Put my car in for an MOT and it failed because the rear number plate bulbs had blown. Fair enough, its illegal to not have them working. I have a scooby classic btw.

The tester said that the screws/bolts looked pretty rusty and that they would not be easy to undo. No problem i thought. It would be a 20 minute job instead of a 10 minute one.............

I have never looked at my rear plate lights before, never needed to. I went to Halfords and bought a set of bulbs and paid just under £4 to get them fitted for me.

The guys there said they could not undo the bolts, there are two to each bulb holder. The rust had eaten the heads away and what ones did turn would not unscrew.

I have had everyone try to get these bolts out and failed miserably. Do i have to take my rear bumper off to get to the bolts?

Why on earth is there two bolts for each bulb in the first place? Why not just have clip on thingys????


Has anyone else had the same problem and how did you resolve it? Do you really need to take the bumper off?

Obviously with the bumper off someone can get to the bulb area easier. I assume the bolts will have to be drilled out or something, but what a nightmare just to change two simple bulbs!

 

lol what a headache!! Mine failed its MOT recently for exactly the same reason but my bolts must have been ok, so annoying for such a simple thing!!

Good luck with getting it sorted!

 

i just grinded them of with a dremel then drillled out the screw s , its common for them to rust but no massive agro to remove them .

 

you can get bits for drills that will cut into them and beable to get them out use it at work.
screwfix will do it
Screw Extractor Set - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

there you go simples

 

Your telling me lol.



I could understand it if i was trying to take the engine out, you expect things to be difficult but two sodding bulb holders? I have not been this angry in ages.

I asked some one if it was possible to ignore the ones that are there and have a middle one fitted but i was told that as there are two there they will both be expected to work, i dont know if this is true or not but what a farce


I got a refund for the fitting service i paid for at halfords though

 

may i remind you... you own a scooby... nothing is EVER simple!

 

Thats where i will be going tomorrow,thanks for that.

I didn't know that these existed, i just thought that you had to use a normal drill bit to do the job.

 

I have noticed that over the 7 years i have owned mine.

Scoobs, in my opinion are well made but are not designed to be tinkered with

 

I had a similar problem with my classic and i just literally took an ordinary 3mm metal drill bit and drilled them all out and replaced them with stainless bolts

 

Nightmare! Know what you mean - +1 for the screw extractor set though, might save a bit of time & effort, other than that drill em out.

They are right above though, as far as I know the MOT will test all installed lights, and they all need to work, so if they are fitted they will be tested

I had same issue with mine, but after a good soaking with release spray and 30 mins of bad language they eventually gave up

Good luck

 

I had exactly same prob when i had my classic,got them removed & replaced with decent ones.

 

it is. if only one fitted only one has to work if two fitted both has to work

 

Did all the soaking and everything,nothing budged. I think they were designed that way so they cant be stolen

Hopefully tomorrow they will get sorted

 

Failed on number plate light bulbs - well i never

Never happpened to me yet

 

Common PITA problem. Screw extractors work.

 

I bought a set of Screw Extractors from the PoundShop, 2 weeks ago .... sorted!

Wilkos do the bulbs for 79p a pair ... same as the front side lights.

 

Yep failed on the rear plate bulbs dunk. If the test is done properly then they should be tested

I did have a horrid thought whilst struggling to get the bolts out, i suddenly thought, what if its just the fuse thats gone I couldn't find anything on the fuse thing that mentioned the rear plate bulbs so i had to check every fuse to see if any had blown, none had. That would have been so much easier to find a fuse had gone.

Out of interest, what fuse thing are the rear plate bulbs on. Are they on the lights fuse and if so, which ones?

 

I think you will find that they are covered by the rear light fuse ...

 

If it makes you feel slightly better, my other halfs FTO failed its MOT because of a windscreen obstruction.

When I decided that I couldn't find anything obstructing, they guy pointed to the Magic tree air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror!!!

Talk about jobsworth

 

Ha ha what a bummer

 

Just drilled them out and replaced with stainless steel nuts and bolts, about 15 minutes for mine. Wifes took a bit longer but then again everything on her Scoob seems to be more awkward, like it's owner

 

Once i have the drill bits i need i will time it tomorrow and see how quick i can do it. I have all cuts and bruises all over my hands from trying to get up behind the lights.

Will screw fix tell me what size replacement bolts to use or are they as thick as the staff at Halfords?

 

both of my classic have had the same problem. penny pinching design,

As said drill out and replaced with different screws

 

The brakets holding the lamps are really flimsy and you don't want to drill your fingers by trying to hold them in position. Jam a bit of wood behind them to allow you to push on the drill and get it to cut properly. Get a squirty bottle with some water and keep the lamp cover cool or the heat of the drilling will melt it. Obviously use a good battery drill. Electrics and water don't mix.

Used M4 st st cap heads with matching nylocs IIRC.

Good Luck

 

Last night we managed to ease the bumper away and get a screwdriver down the back and unscrew one of the brackets, once it was hanging down then a saw cut was made in the two screw heads and when the bolts unscrewed. We couldnt do this with the left hand bracket without damaging the bumper so i am off in a bit to screw fix.

I thought the lamp covers were glass
Today i have a very fat man helping me so i might need to get my trolley jack out


Thanks for the advise

 

you can usually get behind them with grips to force the screws out, or drill the heads off and replace with self tappers. Common problem, only a 30 minute job for someone properly equiped.

 

Lol i just went to have a look at mine to see what they wor like then i realised i donnt have it. Its still in bits at the garage

 

Lol i just went to have a look at mine to see what they wor like then i realised i donnt have it. Its still in bits at the garage

 

I had the same ploblem with my old impreza last year ended up as above drilling them out and using small bolts its only a 20 min job

 

Sorry, i missed that, can you say it again

Anyway, thats the last time i am going in Screwfix!

https://www.scoobynet.com/muppet-roo...fix-ha-ha.html