Checking & changing an exterior light bulb

Part 1. Preparation and safety

Objective

• Check and change an exterior light bulb.

Personal safety

Whenever you perform a task in the workshop you must use personal protective clothing and equipment that is appropriate for the task and which conforms to your local safety regulations and policies. Among other items, this may include:

• Work clothing - such as coveralls and steel-capped footwear
• Eye protection - such as safety glasses and face masks
• Ear protection - such as earmuffs and earplugs
• Hand protection - such as rubber gloves and barrier cream
• Respiratory equipment - such as face masks and valved respirators

If you are not certain what is appropriate or required, ask your supervisor.

Safety check

• Make sure that you understand and observe all legislative and personal safety procedures when carrying out the following tasks. If you are unsure of what these are, ask your supervisor.

Points to note

• Make sure that the fuses are in good condition before attempting to change a bulb in a circuit that has more than one bulb, such as the turn signal circuit. If none of the bulbs are working, there may be a bigger problem to resolve.

• Many light bulbs have more than one filament inside them. These bulbs normally have offset pins to ensure proper locking in the socket. Be sure to look carefully at the bulb you are replacing to make sure you do not try to force the bulb in the wrong way.
• Some bulbs have a colored glass envelope that enables them to be used with a clear lens. If you replace a bulb of this type, make sure that you replace it with one of the same color.

Part 2: Step-by-step instruction

1. Access the bulb
   Determine the method used to secure the lamp unit or lens cover and remove the cover to expose the bulb. If no screws are found on the lens cover, it may be necessary to remove the entire assembly to access the bulb.
2. Remove the bulb
   If the bulb is pin-mounted, gently grip the bulb and push it inwards. Turn the bulb in a counter-clockwise direction and remove it from the bulb holder.
3. Check bulb holder for corrosion
   Inspect the bulb holder to make sure there is no corrosion. If there is, clean it with abrasive tape.
4. Insert the new bulb
   Insert the new bulb into the bulb holder, depress it fully, turn it clockwise and release it. Make sure the bulb is secure, and test its operation by switching it on and off.
5. Replace cover and test
   Replace the cover, and test it again.