I had a brake light out and came to Halfords to fix it, he has changed the bulb and now All the lights are off, front, rear , brake and dash. Halfords are saying I have an electrical fault, surely it’s something they have touched , I am stranded at Halfords with no lights , can any one please suggest something before they close, ?
Might help to know what model you have?
You are probably going to have to look at the fuses to see which one has blown. If it is a mk 3 I probably have the fuse list in my owners manual.
Does the car start/run, or is all electrical items off?
Get them to take the bulb back out in case that is causing a short somewhere.
Sorry feeling panicky, mx5 mk 3, tried what you said that’s worked for now.it’s blowing fuses they have tried
Have they put the correct bulb in it if it works with it removed. It should be a twin filament capless 12V 21/5W
Try and look in to the socket they are putting the bulb in to and make sure they have not damaged it.
Maybe put your original bulb back in to get you home, then get a garage to look at the wiring as it sounds like there is a short circuit somewhere, shouldnt be too difficult for them to find it.
Guys thanks so much for your help, got the AA out in the end the Halfords guy didn’t have a clue, AA man said he was putting the bulb in the wrong way round so that was blowing everything so 3 back lights and 2 front lights later and 3 fuses, got it sorted, never again !
Sounds about right for Halfords.
Really?! That’s pretty appalling
Hope they paid for it all?
It should be almost impossible to put it in the wrong way around, they have staggered locater nipples to stop that…unless they were being VERY ham fisted.
Glad you got it sorted.
Lesson learned, Halfords staff can fill the shelves and sometimes work the till properly, maybe make tea, but work on cars, no way.
Yes,
ALMOST impossible…but not quite, if you’re sufficiently ham-fisted. Probably b*ggered the light fitting in the process, too.
Full tool kit required to be a Halford’s fitter…2lb, 4lb, lump and sledge…
Check the insulation on the wiring circuit for damage if it’s had what is, in effect, 3 dead shorts put through it.
Send the bill to Halfords.
Eejits…
Aldi
Lesson for everyone keep away from that company
Where else could you buy headlight bulbs after 5pm? Most independent motor factors have gone out of business now, and when they were open, always shut at 5.
Halfords performs a very useful function; I will continue to use them.
Not a very good advert for Halfords but was the person the trained bulb fitter or just a member of staff trying to help out! Either way I think the store manager or Halfords customer service should be informed. Imagine if you did not have breakdown cover to get you going again.
I hope you used the club discount voucher for Halfords!
https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst96453_—NEW—Halfords-Rewards—10–Discount.aspx
Richard.
Hi Guys
I didn’t pay for anything and the manager of the store was very apologetic, I think he thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown, thank god for the AA. Thanks for the voucher link, I have down loaded as it will come in for other things there but never bulbs !
Kirst
Keep a spare bulb, and fuse, kit in the boot?
The AA, RAC and Green Flag etc are a very useful back-up but there are good and not so good “patrols” amongst them, the following happened to a friend on his MK3.5 (posted before):-
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"A slight deviation to the topic but a friend of mine from Hampshire was fishing in Wales about a year ago. That morning his remote battery failed so he was just opening the car with the key.
When he returned to the car he opened the boot with the key and changed his jacket. A strong gust of wind (remember the gales last year) blew the boot lid shut, you guessed it; the keys were in the boot and the doors were still locked. The AA patrol that arrived to open the car failed to open via the door/window but opened the bonnet and in an effort to back feed the electric window switch he broke a relay casing. He then tried back feeding various terminals in the under bonnet fuse box until he produced smoke! Eventually my friend’s father in-law met them half way with the spare keys and the vehicle was driven home. By coincidence the vehicle was booked in for its yearly service the next day and when it was switched off at the dealer, all the dash remained on, (remember the smoke). Well the long and the short of it was the loom was damaged and no replacement looms were available. It took around 6 weeks to sort out with the AA paying for a hire car and the final bill to the AA was in the region of £3.5K
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I would like to point out that I am not anti AA or RAC or Green Flag.
Richard.