Brake light bulbs: standard replacements for UK motors?

bruce snipped-for-privacy@my-deja.com (bruce snipped-for-privacy@my-deja.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Fundamentally, yes.

Sounds like a dual filament one - a 5w for tail light, and a 21w for brake. I presume your Micra doesn't have one bulb for both tail and brake, so needs a single filament 21w bulb - it'll probably be the same as the indicator bulb.

The handbook will tell you all this.

T'other way round. According to Lucas bulb book, Micras from 83-99 (the date of my book, must get a new one) require bulb LLB380 - 12V 5/21W.

Steve

Thanks. I'll have a look in Halfords. MOT time is approaching, so I'd better fix this.

Bruce

bruce snipped-for-privacy@my-deja.com (bruce snipped-for-privacy@my-deja.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Brake lights are also quite useful the other 364 days of the year, y'know.

You wouldn't thinks so - seeing the number of numpties with one of both not working.

Some people get quite annoyed if you tell them about it - or give a feeble comment like, "I know, but it is going for a service in 6 months time!"

Dammit - on most cars the job of replacing a bulb has been dumbed down such that you don't even need a screwdriver - yet people can't be arsed to fix it.

Wilko's - now there is a car specialist's!

Bulbs can be "Tail Light" - "Stop Light" or "Stop/Tail" double filament.

See handbook or look into the holder to see if there is one or 2 contacts. Many cars also have the spec on the lamp reflector unit.

Why don't you buy one exactly like the one that was in it?

Rob Graham

Because that one doesn't work any more? :-)

Or even something you plant in the garden

I think you require a lamp for this application.

Tom

Whilst I agree with this on principle, and have taken others to task in the same vein, a quick check in OED shows:

light bulb

? noun a glass bulb containing inert gas, fitted into a lamp or ceiling socket, which provides light when an electric current is passed through it.

Chris

Single contact is the common one these days for single filament bulbs.

I thought all stop/tail bulbs were the same until trying to sort a neighbour's Passat. It had the normal offset 'up and down' pins, but at

120 rather than 180 degrees. Ie the same 120 degrees as a yellow one. It was 21/4 rather than 21/5 watt, though. Goodness knows why.

Tom Burton ( snipped-for-privacy@freezingcoldmail.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Just don't get the Aussies in on this one. They call 'em "Globes", for some bizarre reason.

You silly sod. Cloff please

Having first checked the continuity on the 'bad' bulb to make sure the problem isn't actually with the bulb holder...

Polo`s have the same design, which is a great idea when garages seem not to stock them.

Though there seems to be a current trend of suggesting that bulbs aren't user serviceable and that to change one you need the services of a dealer (Vorsprung Dear Technic). I have often wondered how that would square with being pulled over by a cop in a country that requires you to carry spare bulbs. How do you say . 'I know my headlight isn't working Officer, but the dealer can only book me in a week on Wednesday...' in French? Not hard to change a lightbulb on an Audi A4 with the proper star bit - but not obvious when facing it the first time.

Andy

Maybe the problem isn't a blown bulb?

Halfords did have them. Bit more expensive than the normal ones. On the Passat estate I fixed there were four of them per side all used for taillights - but only one of them as a brakelight, so if the brakelight only failed you could swop them.