A3: Changing a lightbulb

Hi

Got a A3 1.8T 2001 with one headlight dead.

I thought I'd try and replace it myself, but am just wondering if anyone can
give me any tips or point me towards any online docs.

I'm not entirely sure if you change the bulb from the front or from behind.

If it's from the front, I guess I have to get the headlight cover off
somehow?

I looked at the rear of the headlamps and saw some cover that comes off, but
it didn't look to me like there was space to take a bulb out from that side.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Rob

Rob,
I believe that your first step should be to get an owner's manual for the
car - it's useful for more than just warnings about drinking windshield
washer fluid. You can pick a manual up at the dealer's, or on eBay, or
through an obliging person on Audiworld or a local club.
It would be advisable to replace both headlight bulbs at the same time,
since you'll find that the other bulb will fail shortly after you install
the new bulb (I'm told that it has something to do with resistance, age,
etc., but I believe that it's jealousy)
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)

"RobP" > wrote in message
...
> Hi
>
> Got a A3 1.8T 2001 with one headlight dead.
>
> I thought I'd try and replace it myself, but am just wondering if anyone
> can give me any tips or point me towards any online docs.
>
> I'm not entirely sure if you change the bulb from the front or from
> behind.
>
> If it's from the front, I guess I have to get the headlight cover off
> somehow?
>
> I looked at the rear of the headlamps and saw some cover that comes off,
> but it didn't look to me like there was space to take a bulb out from that
> side.
>
> Any help would be much appreciated.
>
> Cheers
>
> Rob
>

RobP wrote:
> Hi
>
> Got a A3 1.8T 2001 with one headlight dead.
>
> I thought I'd try and replace it myself, but am just wondering if anyone can
> give me any tips or point me towards any online docs.
>
> I'm not entirely sure if you change the bulb from the front or from behind.
>
> If it's from the front, I guess I have to get the headlight cover off
> somehow?
>
> I looked at the rear of the headlamps and saw some cover that comes off, but
> it didn't look to me like there was space to take a bulb out from that side.
>
> Any help would be much appreciated.
>
> Cheers
>
> Rob
>
>
You change them from behind. As yours is a 2001, does it have the
one-piece indicator/headlamps?

It's the same anyway. There's a cover that unclips and hinges and
detaches off the back of the lamp unit. Access is a little bit tight,
but it's possible-pull the connectors off the bulb first, and note which
way the bulb fits. The haynes book suggests you might want to remove the
battery for the nearside lamp, but I managed without on my TDi, and I
can't see a 1.8T having a bigger battery.

Why do people purchase cars without owner's manuals? I have never
purchased a car that didn't come with an owner's manual, and I would
not buy the car if the idiot owner didn't have the stupid manual for
it. The manuals tell you what you really need to know about the cars,
and Audi's are quite good at showing and explaining how to do basic
maintenance, including lightbulb changes.

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 10:06:24 -0500, "Steve Sears"
> wrote:

>Rob,
>I believe that your first step should be to get an owner's manual for the
>car - it's useful for more than just warnings about drinking windshield
>washer fluid. You can pick a manual up at the dealer's, or on eBay, or
>through an obliging person on Audiworld or a local club.
>It would be advisable to replace both headlight bulbs at the same time,
>since you'll find that the other bulb will fail shortly after you install
>the new bulb (I'm told that it has something to do with resistance, age,
>etc., but I believe that it's jealousy)
>Cheers!
>Steve Sears
>1987 Audi 5kTQ
>1980 Audi 5k
>1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
>(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)
>
>"RobP" > wrote in message
...
>> Hi
>>
>> Got a A3 1.8T 2001 with one headlight dead.
>>
>> I thought I'd try and replace it myself, but am just wondering if anyone
>> can give me any tips or point me towards any online docs.
>>
>> I'm not entirely sure if you change the bulb from the front or from
>> behind.
>>
>> If it's from the front, I guess I have to get the headlight cover off
>> somehow?
>>
>> I looked at the rear of the headlamps and saw some cover that comes off,
>> but it didn't look to me like there was space to take a bulb out from that
>> side.
>>
>> Any help would be much appreciated.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Rob
>>
>

"KLS" > wrote
> and Audi's are quite good at showing and explaining how to do basic
> maintenance, including lightbulb changes.

Yeah, don't bet your life on it. Getting to the bulb has become so
difficult in many cars in recent years, that they don't want the owner
to touch it and hence don't even explain how to do it in the manual.

Pete

"Steve Sears" > wrote in message
.. .
> Rob,
> I believe that your first step should be to get an owner's manual for the
> car - it's useful for more than just warnings about drinking windshield
> washer fluid. You can pick a manual up at the dealer's, or on eBay, or
> through an obliging person on Audiworld or a local club.
> It would be advisable to replace both headlight bulbs at the same time,
> since you'll find that the other bulb will fail shortly after you install
> the new bulb (I'm told that it has something to do with resistance, age,
> etc., but I believe that it's jealousy)

Thanks Steve. I do have the owner's manual but it's advice on changing
lightbulbs is to visit an Audi specialist garage. I might still do that but
I'd like to do it myself if I can. Thanks for the tip on changing both at
the same time.

Cheers

Rob

"Chris Bartram" > wrote in message
k...
> You change them from behind. As yours is a 2001, does it have the
> one-piece indicator/headlamps?
>
> It's the same anyway. There's a cover that unclips and hinges and detaches
> off the back of the lamp unit. Access is a little bit tight, but it's
> possible-pull the connectors off the bulb first, and note which way the
> bulb fits. The haynes book suggests you might want to remove the battery
> for the nearside lamp, but I managed without on my TDi, and I can't see a
> 1.8T having a bigger battery.

Thanks for that Chris. The battery does it make it a bit tricky but I will
certainly give it a go. Maybe I'll have to go buy a Haynes manual for it.

Cheers

Rob

My A4 (2003) needs to be taken to the dealer for a bulb change
according to the owners manual !!!! yeah right!!! I'll be doing mine at
the weekend - headlamps out !!!!

"Steve Sears" > wrote:

>Rob,
>I believe that your first step should be to get an owner's manual for the
>car - it's useful for more than just warnings about drinking windshield

Huh? Audis don't come with owner's manuals?
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