We present to your attention detailed photos and video instructions, how to change a headlight bulb on Lada Kalina with your own hands.
What are the dimensions of the Lada Kalina lamps?
In the dimensions of Kalina there are standard baseless lamps of the type А12-5-2 (W5W). If desired, LED lamps can be installed instead.
Replacing the headlight bulb on Kalina - photo
Before replacing the headlight bulbs, be sure to turn them off, and it is also advisable to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery.
The clearance lamp is replaced with the hood open.
To gain access to the burnt out lamp, remove the headlight protective cover opposite the high beam section.
It is this yellow cartridge at the bottom of the headlight that we need to remove.
This procedure is complicated by the fact that the cartridge of Kalina’s dimensions is located in a very inconvenient place; getting into it with your fingers is problematic. And it often takes a lot of effort to remove the cartridge.
Many people recommend using pliers or another tool to remove an oversized cartridge. We do not recommend doing this, since the plastic cartridge is easy to break, and finding a new one is difficult.
To facilitate access to the size socket, disconnect the chip from the high beam lamp (brown, located above the size socket).
Access is now better.
We put our hand in and carefully pull the cartridge of dimensions towards ourselves. Often the cartridge requires a lot of effort. If it does not give in, you can twist it slightly to the left and right, and then carefully pull it out, gradually increasing the force.
After we have pulled out the socket, we pull out the burnt out lamp from it.
Instead, we insert a new headlight bulb.
Then insert the cartridge back into place until it clicks.
Don't forget to put the high beam lamp chip back in place.
After this, it is advisable to turn on the dimensions and check if everything works.
If the lamp works, close the headlight housing and hood.
Replacing the headlight bulb on Kalina - video
I studied in detail the video on how to change the side lamp. I wanted to ask the guru how to replace a side lamp with your own hands?
Comments
Peter wrote on 06/14/2014
To replace a marker lamp you need a minimum of tools and straight hands. When replacing a front marker lamp, you will most likely have to remove the headlight through the hood, this depends on the model of your car. Just unscrew a few bolts and the headlight is removed. We remove the headlight housing, unscrew the lamp from the socket and screw in a new one, after which we install the headlight in place. If it is necessary to replace the taillight marker lamp, it is removed through the trunk. Bend back the casing, unscrew the fastening bolts and remove the headlight housing. Unscrew the burnt-out side lamp and screw a new one into the socket, then install the headlight in place.
Andrey wrote on 12/15/2014
Thank God, on my Mercedes 190 this operation is carried out in a couple of minutes; I removed the headlight cover and replaced it. No additional analysis. Despite the fact that it seems simple - like replacing a light bulb, on some cars this is not possible on your own, or is difficult (rather than climbing there at night in the cold or torrential downpour, it’s easier to go to bed). At one time I worked in a car service center and saw a lot of jokes from automakers. Someone needs to remove the headlight to get to the light bulb, and to remove the headlight, in turn, remove the bumper. Some manufacturers, who have not yet become completely insolent, leave the opportunity to replace the light bulb through the fender liner - they leave a small window the size of a fist.
Driving a car with inoperative “dimensions” is prohibited by the rules - any traffic police officer who records such a violation has the right to issue a fine to the driver. To replace a side light bulb that has burned out and gone out, you do not need to visit a car service center - every car enthusiast can perform this operation. The following instructions describe how to make the replacement correctly.
When is the replacement made?
Vehicle manufacturers do not provide clear regulations for carrying out this work. There are only 3 reasons why car enthusiasts change their side light bulbs to new ones as needed:
- The light elements have failed - they have burned out or gone out due to external mechanical influence.
- The owner of the car decided to install more modern LED bulbs.
- The lights began to shine too dimly.
The first reason is clear and does not require explanation. Installing LEDs is a useful operation, since these elements shine well, last a long time and consume much less electricity. The main thing is to maintain the polarity of the contacts during the replacement process, otherwise the new light bulb may fail or the fuses will begin to blow.
