Skezza Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) A few weeks ago the heater control bulb blew in my Lupo. You can buy 5 bulbs off eBay for about a pound, so I figured that was the logical choice seeing as I'm likely to have another Lupo or at least another VW and they used the same bulb up until recently. You can also buy LED replacements but I really don't think they're going to be any better. They might last longer, but there's a chance they won't be as bright.Anyway, the bulb is really small. I really can't stress how small this bulb is and that in itself provides a problem. I didn't want to use a set of needle nose pliers to remove the bulb. I genuinely think with little effort you will crush it and then you've got a big problemo. I tried a set of eye brow tweezers which are very unlikely to crush the bulb, but they continually slipped off no matter how much I tried to clamp it. They're metal after all. However, there is a way you can do it with tweezers Wrap the two ends (the part that clamps) in electrical tape. The photo below shows the kind of tweezers I used. Without electrical tape, they were useless, but with the two ends wrapped in a small piece of tape, it was very easy and there is little chance of crushing the bulb by accident. One thing to note, putting the bulb back in, I found the best way was to simply place it within the hole and then push in using my little finger. Feeding it in using the tweezers was near impossible. Hope this helps anyone with the same problem Edited January 31, 2014 by Skezza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lupogtiboy Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I use a small piece of washer hose, ideal as it cushions the bulb either side, but just the right size so that the bulb isn't swallowed into the hose when you press the bulb in.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasDE Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I managed to do it with my fingers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I managed to do it with my fingers ****ing hell how small are your fingers? They must be like match sticks? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arsenal24295 Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 Have you got a tip to actually pull the heater control out, i struggle just to pull it out and still yet havent managed too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffD Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 vw actually do recommend using a piece of window washer pipe, but I've found that a piece of silicon washer pipe is much better, it's nice and soft and seems to grab the bulb without much fuss. geoff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 Have you got a tip to actually pull the heater control out, i struggle just to pull it out and still yet havent managed tooYou mean the middle knob? I can just about do it with my hands but it's bloody hard. I think the recommended way is to use a set of pliers wrapped in a cloth to prevent damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 This is really weird. I fitted the new bulb and it's a bit dim so I figured I'd make sure it was pushed in. It's like there's nothing holding it in. It lights up but if your as much as touch it, it falls out. I'm starting to think I've bought the wrong bulb :/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted February 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 Weird. Different bulb from the same pack went in perfectly.Job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haydyybear Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 what was the name of the bulbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sausage Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 I bought these osram bulbs because i figured they might last longer than cheap chinese crap, but obviously you can find cheaper ones: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111366364880 I just used long nose pliers with no protection, but you can just put insulation tape around the nose of the pliers of you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted February 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 I'm surprised you didn't crush the bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sausage Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 I have girly hands and lots of muscle control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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