Side Marker Bulb Swap DIY How-To [pics]

[crankyhobo]

I failed a "Warrant of fitness" because the paint on the bulbs of these side indicators had worn off, and they must be amber here.

I replaced my bulbs by taking off the clear plastic cover, changing the bulb and gluing the cover back on.

To break off the cover i got some wire cutters and whacked the back edge where the cover meets the frame, carefully, all the way around. It took about four complete rounds of the rim with increasing vigor and then i was able to break the cover off with my hands.

This may have only worked because they are at least a few years old and the glue was starting to get brittle.

The bulbs were a standard amber 'wedge' bulb that i was able to buy from a local auto parts store for $5

You will want to use a clear glue or it will look nasty on the clear plastic cover.

IMGUR ALBUM (6 PHOTOS) http://imgur.com/a/e9kMG

[07liftback]

Originally Posted by crankyhobo

I failed a "Warrant of fitness" because the paint on the bulbs of these side indicators had worn off, and they must be amber here.

I replaced my bulbs by taking off the clear plastic cover, changing the bulb and gluing the cover back on.

To break off the cover i got some wire cutters and whacked the back edge where the cover meets the frame, carefully, all the way around. It took about four complete rounds of the rim with increasing vigor and then i was able to break the cover off with my hands.

This may have only worked because they are at least a few years old and the glue was starting to get brittle.

The bulbs were a standard amber 'wedge' bulb that i was able to buy from a local auto parts store for $5

You will want to use a clear glue or it will look nasty on the clear plastic cover.

IMGUR ALBUM (6 PHOTOS) http://imgur.com/a/e9kMG

Really good info! I was wondering about taking off the cover rather than hacking open the housing with a hacksaw. This method seems a bit easier

[Astroman]

Actually from my experience the hacksaw approach is WAY EASIER! Trying to get the cover off risks breaking it (trust me, I tried). Although I never saw this thread until now I did mine last year to put in LEDs and used hot glue with zero issues. The nice thing is that with hot glue it holds great, and if you ever need to change the bulbs again you can just twist the top and bottom and break the glue which comes off with your fingers. This makes reglue a snap and it's nice and clean.

Trust me, do the hacksaw method, and use hot glue!