C5 headlamp bulb orientation?

[faddy]

So - fished wire clip out with coat hanger wire, refitted clip (much easier than expected as I had in good daylight a reasonable view of where it fastened). Refitted bulb, reconnected it, switched on and..........neither headlamp working and instrument panel light out

Bulb was working two days ago when I had it fitted at the wrong angle, but while I had it out today I managed to drop it on the mat. Hypothesis was that it therefore had an internal short which had blown the fuse, but handbook lists separate fuses for the two sides????????

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes - Engine Fuse Box:

F9 - 15A/20A LH dipped beam
F10 - 15A RH dipped beam
F11 - 10A LH main beam
F12 - 10A RH main beam

[faddy]

Popped out to check if main beams were working only to discover that main and nearside dipped worked with engine running and thereafter worked with engine off. So guessing it had gone into eco mode? (and either I've killed the bulb by dropping it or connector's on wrong)

[faddy]

...is the permanently plugged in phone charger likely to trigger eco mode and would it prevent headlight use?

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes anything plugged in there is going to drain the battery but won't have any control over headlight use - that is all controlled by the Comms Unit and the BSI. Those bulbs can be very sensitive to any vibration. I recommend wearing some latex gloves as handling the bulbs with your skin covers the bulb glass with oil and that will shorten the life of it.

[faddy]

Sorted! (connector had fallen off so must have been only half on)

I recommend wearing some latex gloves as handling the bulbs with your skin covers the bulb glass with oil and that will shorten the life of it.

Didn't wear gloves but did, I think, manage to avoid touching the glass.

[faddy]

Yes anything plugged in there is going to drain the battery but won't have any control over headlight use - that is all controlled by the Comms Unit and the BSI.

Now only of academic interest but I was questioning whether eco mode would shut down headlights, not whether the charger would directly affect them. (Of course had I thought to look at the display I'd have known if it was in eco mode).

[GiveMeABreak]

I cannot say for sure regarding the external lights. On your car the Engine fuse box controls the main and dipped beam light components, although still commanded by the BSI. I've never really put it to the test by leaving them on! The system is designed to turn off the comfort / accessory equipment like the windows, Audio / Telematics interior dash lights etc. but I can't say for sure about the exterior lighting.

[crapday69]

Don't want to be annoying but on the MK3 C5 changing a headlight bulb is about the easiest thing you can do With the MK2 it was murder and if you didn't have small hands then it was a bumper off job. Cant comment on the MK1 though.

Gary.

[GiveMeABreak]

Depends on the model though - My X7 has Bi-directional Xenons and a completely different set of bulbs and layout to the halogen version. The HP24W DRLs are not at all easy as these are located on the underside of the headlamps. If they have never been off the car, they can be very stiff the first time and I had to get the garage to retrieve them for me by removing the bumper. I then fitted the new bulbs myself. They can be done with 'Mr Fantastic' elastic fingers, a very slim and flat torx spanner, string bluetack a towel and various other hi-tech kit. The HP19W cornering lights are very fiddly as these need modifications to the bulb base and resistor kits fitting if upgrading, although on the standard halogen models these are equipped with the same H7 bulbs as the headlights.

The fogs are awkward as are the indicators as you have to remove the lighting unit and the front parking sensor to get to - and doing this resulted in me having to buy a new light unit afterwards due to the seal breaking and water ingress. I could of had a pet fish swimming about in there.

The rears can be flipping awkward as the plastic is mega brittle on the light housing - give me the MK II anyday for the rear lights - easy. In fact apart from the D1S bulbs, I think I preferred the MK II Xenon models overall for light changes.

[faddy]

I am cursed.

Dipped beam bulb's just gone on the C5 X7 I bought a week ago.

[GiveMeABreak]

At least that's an easy one to do! Never mind, at least you're getting familiar with the car.

[faddy]

At least that's an easy one to do! Never mind, at least you're getting familiar with the car.

Though it transpires that I am The Man Who Didn't Know He Had Xenons....

[GiveMeABreak]

What's your VIN?

[faddy]

What's your VIN?

Why??