SacramentoMike
Not Safe For Work
I just had to change out a bad bulb, and went with the straight replacement option, using Sylvania Silver Stars. I bought a pair but only did the bad one for now.
It's been quite a while since I did a bulb change, so I basically had to learn it again, at least the part that's done by feel. Mine's a Gen I '05, but I THINK the process has stayed the same over subsequent years. If not, maybe some of this may still apply anyway.
This may not be a universal problem, of course. I'm sure many of you just slide your new bulbs in as easy as you change the bulb on your porch light, but me, not so much. If this helps anybody, I'm glad.
I was fine getting everything OFF, but ran into frustration getting the bulb held in place upon reassembly. Specifically, I was fumbling around badly getting the wire clips bent back, held, and then inserted into their proper home to hold the bulb firmly in place before making the electrical connection and replacing the rubber boot. You can see it, or you can do it, but never both at once.
After several (WAY too many) frustrated attempts to insert the wire holder into its proper slot, I got the idea to take the bulb back out of the hole, and see how the wire clips are supposed to go without the bulb in the way, which is a couple hundred times easier. After about two seconds, the clips were properly seated, and I could see exactly how they needed to be bent and held and all that stuff. Then I put the bulb in, grabbed the wire and slid it into place as if I knew what I was doing. Victory! Hate to think of how much time I wasted swearing before I thought to do that. I don't think I ever read about doing this before, so maybe it'll help somebody. If you do, just Paypal me five dollars. OK, don't really.
It's been quite a while since I did a bulb change, so I basically had to learn it again, at least the part that's done by feel. Mine's a Gen I '05, but I THINK the process has stayed the same over subsequent years. If not, maybe some of this may still apply anyway.
This may not be a universal problem, of course. I'm sure many of you just slide your new bulbs in as easy as you change the bulb on your porch light, but me, not so much. If this helps anybody, I'm glad.
I was fine getting everything OFF, but ran into frustration getting the bulb held in place upon reassembly. Specifically, I was fumbling around badly getting the wire clips bent back, held, and then inserted into their proper home to hold the bulb firmly in place before making the electrical connection and replacing the rubber boot. You can see it, or you can do it, but never both at once.
After several (WAY too many) frustrated attempts to insert the wire holder into its proper slot, I got the idea to take the bulb back out of the hole, and see how the wire clips are supposed to go without the bulb in the way, which is a couple hundred times easier. After about two seconds, the clips were properly seated, and I could see exactly how they needed to be bent and held and all that stuff. Then I put the bulb in, grabbed the wire and slid it into place as if I knew what I was doing. Victory! Hate to think of how much time I wasted swearing before I thought to do that. I don't think I ever read about doing this before, so maybe it'll help somebody. If you do, just Paypal me five dollars. OK, don't really.
