View Full Version : Sodding Sods - light cluster broked
Got home from work tonight, having noticed the driver side headlamp wasnt working. Expecting to just have to change the bulb, I wondered around the front and saw this:-
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/6169/headlamp.jpg
I am right in thinking I cannot "responsibly" drive this now? Its looking like £150 to get the damn thing replaced - and I want to get rid of this car and get a new one... Sods law :(
Its a Nissan Micra, V reg btw...
ohhhh
unless I can get this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Micra-K11-98-00-O-S-Drivers-Side-Headlight_W0QQitemZ380150605609QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item5882bde 729
£25 sounds like a pretty good deal. Buy, buy, buy!
I dunno what it'll be like to fit, it was a bitch of a job on my old Golf - the front bumper needed to come off. It took hours!
I cant remember any of my ebay details... nor my paypal details.. not used them in about 5 years :/
Cant seem to get them sent to my e-mail address either. bum.
TinkerBell
20-01-2010, 18:58
Why don't you go to a local scrapyard and see if they have one? Then you can try and fit it or find a garage that will fit it for you, which will be cheaper than buying it new :)
I think I may try and get this one sent... and get a local garage to fit it..
if you're stuck and can BT the cash over, we can get it for you?
Knipples
20-01-2010, 19:12
Another offer for ebay log in details here, feel free to use my account and ask them to post it to you if you want :)
Thanks guys - just set up a new account. Will call that scrapyard tomorrow and see if they still have a usable one.
Right, now I'm behind on my plans for this evening... Grrrr.
Ordered the part - expect a thread on fitting a nissan micra headlamp unit next week - all being well :p
Now, I'm kinda stranded in Exeter until I can get this fixed :(
pretty sure you'll just get a producer if you're spotted. And I doubt you would tbh, unless you're really unlucky! I'd risk it myself.
Ordered the part - expect a thread on fitting a nissan micra headlamp unit next week - all being well :p
Now, I'm kinda stranded in Exeter until I can get this fixed :(
Nah just bung another cheapy bulb in there and drive around till you get it fixed. The chances of being caught are below slim, especially if you actually have a working bulb in there. If the HA Traffic Officers are really feeling evil (read: can be arsed) then they'll pull in the ones without working headlights long before you. If the Micra has it, point the headlights down a bit just incase the light defracts too much.
edit:- looking at it what has blown the bulb is it filling with water, the crack hasn't gone over the main headlight so shouldn't affect the beam pattern much. If it was me I would loosen the fittings and drill a hole in the bottom of the light to let the water out (drain hole) and refit. Alternatively whip it off and put a bit of tape over the light hole, however then you couldn't claim ignorance if pulled. All naughtyness as a temp fix, be good don't be bad etc :lipsrsealed:
theres a fat old hole over it... Cant understand how it would have happened as the glass there is almost a cm thick... damn kids at school hating me I guess!!
As long as the bulb is still working, just bung a bit of sellotape over the hole to keep the moisture out and don't worry about it. As Matt said there are plenty of people driving around with lights in a worse state and you're able to prove that it's only a temporary measure whilst you wait for the replacement to arrive so you should be OK.
I have a flood light... HAHAHAHAHA
but seriously. The light has filled with water. Im trying to find instructions on how to remove the glass front so I can try and sort some botch out... any ideas?
Knipples
24-01-2010, 13:42
You could drill a teeny hole so the water is able to drain out/keep draining out.
(or is that a really silly thing to say?)
Its a glass front... Im not sure it would cope with me taking a drill to it. Anyway, I just removed the old bulb - it was destroyed.
Oddly, before I took it out, full beams worked. I think even once I replace the unit, I'm gonna have to fork out to find out whats wrong with that particular problem. :(
Bloody palava. :(
Knipples
24-01-2010, 14:07
Yeah I meant like a hand drill and sloooowly/carefully.
The glass is most likely bonded to the housing so it probably isn't designed to come off.
A small drill bit coupled with a slow drill should be ok, I've done it a couple of times in the past. Also put some masking tape over the glass before you drill. It's very similar to drilling into a tile.
Knipples
24-01-2010, 14:19
Yay! I wasn't talking complete nonsense! :)
It's much easier to take the headlamp out and drill a small drain hole in the plastic housing rather than through the glass.
Pickers, from what I remember it's just a few bolts holding the lamp on, 5 minute job if you want to change it yourself
It's much easier to take the headlamp out and drill a small drain hole in the plastic housing rather than through the glass.
Pickers, from what I remember it's just a few bolts holding the lamp on, 5 minute job if you want to change it yourself
I'll wait till I got the new unit here I think. I tried to undo one bolt and one screw, and they were well and truely stuck fast... boo.
Sodding PoS car. Got up this morning to drive down to cornwall to get the lights fixed in a workable environment, and the effing starter motor wouldnt even turn over.
Managed to bump start it with a mate from round the corner who dragged himself out of bed to help. Once the lights are done Im gonna get rid of it asap!
New headlamp unit has gone in no worries, except that the headlamp alignment is WAY off. Theres only one adjustment screw that I can see, and it doesnt appear to do much, which has made me concerned that the replacement unit is faulty in that department. Still - at least I have lights. I can use the electronic alignment selector, but that brings down the passenger side too.
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