In the Land of the Blind the One-eyed Man is King

A couple observations:

1. The original bulbs were both pulled from the same bin, likely from the same production lot and subjected to the same vibrations, on/off cycles, electrical variations and temperature gradients. When one goes out, expect the other to go out soon thereafter. That's why I usually buy them in pairs.

2. You had to ask someone you help you? You couldn't have looked for it on the shelf yourself? Man, you automotive journalists are spoiled! :-)

You'll be happy to know that the tail lights are also easy to change.

Actually, they're easier.

7 driver, that actually makes a lot of sense, but to tell you the truth, it never happened to me like that! On my first GTI (1986), NONE of the bulbs ever went out in my eight years of ownership. I was amazed. On my second GTI (2001), one headlight bulb burned out very early (11K miles). I put electrical tape over the DRL ("TRL" on this car) plug to turn off the daytime running lights and never had to replace the other headlight bulb. I had the car until it had 63,000 miles.

I prefer to jiggle the dingus and hold the thingamajig. Then gently pry the hoosiedinkus off out the whereeveritis. Don't forget to put the one thing back. You know, the one thing that always falls off the whathcmacallit.

I commend your light bulb changing. I really think that it should be a preventitive service item along with things like fluids and filters. I hate with a capital "H" driving along at night and then poof the magic smoke leaves the headlight....

Didn't realise the Jett's bulbs were relatively easy. Going from experience with my dad's Passat, changing headlights required a trip to the dealer. And like dougtheeng said, the taillights are easy.

"Hopefully, you did not touch the glass part of the bulb with bear hands."

I hope you didn't do this too. Many bears could rip your arm off just for fun.

Bare hands is another no-no since the oil in your skin has adverse effects on lighbulbs.

I had an awful experience changing a headlight bulb on my Yaris hatchback. The entire hood is about a 18 inches long, and there's about 3/4" of clearance between the back of headlamp and other whatzits under there. So, you have to use only your fingers (your hand can't move) and you can't see what you're doing. Awful!

I don't mean to be rude, but as a Senior Consumer Advice editor on an automotive website, did you really think you'd have to change the whole assembly, or were you just jokin' with us?

cartester16, I was thinking the same thing.

Seriously Philip, you've never changed one of these yourself before? Really?

According to my owners manual, I'd have to remove the inner fender and take out the whole headlight assembly to replace my headlights/signals/cornering bulbs. It sucks.

However, replacing the taillights, oddly, are as simple as can be. I've had to replace one of those and a license plate light. Besides that, nothing in 8+ years of ownership.

"I don't mean to be rude, but as a Senior Consumer Advice editor on an automotive website, did you really think you'd have to change the whole assembly, or were you just jokin' with us?"

it is the danger with blogs... some times you learn things about the writer you'd probably rather not know...

Having worked at a large chain quick lube place in another lifetime, I ended up changing my share of headlights, tailights, turn signals, etc.

We charged almost 5 bucks a light on top of the bulb price. When I first started I wondered why we would charge for that when we didn't charge to install say your air filter or wiper blades. After changing a few light bulbs I soon learned why.

Some cars are so simple it takes just a couple of seconds, others are a major undertaking, some involving removing the batter, or a grill or some other dinky part just to get at a simple bulb. I think it's one of those things automakers just don't think about when designing the car. They don't think about how difficult or easy it may be and sometimes it ends up being fairly simple, other times it's a complicated process.

Luckily, I don't do that any more YEAH! But on my truck it's a fairly painless process. It requires no tools, but I do have to remove the grill (secured by metal tension tabs) in order to get the headlight assembly back in properly. But it takes all of about 5 minutes to do all 4 bulbs on both sides.

Still sounds pretty wussy to me.

I echo Cartester16's comment...it took me back a bit to read the column and then see the person who posted it...

Anywho, what's the significance of the stapler? I think it might be lost on me...although it did make me think happy thoughts of OfficeSpace...=)

Well, for those afraid to take the diesel plunge because of increased maintenance chores, you should know the fuel filter change is the most complex task over and above the typical gasoline engine. As you can see here, the fuel filter change didn't pose any more of a challenge than changing a light bulb...

If it's so easy, why were Volkswagens the cars I most commonly see driving around with dead bulbs?

carlisimo, the older vw's had many MANY electrical problems causing the leftheadlight and/or left tail light to go out. My neighbor has a beetle and has changed her headlights twice and brake light 3times in less than two years. Otherwise, no issues! She hasn't chaned them since December 2007.

-Cj