Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Toledodude1973 on 11 September 2012, 19:39:20
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Regarding changing the dipped xenon bulb the car handbook says only by main dealer surely if i disconnect battery i'll be safe?Can someone confirm this please or explain where the danger is , thank you
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Regarding changing the dipped xenon bulb the car handbook says only by main dealer surely if i disconnect battery i'll be safe?Can someone confirm this please or explain where the danger is , thank you
The danger is in the fact that even with the battery disconnected, there is still the potential for you to receive around a 20KV (that's 20,000 volts) shock from the ballast.
Even if you didn't receive the initial belt, the headlamps run at around 85V or so once they settle down which is more than enough for you to get a reminder not to mess about with electrickery if you don't understand it to start with.
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Thanks for that so how do i change the bulb?
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One went on my elite a few years ago, was told that it's best to replace both, but what a job I had trying to get someone to do the job ( wasn't even gonna think about doing it myself!). Most folk seemed terrified ;D
Eventually got the job done by an older guy who had worked for vauxhall before retiring and helping his son mend cars in his garage at home.
Seems such a silly/easy job. Clearly isn't :-\
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Thanks for that so how do i change the bulb?
Models with Xenon discharge
headlights
Warning: The Xenon discharge
bulbs operate at very high
voltage; before starting work,
disconnect the battery negative cable and
remove the dipped beam fuses from the
interior fusebox.
7 With the bonnet open, release fastening
screw and detach the cover panel from
above the headlight unit. If working on the
left hand headlight, first remove the battery
with reference to Chapter 5A. If working on
the right hand headlight, first remove the air
cleaner housing with reference to Chapter
4A.
8 At the rear of the headlight unit, undo the
three Torx screws and remove the protective
cap from the rear of the bulb connector.
9 Turn the bulb connector to the left to
disconnect it.
10 Rotate the retaining ring to the left then
remove it from the rear of the bulb housing.
11 Withdraw the bulb from its housing.
12 Refitting is a reversal of removal. Ensure
that the headlight beam alignment is checked
by a Vauxhall dealer as soon as possible.
HTH .. take care !!!
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I,m new to omegas and have become alarmed as to what I read about the bulbs fitted. If this energy is stored for what ever reason then surely to discharged the energy with a 1 watt resister in two wooden poles should exhaust this energy or am I talkin 'dangle berries'.
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I have changed them before on a Jag, just replace them like normal bulbs, its not the voltage that gets you its amps and there isnt enough amps, even when they are switched on to kill you. I doubt there would be much of a residual charge left in the ballast if they have been off for a bit.
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Thank you all for advice so would it pay me to disconnect battery day before to be safe to hopefully discharge the stored energy(i'm going to aren't i) http://images.omegaowners.com/forum/smf2000/Smileys/oofstd/shocked.gif
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Thank you all for advice so would it pay me to disconnect battery day before to be safe to hopefully discharge the stored energy(i'm going to aren't i)
That will be perfect. Disconnect the battery early of an evening and do the job mid morning the next day. I was really rash a few weeks ago and only left mine for 10 mins - however, the lights hadn't been switched on for days :)
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Thanks robert hopefully i'm not going to die after all!
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Changed at least two on my Omega as i would with any ordinary bulb, found more trouble getting the light itself out. >:(
Never encountered any electrical issues so either i am very lucky or stupidity means no sense no feeling. ;D ;D
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The danger is in the fact that even with the battery disconnected, there is still the potential for you to receive around a 20KV (that's 20,000 volts) shock from the ballast.
I'd say the 'danger' is more to do with the fact that the dealer would miss out on a nice little earner if you decided to d.i.y.
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I have changed a couple, I would recommend disconnecting battery, then heaving it an hour or so. You may find your new Xenon lamp is brighter than the other, which is why people recommend replacing both. You can go for lamps that have a "Blue or Purple light, but a standard White gives out more visible light. I bought my last one from ebay, and had no problems, however some members have received duff lamps, perhaps I was lucky.
The job itself is a doddle, just fiddly, like most jobs on these cars.
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Thanks for that so how do i change the bulb?
Models with Xenon discharge
headlights
Warning: The Xenon discharge
bulbs operate at very high
voltage; before starting work,
disconnect the battery negative cable and
remove the dipped beam fuses from the
interior fusebox.
