[markymark34]

old thread i know but have just had the pleasure of replacing both bulbs on an 04 focus. Drivers side is easy enough (10 mins) but passenger side is a complete pain in the ***. Ended up removing the headlight - v easy then.
Just a note - when you undo the cover in the wheel arch (4 torx bolts) its the bolt thats at 90 degrees that you need to undo not the one pointing downwards (youll see what i mean if you have to do it).

good thread.

ps most of the skin on my right arm is now under the bonnet.

[Scholes18]

Just had a nosey in the manual ( page 182 ) of my 55 plate Focus ( so Mk2 shell ) and it now actually states to change the bulbs then whip out the headlight unit.

It helps not that the underneath bolt isnt there anymore and its held secure with 1 top bolt and some guides.. I had to change a sidelight bulb in mine earlier this year and it was done in no time flat. It also helped that the headlights are self levelling xenon so i didnt have to mess about with any setup.

[Wild Weasel]

Cars these days are designed for snap fit assembly and to hell with user servicing. In fact if you look at a lot of user manuals they don't even mention useful information like the location of the pollen filters.

To change the oil filter on my Mondeo I'm supposed to take one of the front wheels off and have arms like an octopus.

[Rami Tupper]

part of this crap is these stupid pedestrian protection design laws which means manufacturers now have their hands tied with these daft sloping bonnets and cramped engine bays and bumpers that are flimsy as hell and metal mounting hardware has to be put way back in the engine bay, comprimises have to go somewhere and maintenance seems to take the hit. whatever happened to people looking before crossing the road?

[Jay J]

Did anyone see 5th Gear last year and they tried to change a bulb on a Renault Megan. The mechanic took over an hour and had to remove the front wheel. Although it's not as bad as some cars mentioned in this thread where you have to remove the bumper just to change the bulbs.

If you have to disconnect the battery, you can buy mains powered Battery savers that plug into your cigarette lighter and stops you loosing the radio code, ECU settings, etc.

[No-One]

You mean this?

YouTube - Fifth Gear change a light bulb

[ippikin]

I have a 2006 Ford Focus Estate 1.6 TDCi Zetec..... last night noticed that my passenger side dipped beam bulb had blown. Searched for information and my heart sank after reading these threads!

Anyway, best foot forward: bought a new bulb from local garage for £5.65 (2 pin ) and inspected the headlight from the engine bay. You have to remove the headlight unit to replace the bulb but this is easy peasy... took 2 minutes. Once the headlight unit is free, unplug the wire connector blocks, take it to a place of safety where if you drop anything it doesn't disappear into the engine compartment, remove the plastic weather cover and replace the bulb.

To remove the headlight on this model:

1. Remove the obvious screw that bolts the headlight at the top to the plastic bracket behind it
2. Get a torch and look down the back of the headlight unit into the depths and you will see a plastic horizontal clip extending from the back of the headlamp unit backwards which clips under part of the plastic bracket mentioned above. With a long implement, push this clip down and it will come free. There is one of these clips either side (ie. 2 in all per headlight). Wiggling the headlamp can help you see where it's attached.
3. Wiggle the headlamp unit free, disconnect the wire connector block and hey presto! one extracted headlight.
4. Replacement the reverse of removal.

Really no problem.

[FazerThou]

This strikes me as very strange becuse in most of Europe don't you have to carry a spare set of bulbs.

[stu.artd]

Originally Posted by FazerThou

This strikes me as very strange becuse in most of Europe don't you have to carry a spare set of bulbs.

You're right. It's just as well you don't have to demonstrate that you can change them as well.

[holland405]

Hi,

I have a 1998 Ford Focus and I recently upgraded my car bulbs to the Philips X-treme.

Took around 10 mins to change both headlights and the sidelights! Was very simple and didn't need to remove anything.

Dan

[Ron240]

Originally Posted by holland405

I have a 1998 Ford Focus
Took around 10 mins to change both headlights and the sidelights! Was very simple and didn't need to remove anything.

As your car is the very first of the Mk.1 models, then from what you have stated, one can only assume that the bulb replacement procedure is different on the early models.

Then again....your very first post could just have been an advert for an online bulb retailer. Yes, i have used them.

