Stupid Stupid parking bulb

Major Look · Jun 18th, 2012, 11:12

Hi all. Why do my feeble attempts to replace a simple £1.50 parking light bulb on my 2005 V70 D5 SE make me feel so blasted inadequate?

How do mechanics do it? It's just an everyday task for them! Please someone tell me what tricks of the trade there might be to replace the nearside parking lamp bulb without employing sophisticated keyhole blooming surgery techniques?

I can remove the rubber cover to expose the inside of the headlight, but the cable and fitting is then a couple of inches inside the tiny access hole. I have factory fitted Bi-Xenon headlamp units which may partly explain the lack of space to manoeuvre. But then, you all know this already!!

If I use a pair of long-nosed pliers I could probably remove it, but then I doubt that the "re-fitting it is the reversal of removal" (to coin a classic Haynes saying) is going to be quite so simple as the phrase implies, and so I'm reluctant to try to remove it until I have at least some idea of how it's going to go back.

It doesn't help that the air filter box and a pipe arrangement wedged against the rubber bung makes access difficult for people with large hands like mine. I've already scraped most of the skin off.

Well, rant over, LOL

. Any advice (apart from take it to a dealer) will be much appreciated. You can tell my day job is not as an auto engineer, can't you!

Note to Volvo: please redesign all lamps to make bulb replacement (a consumable item) as simple as possible for normal mortals, like it should be.
Thanks all!

RUTV70 · Jun 18th, 2012, 11:44

Know what ya mean...as ever, whoever designs them NEVER has to work on them.!
But it ain't just Volvo.!...My Mrs's Renault Megane CC is just the same...ya need the hands of a Barbie doll to change a soddin' bulb..and of course be double jointed as well.

Thank goodness I have a Phase 1 Classic V70...easy peasy.!

Neil

Major Look · Jun 18th, 2012, 14:06

Ouch! Tender feminine skin against unforgiving metal? Oh, OK then - I'll ask my daughter LOL Now where is she......

Thanatos · Jun 18th, 2012, 14:27

at least its not a 02 audi a4 the whole front end needs disasembleing

Georgeandkira · Jun 18th, 2012, 16:51

Hello, No it doesn't. I just changed a parking/turn signal bulb in a 2002 Audi A4,B6. After simply lifting the intake air duct out of the way, you remove the two TORX on top and the nut at the rear of the headlight capsule. When I do the timing belt is when the front end of the car comes off. Shoehorning that V-6 (the 3.0 liter) into that little car was a thoughtlessly cruel accommodation to the stupid North American car market. Ohhh....Does that count as a rant? Kira

rnlisg · Jun 18th, 2012, 18:53

having had this on my 07 xc70(twice in 2 weeks)

.and having had lots of help from members,it seems stealers remove the front bumper which according to mine takes about 15mins!.so when i have some spare time,me and swmbo are going to practice removal and refitting said bumper,this should also save me a pint of blood that i lost last time,i have seen a post on removal and have located all screws etc(the thread covered v and xc 70 models)
good luck
sandy

Jun 18th, 2012, 11:12	#1
Major Look VOC Member Last Online: Jan 8th, 2024 22:29 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yateley, Hampshire	Stupid Stupid parking bulb Hi all. Why do my feeble attempts to replace a simple £1.50 parking light bulb on my 2005 V70 D5 SE make me feel so blasted inadequate? How do mechanics do it? It's just an everyday task for them! Please someone tell me what tricks of the trade there might be to replace the nearside parking lamp bulb without employing sophisticated keyhole blooming surgery techniques? I can remove the rubber cover to expose the inside of the headlight, but the cable and fitting is then a couple of inches inside the tiny access hole. I have factory fitted Bi-Xenon headlamp units which may partly explain the lack of space to manoeuvre. But then, you all know this already!! If I use a pair of long-nosed pliers I could probably remove it, but then I doubt that the "re-fitting it is the reversal of removal" (to coin a classic Haynes saying) is going to be quite so simple as the phrase implies, and so I'm reluctant to try to remove it until I have at least some idea of how it's going to go back. It doesn't help that the air filter box and a pipe arrangement wedged against the rubber bung makes access difficult for people with large hands like mine. I've already scraped most of the skin off. Well, rant over, LOL . Any advice (apart from take it to a dealer) will be much appreciated. You can tell my day job is not as an auto engineer, can't you! Note to Volvo: please redesign all lamps to make bulb replacement (a consumable item) as simple as possible for normal mortals, like it should be. Thanks all! __________________ XC70 D5 SE Lux MY07 Viking cross country Longboat with automatic oars. Vikings not included.

Jun 18th, 2012, 11:44	#2
RUTV70 RUTRUNNER Last Online: Jan 25th, 2016 11:32 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oakham View Photos By: RUTV70	Know what ya mean...as ever, whoever designs them NEVER has to work on them.! But it ain't just Volvo.!...My Mrs's Renault Megane CC is just the same...ya need the hands of a Barbie doll to change a soddin' bulb..and of course be double jointed as well. Thank goodness I have a Phase 1 Classic V70...easy peasy.! Neil __________________ classic V70 1999MY 20 valve non turbo, auto (adaptive) B5254. ETM/Denso Previous Volvos...264 auto...loved it. 340 manual...not so loved. 760 auto...loved it.

Jun 18th, 2012, 14:06	#3
Major Look VOC Member Last Online: Jan 8th, 2024 22:29 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yateley, Hampshire	Ouch! Tender feminine skin against unforgiving metal? Oh, OK then - I'll ask my daughter LOL Now where is she...... __________________ XC70 D5 SE Lux MY07 Viking cross country Longboat with automatic oars. Vikings not included.

Jun 18th, 2012, 14:27	#4
Thanatos VOC Member Last Online: Sep 11th, 2019 14:36 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Blackpool	at least its not a 02 audi a4 the whole front end needs disasembleing __________________ Classicswede quote " I knew I had not done the bolts up." http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=159255

Jun 18th, 2012, 18:53	#6
rnlisg Senior Member Last Online: Jun 8th, 2020 15:43 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: lydd/kent	bulb change(simples) having had this on my 07 xc70(twice in 2 weeks).and having had lots of help from members,it seems stealers remove the front bumper which according to mine takes about 15mins!.so when i have some spare time,me and swmbo are going to practice removal and refitting said bumper,this should also save me a pint of blood that i lost last time,i have seen a post on removal and have located all screws etc(the thread covered v and xc 70 models) good luck sandy

Jun 18th, 2012, 16:51	#5
Georgeandkira Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 14:16 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hackensack	Hello, No it doesn't. I just changed a parking/turn signal bulb in a 2002 Audi A4,B6. After simply lifting the intake air duct out of the way, you remove the two TORX on top and the nut at the rear of the headlight capsule. When I do the timing belt is when the front end of the car comes off. Shoehorning that V-6 (the 3.0 liter) into that little car was a thoughtlessly cruel accommodation to the stupid North American car market. Ohhh....Does that count as a rant? Kira

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