk about a right chew on! 😕
PS, I'm actually an ex mechanic, cars were never this much bother when Cortinas were around!
Not as bad as you but I spent the morning repairing a wiring loom on a 306 that is no longer manufactured. Proprietary sealed socket, wires snapped right at socket cut and solder in a tiny space.
I love my 79 camper. Can fix practically everything at the side of the road with limited tools (1 philips screwdriver to replace all bulbs!). my 89 hatchback is easy to understand but french so every job involves a lot of swearing. I'm going nowhere near my 97 Saab or anything else made after that date!
how is this bike related?
My 2005 Passat needs two new rear shocks. I will pay for someone to fit those. My 1965 Beetle also needs two new rear shocks now it is lowered. That is a job I will do.
Is it not a rubber band type thing that holds the passat headlamp in. I certainly remember changing several of those in a petrol station forcourt in a matter of minutes.
Edit: Not the rubber band thing on passats, but still pretty simple.
He has a VW, IT middle class enough for this forum?
Sorry no he fixed it himself without a goggle reference to titanium bootique bike maker
Changing bulbs seems to be a real arse ache on most cars these days. Gotta laugh about having to carry a spare bulb in france. No mention of the proprietary tools to unclip the bumpers, or the 9000 different helpers you need to hold plastic clips open so you can remove the wheel arch.
qwj72 - what 89 hatch do you have?
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/small-cheap-cars-that-fit-a-mountain-bike-in
A piccie in that thread (more appropriately placed in chat!)
cars are rubbish
And it took me most of the morning to fit my new SLX chainset 😳
[i]how is this bike related?[/i]
WTF have bikes got to do with anything?? 🙄
Isn't this the VW forum?
SBZ, I think I've changed all the HEADLAMP bulbs whilst I've had the car.
But not a poxy little t*at of a sidelamp bulb. It's a c**t!
Do what I did on my golf mk4 take bumper off, takes 15mins then replace side lights with white LED bulbs about a fiver for two and guaranteed for 50,000 illuminations. They are crap but legal.If you look in the manual it tells you to take the car to a dealer if a bulb goes! You Tube has some very good instruction vid's on bumper removal.
Oh ye of many moans, try changing the headlight bulbs in earlier Smart Cars. Most of the front of the car has to be removed....
rickmeister +1
Had a hire car with a blown bulb, thought this'll take me 2minutes to sort.. no, phone hire company they say phone RAC... RAC man appears, "no can't do it" we'll transport you home on the back of a lorry, as you have to remove the front of the car to change the bulb! (I just drove it home...)
New cars=Ar5e to work on.
I have a 2002 Merc A class,and to change a headlight bulb to need to loosen off front wing and bumper then unbolt the headlight ,wrestle it out of the aperture then you can actually look at opening the hatch on the rear of the light to get to the bulb.
It looks potentially possible to do without removing the headlight but only if you tentacles instead of hands.
@qwj72 - looks superb!!!
should have bought something that everyone expected to fail, like a mondeo. 2 pins pulled out and I can have the headlamp unit on the bench.
MX5 is a right fiddle, need some Japanese sized hands or to remove the washer bottle.
IMHO any car which you can't change bulbs in 5 minutes without the use of tools should fail type approval. The ridiculous thing is that you could still get fined in France for not carrying spare bulbs for one of these, despite the spares being completely useless.
Old cars are so much easier to work on for sure
87 defender i use around the house and its easy to fix other thab grinding te bolt Off first ! Big hammer a breaker bar an a welder - job done !
My van - 06 thought id look into changing steerin box as it was acting up . Took alook at it and it was a case of removing most of the front end and lifting the engine up a bit
Fack that ! - tothe garage !
Fixed the climate control on my 406 this week.
Dealer fix = New ecu, plus fitting and reprogramming £500+
DIY fix = unclip ecu, unsolder old relay, solder on flying leads to an automotive relay from Halfords (original relay obsolete) £7.99
chilly 😀
I can change my own light bulbs too 😉
I can change my own light bulbs too
Yeah, but that's easy on a 406. Having been reminded by this thread I'll be checking out bulb replacement when I get a new car.
Yeah, but that's easy on a 406.
I know, that was the point 😀
I've helped a neighbour changed the bulbs on his A class before, felt like we'd dismantled the whole car by the time we'd finished.