Technical Sidelight/Main beam lamp unit removal

[306maxi]

I would guess that they snap easily in crashes as part of the attempts to absorb the impact and also do less harm to pedestrians.

Good point. I would usually blame shoddy build quality but perhaps that's not the cause for once

 

[Loujam]

Good point. I would usually blame shoddy build quality but perhaps that's not the cause for once

No I think we should still blame shoddy build quality, but by a fluke it happens to be pedestrian friendly

 

[306maxi]

Update:
I made a decision yesterday afternoon to leave it to my local independent garage to do the work, so I dropped it off at the end of the day and they kindly loaned me a courtesy car. They have already phoned to say that the job is done, so I shall pick it up this evening.
Basically, the lamp unit is held on with 3 lugs and two of them had broken to leave it hanging on by one lug which was totally illegal and dangerous. This wasn't a problem though because I was getting a lift into work so the car remained on the drive. My lift became unavailable for today and tomorrow but I still needed a car, so it just made sense to leave it for the garage to do and use the courtesy car. Yes I would have liked to have saved a few quid by doing the job myself but at least I've got my weekend free with no need to spend an unknown amount of time working on the car. That gives me more time to have fun with the kids!

For the benefit of everyone here, while I was on the phone I did ask how he went about removing the unit. He simply removed the plastic inner wheel arch (and for clarification, this is the large panel that the small inspection cover clips onto). He was then able to remove the three screws that hold the unit in place, which meant that there was no need to remove the bumper. He did have the advantage of having the car in the air so he could work from underneath though. This is not quite the detailed guide that Tony suggested I do, but hopefully will be of some use for anyone in future wanting to tackle this job.

I completely see why you got the garage to do it. It's not the sort of thing that you can leave half done and still have a useable car. Better to let someone who has proper workshop do it. The idle air control valve on the Subaru's engine needed cleaning out and the contacts on the knock sensor needed some corrosion removed. The screws are pretty soft and having been on the car for 17+ years I didn't fancy the job and the chargecooler needs to be moved out of the way to get to the knock sensor off. It's the sort of thing you could do, but not when you know you need the car working the next day for sure.

 

[306maxi]

No I think we should still blame shoddy build quality, but by a fluke it happens to be pedestrian friendly

Very true.

 

[Loujam]

years ago as an 18 year old teenager, I had the luxury of owning a moped and a Vauxhall Viva, so I could afford the time in repairing either one myself knowing that I had the other to fall back on. Those were the days. Such a distant memory now

 

[306maxi]

years ago as an 18 year old teenager, I had the luxury of owning a moped and a Vauxhall Viva, so I could afford the time in repairing either one myself knowing that I had the other to fall back on. Those were the days. Such a distant memory now

Well we have the luxury of two cars, but at the time the Subaru was at my mother in laws and the mother in law was whining in that "How soon till you get the Subaru fixed? .... Oh it's alright it can stay as long as you need it to" way and I just wanted it done right the first time

 

[RobinPJ]

years ago as an 18 year old teenager, I had the luxury of owning a moped and a Vauxhall Viva, so I could afford the time in repairing either one myself knowing that I had the other to fall back on. Those were the days. Such a distant memory now

I think that is probably the first time in the history of the world the the word "luxury" has been used in the same sentence as the words "Vauxhall Viva" (other than when interspersed by the word "not").

 

[Loujam]

I think that is probably the first time in the history of the world the the word "luxury" has been used in the same sentence as the words "Vauxhall Viva" (other than when interspersed by the word "not").

I'll have you know that I had the 4 door SL version in a metallic rust sort of colour with real rust interspersed

 

[RobinPJ]

Ah, happy days.

I recall as a teenager my parents were considering buying a Modeo. One of the "extras" that you got if you upgraded from the base spec level to the next one up (forget if it was LX or something) was some grey corrugated plastic behind the rear number plate. The other upgrades weren't much better either.

Even as a spotty youth stuck in the automotive mediocrity of the early 1980s, I remember thinking that that was rubbish.

 

[306maxi]

Ah, happy days.

I recall as a teenager my parents were considering buying a Modeo. One of the "extras" that you got if you upgraded from the base spec level to the next one up (forget if it was LX or something) was some grey corrugated plastic behind the rear number plate. The other upgrades weren't much better either.

Even as a spotty youth stuck in the automotive mediocrity of the early 1980s, I remember thinking that that was rubbish.

What's a Modeo?

 

[RobinPJ]

What's a Modeo?

It's a fashionable horse riding event attended by cowboys. Tssch, don't you know anything?

 

[Loujam]

As some of you might already know, I sold my 1.4 Sport the other day. A couple of weeks ago though, I had to replace the nearside full beam unit because two of the three lugs on the other unit had snapped due to an incident (which is all I need to say). The whole assembly is perfect apart from these two lugs. It also has the bulbs in it that still work. Its such a waste to just throw it in the bin. Does anyone want it for free except for postage? I'm not going to work out postage costs. If we just say a straight £10 to cover my time for packing and fuel, then I will post it to the first person who PMs me (once I have received their payment by Paypal). Clearly I cant give a warranty, but the lens and reflector are perfect and the only damage at the back is the two lugs which I will include. It wouldn't be difficult for someone to make two new lugs and glue or screw them in place. I was going to do this and keep it as a spare, but now I don't need to. I think these cost approx £50-65 new. If there are no takers, then it will be binned late next week. Picture attached so everyone knows which one I mean.

Technically this is not a sale, so I hope this was OK to put this post onto the end of this thread? Appologies if not.