7 With the bonnet open, release fastening
screw and detach the cover panel from
above the headlight unit. If working on the
left hand headlight, first remove the battery
with reference to Chapter 5A. If working on
the right hand headlight, first remove the air
cleaner housing with reference to Chapter
4A.
8 At the rear of the headlight unit, undo the
three Torx screws and remove the protective
cap from the rear of the bulb connector.
9 Turn the bulb connector to the left to
disconnect it.
10 Rotate the retaining ring to the left then
remove it from the rear of the bulb housing.
11 Withdraw the bulb from its housing.
12 Refitting is a reversal of removal. Ensure
that the headlight beam alignment is checked
by a Vauxhall dealer as soon as possible.
HTH .. take care !!!
Access isn't wonderful even with battery & air filter removed and the Omega headlights have a problem with fragile adjusters.
When I changed mine I left the car overnight for any voltages to discharge and then removed the complete headlight unit so I could change the lamp without straining the adjusters.
The design of the lamp and plug would make it quite difficult to touch the hazardous high voltage part IMO.
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Changed a few of these - haven't disconnected battery, just allowed car to stand a couple of hours after switching ignition off. As others have said job is fiddly because of limited access.
Drivers side just pop air filter box off - plenty of room, passenger side, undo battery clamp and slide battery to rear, gives sufficient room.
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what are the best bulbs to replace them with and how much should I pay? I know main dealers would charge over the odds
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I would stick to the cheapest phillips or osram you can find.
the illumination from the chinese ones on ebay is not as good as it should be, and often have incredibly short lives that can end in fire.
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Has anyone ever got any electric shock from Xenon headlights? I doubt not... It is very similar precaution as for airbags. Never ever seen or heard anyone get hurt except the funny videos on youtube where people are fooling around with bags... Ok, it is possible to get hurt with airbags after a crash where bags were not deployed but in real life, during normal maintenance etc I'd say it is more likely you will get hurt from your tools than airbags or xenons :-X
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Has anyone ever got any electric shock from Xenon headlights? I doubt not... It is very similar precaution as for airbags. Never ever seen or heard anyone get hurt except the funny videos on youtube where people are fooling around with bags... Ok, it is possible to get hurt with airbags after a crash where bags were not deployed but in real life, during normal maintenance etc I'd say it is more likely you will get hurt from your tools than airbags or xenons :-X
+1 :y
I totally agree. I broke an Omega once and needed the steering wheel as the leather on mine was marked. I removed the airbag (carefully) and decided to set it off just to see what would happen.
I carefully connected it to a very long cable which went to a power supply. Switched it on and it went bang (very very loud). But - it needed a pair of wires connecting and a supply connecting to them.
Sensible precautions yes, obviously - but nothing OTT - all IMHO of course
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For the sake off three bolts, just remove the headlight unit :y you have to unplug it to remove it, so no electrocution issues :y Also change the sidelight, main beam and indicator bulbs whilst the unit is out, purely for ease of access :y
Removing the whole unit will take less time than faffing with trying to undo the torx bolts from the engine bay :y
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I also remove the units... Much easier :y
Just to comment on what someone else posted. I've seen an airbag go off unexpectedly when someone was working on the car and it made a hell of a mess of his nose :o The warnings are there for a reason ;) A 20kV shock from the ballast is enough to make itself known and can (potentially) kill. Just disconnect the battery and remove the units ;) not a hard job, just fiddly
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and what omegas have xenon bulbs fitted ..is it just elites..
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cdx, elite, mv6 by default on facelift.
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and what omegas have xenon bulbs fitted ..is it just elites..
No PFL have them.
All MFL MV6 Elite models - optional on some other models
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so are you saying all fl cd 2.2 have them 02 plate
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As a rule of thumb any car with headlight washers and no headlight range adjustment on the headlight switch has xenons fitted :y
So standard fitment on CDX, ELITE, MV6 F/L
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so are you saying all fl cd 2.2 have them 02 plate
not by default.
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so are you saying all fl cd 2.2 have them 02 plate
not by default.
good cos they sound trouble
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so are you saying all fl cd 2.2 have them 02 plate
not by default.
good cos they sound trouble
How so? The bulbs last alot longer and they give a much better light... :y