As a rule, a car enthusiast does not pay attention to the decrease in the luminous flux of running lights until he replaces one burnt-out headlight bulb. Then it becomes noticeable how much dimmer the old element burns than the new one. The reason is the internal darkening of the base glass from settling metal particles emanating from the heated spiral. Therefore, it is recommended to update old “dimensions” in pairs.
To replace two side light bulbs, you do not need to create special conditions and drive the car into the garage - the work is carried out in any convenient place. What to do:
- Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery.
- Remove components and parts that block access to the headlight units from the engine compartment.
- Remove the plastic protective caps covering the rear parts of the blocks where the light fixtures are located.
To change the side light bulb, you need to get to the headlights from the rear, having first removed the interfering elements. Depending on the make and model of the car, there may be an air filter housing, a battery, cooling system pipes, and so on near the headlight units. Decorative plastic panels and trims should also be removed.
Instructions for replacing lamps
Inside the headlight units of different cars there are 2 types of lamps and connectors - old and new (restyling). Replacing a pre-restyling type side light bulb is performed as follows:
- Once you reach the back of the headlight, disconnect the power supply connector to the light element. There is no need to disconnect the sockets of powerful headlight lamps.
- Grasp the connector and rotate 45–60° counterclockwise. Remove the element from the slot.
- Carefully pull the light bulb out by the base without rotating it around its own axis.
- Insert the new one in its place, making sure that the contacts line up correctly.
- Connect the wires and check the functionality of the new part, then reassemble the unit in the reverse order.
Note. On different vehicle models, old-type elements can be rotated in different directions - clockwise and counterclockwise.
When installing a purchased lamp, you should not touch the base with your bare hands, as warned by the instructions included with each product. Before installation, wrap the glass flask with a soft rag or put on cloth gloves.
Updated versions of elements differ in overall dimensions and installation method. Replacing the lamp is done in the same way, only you do not need to disconnect the connectors and turn the socket - the part is removed from the socket along with the wires.
Another thing is that access to the light bulb is often limited - you cannot grasp the socket with your hand. In such cases, 2 options are practiced:
- use a special tool;
- First pull out the large headlight bulb, then take out the side light bulb.
The owners of some cars use the free space behind the headlights to install a gearbox that operates in liquefied gas engine power systems. Removing the unit to replace the lamp can be quite difficult.
Changing the light elements of the rear “dimensions” is much easier. The main work is removing the plastic and fabric trim from the luggage compartment side. The light bulbs are removed from the sockets in the manner described above.
Cars, as their name suggests, are designed to indicate the size of the car in the dark. Moreover, sometimes only these lights make you aware of the presence of your car on the road in the dark.
Even if we ignore the possibility of being fined for a non-lit light bulb, you should not neglect the timely replacement of the light bulbs - otherwise you have a real risk of being “caught up” in the dark, especially on a country road.
The procedure for replacing side light bulbs is very simple (in most cases) and does not require any special skills.
Let's try to give a kind of general “recipe” on how to replace the side light bulb yourself. Most motorists perform this “maintenance” casually, and many have a supply of the required light bulbs in the glove compartment of their car.
It's very easy to replace the side light bulb yourself.
In order to save fuel and reduce the load on the generator, daytime running lights are now often included in this circuit, which makes it quite complicated.
You might be interested to know whether it is possible to use LED lamps in a car? Read more details
The standard wiring option is quite simple and consists of the following elements:
- circuit breakers;
- front and rear position lamps;
- central or key switch;
- Let's take a closer look at the first two elements.
Circuit breakers
Sometimes blown fuses are the reason why the side lights do not light up on one side or another.
There are usually two fuses in the circuit, for the left and right sides separately. Since the light bulbs consume little power (4-5 W each), the fuse rating is small, only 5-7.5 A.
Where are the side light fuses located?
In the same place as the others, in a single block. On most modern cars, this block is located under the instrument panel next to the steering column, or, more often, on the lower left, under a plastic trim.
In the latter case, it is enough to remove the cover protecting the unit, mounted on latches. On the back of the cover, as a rule, there is a sticker with information about which circuit this or that fuse protects, indicating its rating.