[Jay J]

In the car forums that I read, Powerbulbs and Autobulbs Direct are recommended. See PowerBulbs - Car Bulbs, Headlight Bulbs, Xenon Bulbs from Philips and Osram, including Philips Xtreme Power and Osram NightBreaker globes. and Autobulbs Direct Ltd

Both of them give you a free pair of blue sidelights if you spend more than £15 and free P&P in the UK. I have no association with them at all, just recommendation from others.

[SteveAWOL]

Well I've kind of got the knack of changing the front headlight bulbs on my 53 reg Focus as those Philips Extreme H7 bulbs ( Philips X-treme Power | Products | Auto Express ) only seem to last me about 12-18 months at a time and the nearside blew again this week. Just about worth the cost and hassle for me as they're so much brighter than the standard bulbs which mean I don't have to use full beam and worry about dazzling on coming traffic when i'm driving at night.

Just noticed the reverse light has gone though. I've managed to get the housing out but struggling to remove the wiring connector, is it just a matter of using brute force to pull it out as connector doesn't seem to want to budge

EDIT: I finally realised there is indeed a clip that needs to be pushed in on the wiring connector but after 20+ mins of faffing about in the dark and cold it turns out that the bulb the lad in Halfords told me to buy is the wrong one

EDT #2: Went to Halfords and turns out that the packet of Bosch 382 bulbs I picked up actually contained 380 bulbs! So exchanged them and fitted the new bulb only to find out there's still no reverse light. So I swapped the reverse light housing round with the rear fog light housing and looks like it's the wiring that's at fault. Luckily it's in for its annual service soon.

[Ron240]

Originally Posted by SteveAWOL

Just noticed the reverse light has gone though. I've managed to get the housing out but struggling to remove the wiring connector, is it just a matter of using brute force to pull it out as connector doesn't seem to want to budge
EDIT: I finally realised there is indeed a clip that needs to be pushed in on the wiring connector

On my 55 plate, you give the wiring connector a quarter turn inside the housing, and it simply pulls out.
I thought they were all the same, because im sure the rear fog/reversing light housings are interchangeable between different models?

[DIY RAY]

To remove the head lamp on a ford focus (2004), use a flashlight and a womans pocket mirror to look at the backside of the lamp from under the hood. you will see a spring like lock. wiggle the the lock at the end that has a loop and the bulb will be dislodged.

[seasidersrock]

Thank you Fiat, 07 plate Panda 100 HP, average time to remove and fit replacement headlight bulbs 10 mins thats both sides.
One clip, remove waterproof cover, unclip headlight bulb and remove.
The passenger side is a doddle, drivers side can be a pain, but i have tiny hands.
Recommended is the Philips + 80 % h/light bulbs, in a word awesome, the words that come to mind are destroyer and search lights, about £20 ish a pair, but worth every penny.

[slawitbhoy]

I struggled to find any info online that helped - eventually sought help from brother-in-law who sorted it in two minutes. The headlamp fitting has to come out. All you have to do is remove the 1 (on my model) or 2 screws on top, then "jiggle" the headlamp up and down whilst pulling out to the front at the same time. You have to be firm and "mean it". The "jiggling" helps to loosen the holding clips underneath. When finished, you just push it back and it clips into place.
My model is an 07 focus Titanium estate - I think the same method applies to all focus models from 05 onwards.

[Captain_Danger]

I got my 02 plate Mondeo bulb changed at my local garage for £4 with fitting.

Took them ages, but can't argue with £4.

Not sure if its harder or easier than a Focus though.

[thesilverfox]

Originally Posted by slawitbhoy

I struggled to find any info online that helped - eventually sought help from brother-in-law who sorted it in two minutes. The headlamp fitting has to come out. All you have to do is remove the 1 (on my model) or 2 screws on top, then "jiggle" the headlamp up and down whilst pulling out to the front at the same time. You have to be firm and "mean it". The "jiggling" helps to loosen the holding clips underneath. When finished, you just push it back and it clips into place.
My model is an 07 focus Titanium estate - I think the same method applies to all focus models from 05 onwards.

The MKII is a piece of cake. There are two clips on each lamp. One you can see and unclip with a long implement. The other is more or less impossible to get to from the top.

Once the clips are pushed and the screw removed, the headlight pretty much slides out. Even easier the second time etc. Just make sure that the 'lugs' are seated correctly.

I changed two bulbs a couple of weeks back in the cold in under five minutes. It took me longer to get the bulb out of the absurd Philips packaging.

