How to: Change headlight bulbs, Alfa Romeo 156

[Willeh85]

Hi everyone, I thought I would share this useful webpage I found on how to change the main bulb, sidelights, and fog lights in the Alfa 156.

I've not yet done mine but I spent about 45 minutes this afternoon before running out of light trying to change my sidelights. I read a few guides but without pictures sometimes instructions are just meaningless words.

This guide has instructions and pictures of what you're looking for (rather than blind feeling like I was doing)

https://sites.google.com/site/alfaromeo156headligh...

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for this. Just bought a 156 JTS for £650, and I'm finding it's a bit of a pain to work on. Christ, have you tried changing the air filter? I can't even reach mine. I gave it an oil change, only to have the threads of the sump come out with the plug. Needs a thermostat too, not looking forward to that either.

Still, it drives well and for £650, who can complain?

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 1st January 17:11

[Oilchange]

ah yes the old sump plug done up too tight thing, i had it on a 146 ts and ended up glueing the sump plug in and sucking the oil out with a pella pump. now i do all oil changes that way, far less mess...

[Willeh85]

I replaced the air filter 3 weeks ago or so, and it took me 4, yes 4 hours to do. The bolts on the top of the housing had gone rusty and soft and one turn of the spanner and they were rounded so had to use a pair of mole grips to get it off.

Now the lid doesn't seem to sit right either :/ I also need a new thermostat I ordered one from eurocarparts for around £65 just waiting for it to arrive.

[anonymous-user]

Willeh85 said:

I replaced the air filter 3 weeks ago or so, and it took me 4, yes 4 hours to do. The bolts on the top of the housing had gone rusty and soft and one turn of the spanner and they were rounded so had to use a pair of mole grips to get it off.

Now the lid doesn't seem to sit right either :/ I also need a new thermostat I ordered one from eurocarparts for around £65 just waiting for it to arrive.

I've got a thermostat on the way, and judging from the youtube videos it seems like it's easier to replace the thermostat than the air filter. By the looks of things, my air filter has never been changed in the life of the car, I'm not sure I'm going to be the man who tries it though... Not this week anyway.

[Willeh85]

Funkstar De Luxe said:

I've got a thermostat on the way, and judging from the YouTube videos it seems like it's easier to replace the thermostat than the air filter. By the looks of things, my air filter has never been changed in the life of the car, I'm not sure I'm going to be the man who tries it though... Not this week anyway.

I reckon its also an easier job I located it while I was doing the air filter and thought there wasn't much in the way. My air filter looked like it had been replaced before but why oh why they didn't replace the bolts is beyond me as they clearly didn't get rusty and soft like that in the time after replacement.

Could you post the link to the YouTube videos you've watched for it, as I'm going to attempt it myself on Monday

[anonymous-user]

Of course, you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotat...

It's all in Italian, but you'll get the idea. If you need any specific part translated, please let me know.

[TonyRPH]

I just replaced both headlamp bulbs today.

First the l/h side went, and then (my poor missus!) the r/h went a couple of days later when she was driving home in the dark...

I expected them to be the same brand (and having been fitted at the same time) but oddly enough they are completely different brands. Bad luck they both blew so close together.

One thing I did learn - if the bulb is not located 100%, the clip at the rear is a bh to get off (and put back on).

My l/h bulb clearly wasn't seated properly, but it must have taken a right monkey to force the clip on...

I also noticed that the housing (plastic?) that the bulb seats into is ever so slightly distorted, I presume from the heat - that made it a bit more difficult to locate them - but having checked the beam pattern, they appear to located properly.

[caprirob]

Willeh85 said:

I reckon its also an easier job I located it while I was doing the air filter and thought there wasn't much in the way. My air filter looked like it had been replaced before but why oh why they didn't replace the bolts is beyond me as they clearly didn't get rusty and soft like that in the time after replacement.

Could you post the link to the YouTube videos you've watched for it, as I'm going to attempt it myself on Monday

The air filters housing design is very poor - I gave up trying to re-use the bolts holding the lid down on mine instead I just drilled a small hole in the casing and lid immediately next to the 3 knackered mountings and used 3 cable ties to lock the lid into place - its not ideal but as most spares will also be rusty and knackered its a solution which works and should be easy to change the filter next time.
Getting the airbox actually out of the car to drill the holes was a horrific experience I dont want to ever repeat