Disco 2 Help trying to remove front light unit to change the indicator bulb

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Keith_L

Keith_L

Well-Known Member
Posts
366
Location
Worcestershire, UK
The front right indicator bulb needs changing. I have managed to remove the grill okay, and the right-hand of the two screws from the top of the light, but the left-hand (outer) one just turns and turns. Peering down the other hole there seems to be a brass insert the screw goes into. I'm guessing this has come loose and is just turning round.

Any suggestions how I can get it out?
 

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I removed the brackets from the car with headlamps attached.

I ended up heat welding it all together, but now have new ones, so put a tiny bit of grease on the threads.
 
MJI said:
I removed the brackets from the car with headlamps attached.
Click to expand...
Which brackets are you referring to? Sorry, I'm simply not familiar with how the headlamps go together - this is the first time I've had to fiddle with them. I'll study the Haynes manual later to see if that helps.
I see you're not that far away - I'm Bromsgrove.
 
Eh, I'm confused a bit here....
It's not the two Philips screws you are trying to undo is it?
Take the two torx head bolts out and then tug the unit as it has push in pins.....
That's all I've done with mine and I've had them out a few times now and without removing the grill.... :)
 
craigoodwood said:
Eh, I'm confused a bit here....
It's not the two Philips screws you are trying to undo is it?
Take the two torx head bolts out and then tug the unit as it has push in pins.....
That's all I've done with mine and I've had them out a few times now and without removing the grill.... :)
Click to expand...
It was the two Philips screws I was taking out. They are the ones indicated in the Handbook.
Am I to assume that the Torx head bolts are holding the plastic plate to the scuttle, and undoing them means the headlight comes out with plastic plate still attached? Why are they Torx bolts if that is all they are doing? It suggested to me that they were something important and shouldn't be fiddled with?
 

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Oh I didn't look into the job at all, but seeing that now I realise I have some security bars over my headlights so thats why I took them bolts out :rolleyes:
 
Keith_L said:
Which brackets are you referring to? Sorry, I'm simply not familiar with how the headlamps go together - this is the first time I've had to fiddle with them. I'll study the Haynes manual later to see if that helps.
I see you're not that far away - I'm Bromsgrove.
Click to expand...
I lived in Bromsgrove 22 years ago, I still miss it despite it being a one horse town. It was a great loss to the place when Woolworths closed.

Col
 
I've taken another look this morning and know what I am doing now. Can anyone tell me what size the 2 Torx bolts are as I will need to buy myself a socket to match?
 
As @Landmark2 said they are indeed E10. I intended to buy one from Halfords for about £4 but thought I would just try Euro Car Parts on the way past on the off-chance and managed to buy one of these sets for less than £10:

https://amtechdiy.com/product/10pc-female-torx-socket-set/

So, I marked the position of the plastic plate on the scuttle with a pen so as not to change the headlamp alignment, and removed the light unit without any further problem. I took out the bulb and held it up to the light. It looked okay but I tested it for continuity and it was okay. The contacts all looked clean but gave them a squirt of contact cleaner to be sure and put the bulb back. Nothing. Took it out, put it back and it worked and nothing we did would stop it working. So, problem solved for the moment at any rate.

However, as is the way with this car, sorting one problem creates others. Firstly the cover was missing from the main beam light. Instead it was covered by a scrappy bit of duct tape. Second thing I noticed was water and muck inside the clear cover. Perhaps not surprising given the lack of a cover but although I knew it had condensation sometimes I hadn't realised how much water was in there. Presumably it normally all sits at the bottom and I don't notice it. Finally the dipped beam reflector was cracked. So, two options - 1) buy a replacement headlight unit if I can get one or 2) replace the cover (XBQ000050 – £26.87 from LR), remove the clear cover, dry things out, clean the inside and ignore the cracked lens.

The key question for option 2 is, can the clear cover be removed? Has anyone done this or know of it being done?
 

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Keith_L said:
As @Landmark2 said they are indeed E10. I intended to buy one from Halfords for about £4 but thought I would just try Euro Car Parts on the way past on the off-chance and managed to buy one of these sets for less than £10:

https://amtechdiy.com/product/10pc-female-torx-socket-set/

So, I marked the position of the plastic plate on the scuttle with a pen so as not to change the headlamp alignment, and removed the light unit without any further problem. I took out the bulb and held it up to the light. It looked okay but I tested it for continuity and it was okay. The contacts all looked clean but gave them a squirt of contact cleaner to be sure and put the bulb back. Nothing. Took it out, put it back and it worked and nothing we did would stop it working. So, problem solved for the moment at any rate.

However, as is the way with this car, sorting one problem creates others. Firstly the cover was missing from the main beam light. Instead it was covered by a scrappy bit of duct tape. Second thing I noticed was water and muck inside the clear cover. Perhaps not surprising given the lack of a cover but although I knew it had condensation sometimes I hadn't realised how much water was in there. Presumably it normally all sits at the bottom and I don't notice it. Finally the dipped beam reflector was cracked. So, two options - 1) buy a replacement headlight unit if I can get one or 2) replace the cover (XBQ000050 – £26.87 from LR), remove the clear cover, dry things out, clean the inside and ignore the cracked lens.

The key question for option 2 is, can the clear cover be removed? Has anyone done this or know of it being done?
Click to expand...

Nearly £700 a pair for new
 
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