Rear Fog Lights

OwenP · Unread post by **OwenP** » 19 Apr 2011, 15:58

Right time for another daft question from me.

As the MOT is coming up I need to actually sort out the rear fog light that I have been attempting to do on and off for the past couple of months. Now this is nothing complicated, merely needed a new bulb (hopefully).

However, how the dickens do you get at the darn thing?

Everything I can see on the net suggests removing the plastic clips and taking off the entire boot door liner. Is this the best way? Is there is a trick to getting those clips off, or is it pull as hard as possible and hope they don't break?
This is on a 51 plate 406 estate.
As an aside I remember on my 405s there were hatches in the rear lining that allowed for access to the light clusters, what was wrong with this? The 406 even seems to have indents where these hatches should be!

Cheers in advance.

(Edit: Spelling)

spider · Unread post by **spider** » 19 Apr 2011, 17:54

The clips will tend to break if you remove them.

I've not been near one of these for nearly six years now. Take a look for any bolts / screws, I'm half sure I remember you can unbolt the unit (its the one in the hatch) and do it that way without taking the trim off.

OwenP · Unread post by **OwenP** » 20 Apr 2011, 13:58

I've had a good look and as far as I can see the only bolts near the light cluster are under the trim on the boot "lid"

The only other screws are the two holding the boot handle on, at least as far as I can see.

It looks like I should be able to get at it from the side of the boot "lid", but the cover plate won't budge.

spider · Unread post by **spider** » 20 Apr 2011, 14:37

I cannot visualise it sorry

I to know with 806's I think you have to take the trim off to do them, its possible the 406 estate is the same.

It has been a long time since I looked at one.

OwenP · Unread post by **OwenP** » 20 Apr 2011, 15:05

Not to worry.

I'm thinking you're right and it is going to be a trim off job. The handbook is no use, just says to use the cut-out provided, but it seems they forgot to provide it on mine.

Will have another go at getting the trim off when it is a bit cooler and just hope I have enough clips left to put it all back together.

spider · Unread post by **spider** » 20 Apr 2011, 16:18

You're welcome.

If you're careful with removing it, you should be able to save the clips, or most of them given that it is 'meant' to come off, unlike say the side rubbing strips which have hard brittle clips.

To be fair those side strip clips are not meant to be re-used.

OwenP · Unread post by **OwenP** » 21 Apr 2011, 11:00

Well I finally managed to get enough of the trim off to release the light cluster. Only to find there was no bulb in there to start with.
No wonder it didn't work! Not quite sure how I missed that the previous time I checked all the lights.

Although all the wiring is there for the foglight to work the bulb won't fit through to the front of the light cluster. Oh well at least I have a spare bulb for when the other side goes.

Thankfully despite the amount of force required I only managed to snap off a few teeth from the clips and they were all re-usable.

Thanks for the help. Now to hope it goes through the MOT with nothing else needed.

spider · Unread post by **spider** » 21 Apr 2011, 11:21

You're welcome.

There might only be one on the offside on a RHD car, with the other side blanked / empty that's likely normal.

OwenP · Unread post by **OwenP** » 21 Apr 2011, 11:33

Aye I think that may well be the case. I was surprised as both my 405s had nearside foglights, and this car obviously has the fittings and wiring for it.

I might at somepoint enlarge the hole in the blanking plate between the bulb holder and the glass compartment so that I can fit the second bulb.

Although I don't drive in fog often I firmly believe the more visible I can make myself the better.