I just changed a light-bulb. Do I get a prize? It was the drivers side tail-light on our Zafira. In recent years I have come to the conclusion that when a light bulb goes on a car, you either need to find a small child with tiny dexterous fingers, or you need to remove the engine, or you need to pay a garage £25 to do the job for you. So I have a sense of achievement. All it needed was to remove the tyre inflation kit from the cavity beside the boot space behind the lights (an intricate operation since its in a tigtly-fitting expanded foam housing which breaks easily if you try to pull it out the wrong way), and then to lie on the floor of the boot space groping upwards to find the wing-nut that releases the light fitting. I never knew the inflation kit existed -- Ive only had the car about 7 years -- I suppose this probably means there isnt a spare wheel, which isnt something you want to discover on a dark night when youve just had a puncture. But it all makes you realise just how reliable modern cars have become. The inflation kit is an expensive bit of equipment to have on-board when its never likely to be used: I would have thought in most situations, a mobile phone would be a better and cheaper alternative. But tradition dies hard: in the old days, tyres failed frequently so you carried a spare. These days they are as reliable (and difficult to change) as any other component -- even a light bulb -- but theres still a feeling the motorist needs to be able to recover from a failure without outside assistance. The light bulb was supplied by Bentleys garage in Exmouth, who wouldnt charge for it because they didnt have change for a fiver. When they re-open on Monday they will find the cash on their door mat. Its a nice place, Exmouth. The policeman who pulled up alongside us and told us the tail light was gone was also the model of courtesy. Rekindles your faith in humanity.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 16:14:35 +0000
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