The biggest inconvenience in this case may be insufficient knowledge of the English language - it is in this language that inscriptions are usually made, even on Korean and Japanese cars.
Lamps
Externally, the front light bulb is marked W5W, but today side lights are increasingly used.
Their advantage over incandescent lamps is their greater durability, and the price of both largely depends on the manufacturer. The most famous products are Philips, Osram, Tesla.
What are the new generation 4Drive LED lamps? right now!
Watch the video about LED bulbs for side lights:
Moreover, as the “Behind the Wheel” test showed, expensive products do not always justify their price.
Also, quite often, the front dimensions are equipped with light bulbs with a metal base, but this, one might say, is a thing of the past.
For rear position lights, the most common lamp is with two spirals - 21 and 5 (or 4) W.
The 21 W coil lights up when you press the brake, i.e. In this case, the light bulb serves as a brake light, while the lower power spiral works as a side light.
Just as with any other lamps, purchasing a more expensive product does not guarantee any exceptional durability.
Replacing lamps
Replacing the front marker
The most common option for connecting a headlight unit is to have a single power connector - for ease of dismantling the headlight itself. In this case, the power wires for all consumers (lamps, electrical corrector) are located inside the housing.
However, consumers are often connected separately. Before replacing, the main thing is to determine the location of the side light bulb, so as not to mistakenly remove, say, the headlight range control unit.
If you are changing light bulbs for the first time, it is better to start on the right side. The battery is usually located on the left, which interferes with both visibility and operation.
The replacement process itself is simple - remove the lamp together with the socket from the headlight, for which you turn the latter counterclockwise. The wires do not need to be disconnected if they are long enough to work comfortably.
It is important to pay attention to the condition of the cartridge - whether there are any traces of melting, which indicates overheating. A defective cartridge may subsequently cause a short circuit, so do not delay replacing it if necessary.
Replacement of rear marker
To provide access to the taillight lamps, you need to remove the hatches installed in the trunk trim.
To replace the tail light bulbs, it is usually necessary to remove the circuit board with the bulbs from the light. It is installed on latches, which are carefully bent with a flat screwdriver. There is no need to disconnect the wires.
There are also lanterns in which each lamp is connected separately. In this case, remove the desired cartridge from the socket by turning it slightly.
After replacing the lamps of both front and rear lights, you should check their functionality, for which you do not need to install the socket or board directly into the lamp. It is enough just to check that there is no short circuit to ground.
An important point - when replacing dimensions, always pay attention to the condition of the cartridges and contacts - the fuse only protects the circuit from short-circuiting, and fires in the wiring often occur due to poor contact.
To ensure visibility of the vehicle during parking and braking in the dark, side lights are used. They are available both in front and behind the car. As a rule, side lights are equipped with low-power lamps that are not in the focal point of the reflector. Powerful LED or halogen lamps should not be installed in side lights.
For more detailed information on how to select and install, read the material from our specialist.
Reasons for replacing the side light bulbs
Replacing lamps in restyled and pre-restyled cars is different. As a rule, in the first case, replacement is somewhat more difficult. Nowadays, replacements do not need to be made so often because LEDs have replaced the old incandescent lamps.
However, there are situations in which replacement is definitely worthwhile.
- You want to improve the appearance of your car and get brighter bulbs. It is worth remembering that LEDs combine well with cold xenon.
- You want to increase the life of your side lights. LEDs have a longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs.
- You want to reduce the amount of electricity you consume or simply keep up with current technological trends.
The reasons for the lamp malfunction may lie in a manufacturing defect. Cheap Chinese lamps quite often fail before the stated end of their service life. Also, the malfunction may be hidden in the car’s electrical network or a leak in the headlight.
How to Choose Suitable Replacement Parking Lights
You can choose a suitable lamp both in car services and at car flea markets. At the same time, experienced drivers do not recommend purchasing cheap Chinese products, since the likelihood that they will burn out ahead of schedule is quite high.
When choosing a light bulb, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics.