[qwerty321]

Originally Posted by thesilverfox

It took me longer to get the bulb out of the absurd Philips packaging.

What a pain in the a*** that packaging is! Who on earth thought it was necessary to lock it down?!

[un1eash]

Originally Posted by Captain_Danger

I got my 02 plate Mondeo bulb changed at my local garage for £4 with fitting.

Took them ages, but can't argue with £4.

Not sure if its harder or easier than a Focus though.

Took me 5 minutes to figure out theres an L shape clip you pull out and the whole headlight comes off making it very easy.

[FZR400RRSP]

I agree.
When they make such a big deal about not touching the bulb glass, they could make the damned packaging easier.
Touch the glass?
You're lucky if the bulb doesn't fly across the road.

[thesilverfox]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

I agree.
When they make such a big deal about not touching the bulb glass, they could make the damned packaging easier.
Touch the glass?
You're lucky if the bulb doesn't fly across the road.

Yeah, I just figured to open the box before I went outside ... and to have the latex glove on ready as well, else it could be a pain. I ended up cutting the tabs on the box to get the bulbs out and put the spares in there.

[Synax_Injector]

LOL I work at Halfords and have had SO MANY people laugh at the £5.99 (not 5) price to fit bulbs, yes it's expensive...BUT, depends what bulb your doing.
I've had a fair few people say no...then return 20mins later from the car park claiming it's the wrong bulb etc it won't fit...rather funny really.

And depends who you are, someone like my sister has never seen under a bonet and wouldn't even look and would prefer to pay the £6.

But yes, ford focus is crap for changing a bulb on, well...passenger side where the battery is...driver side is a 2min max job

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by Synax_Injector

LOL I work at Halfords and have had SO MANY people laugh at the £5.99 (not 5) price to fit bulbs, yes it's expensive...BUT, depends what bulb your doing.
I've had a fair few people say no...then return 20mins later from the car park claiming it's the wrong bulb etc it won't fit...rather funny really.

And depends who you are, someone like my sister has never seen under a bonet and wouldn't even look and would prefer to pay the £6.

But yes, ford focus is crap for changing a bulb on, well...passenger side where the battery is...driver side is a 2min max job

So many tightwads in the world.
I know my way around a car, but for the sake of a fiver I'd quite happily let someone else do it.

[Ron240]

Originally Posted by Synax_Injector

ford focus is crap for changing a bulb on, well...passenger side where the battery is...driver side is a 2min max job

Totally agree with you on the 6 quid to do the job....its absolutely nothing, so it must be very funny to watch them coming back with their tail between their legs, so to speak.

I dont understand your comment about changing bulbs on a Focus though, or are you maybe referring to the Mk.1 model?
On the Mk.2(Jan 05 on), the whole light unit is designed to be very easily removed, as stated in the handbook. In fact, if you even attempted to change the bulbs with the light unit in place, then due to the tightness of the rear clips, and lack of space on the nearside, you would make a simple job needlessly complicated and time consuming.

Like i said, apologies if you are referring to the Mk.1 model, because it may be a different method, and i am not familiar with it.

[Synax_Injector]

Aye I think it's MK1...the older style ones where to remove the light unit iself you'd need to take some panels off.

I was in a night club the other night, and some drunk guy had a go at me because *I* charged him £6 to fit a bulb lol....I explained how *I* didn't

[Simba]

i have 08 focus, the 'not so new anymore' shape one and the driver side headlight has gone out.

i noticed this when the auto headlight setting didnt turn the lights on. is it normal when one of the headlights goes out the auto headlights dont work either??? i would have thought the left light would come on still....

[thesilverfox]

Originally Posted by Simba

i have 08 focus, the 'not so new anymore' shape one and the driver side headlight has gone out.

i noticed this when the auto headlight setting didnt turn the lights on. is it normal when one of the headlights goes out the auto headlights dont work either??? i would have thought the left light would come on still....

I would advise checking the fuse for the lights to see what the craic is. When my off-side bulb went, the near side still came on automatically

[Simba]

Originally Posted by thesilverfox

I would advise checking the fuse for the lights to see what the craic is. When my off-side bulb went, the near side still came on automatically

hmm ok. if its the fuse then that would prob be for the auto sensor. id imagine the bulb to still be blown....?