- Brightness. This is the most important characteristic of a light bulb, which is assessed by its luminous flux. Luminous flux is measured in lumens. For an incandescent lamp this value is approximately 50 lumens. Remember that the purpose of side lights is to inform other road users of the size of your vehicle. Light sources should not dazzle other road users, but at the same time they cannot be too dim. The upper threshold of luminous flux for side lights is 150 lumens, and the lower threshold is from 50 lumens. Traffic safety sometimes directly depends on the brightness of the side lights, since failure to inform in a timely manner that your vehicle is starting to slow down can lead to an accident.
- Design. In the design of cheap Chinese light bulbs, the base is made of plastic. In this case, there is a high risk of melting, since plastic is by no means a heat-resistant material. If the part gets very hot, the plastic begins to melt and, as a result, the light bulb fails too early. More expensive models feature high-quality plastic that is heat-resistant. With increased brightness, the incandescent lamp begins to produce heat, which heats the lampshade. Therefore, recently the most popular are baseless lamps, the contacts of which are made on the basis of a glass plate and a sand board. Incandescent lamps are also very energy-intensive. With increased electricity consumption, fuel consumption begins to increase. When choosing a light bulb, it is also worth remembering to save energy.
- Price. The side light bulb is one of those car parts that you definitely shouldn’t skimp on. By buying lamps at low prices, you run the risk of replacing such lamps too often, and in the end, such “savings” will only lead to more serious expenses. It is best to purchase lamps from trusted manufacturers such as Osram and Phillips.
How to replace the side light bulb in restyled models
Before replacing a light bulb, it is advisable to place the car on a relatively flat surface so as not to tilt again, and also turn off the engine. This way you will avoid electric shock, which is supplied to the light bulb when the engine is turned on. To avoid a short circuit during operation, on most cars it would be a good idea to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. It is always better to start replacing from the right side. The headlight unit is equipped with a plastic cover. It is dismantled using a socket and extension.
There may be some minor additional complications with this operation. The socket with a light bulb is sometimes more difficult to get due to the fact that it is quite small in size and is located in a hard-to-reach place. To remove this cartridge, find it and start rocking it up and down until the cartridge is completely removed. There is no need to rotate the chuck.
Start installation work from the side where the washer fluid reservoir is installed. Then you should move on to the headlight installed on the battery side. The cartridge on this side is more difficult to reach due to the body. While removing, use your hand to lift the part up.
The dismantling process requires the presence of a special tool. Manufacturers place a protrusion on the lamp socket. Use a flat blade screwdriver to grab onto this tab and use a lever action to remove the cartridge.
To do this, you must first prepare the car as indicated above (place it on a flat surface and turn off the engine), and then begin installation work.
- Open the hood and disconnect the negative cable from the battery (to avoid a short circuit).
- Remove the plugs that go to the lamps, and then remove the element into which the plug is installed.
- Turn the light bulb clockwise 45 - 60 degrees, then remove the spare part. To remove the lamp, gently pull it towards you. The socket itself first rotates along with the light source, then it is removed.
- Install a new light bulb and carry out the reverse dismantling.
Safety precautions
During work, try not to touch exposed wires to avoid electric shock. The light bulb to be installed should not be dirty or greasy. It is better to carry out the work with gloves. It is definitely recommended to turn off the engine. After installation, check the functionality of the light bulb.
If the light bulb does not work, then the reason is either a manufacturing defect, or you did not tighten it well enough.
conclusions
All of the above actions mainly apply to commonly used car models. On some premium cars (Merscedes-Benz or Infinity), changing the light bulb yourself will be quite problematic due to the complex modern design, so you will have to use the services of a service station. But for other cars (such as the Hundai Solaris or Renault Logan), it will be much easier to replace it yourself, so as not to waste extra time and money.
When choosing, give preference to ordinary lamps. You should not buy too bright LEDs or even xenon lamps. But you shouldn’t take ordinary cheap incandescent lamps either, because their service life is shorter and there is a risk of melting and cracking.
You should also not buy cheap Chinese lamps at flea markets. It is better to take spare parts from well-known foreign manufacturers. You should not save on light bulbs installed in side lights, because traffic safety in the dark directly depends on them.
