I need to replace the drivers side bulb but have no access i did the passengers side by removing the battery but drivers side no room at all. Have heard you need to remove the bumper but where do i start? The ka is a V reg 1997 i think

richard albery, February 2008

jack up the car remove the road wheel, secure with axle stand, remove the plastic shield under the wheel arch, the headlamp cover and lamps are then reasonably accessable, note the indicator lamp is accessable from behind the front grill, remove the three screws and carefully pull back the grill to access the lamp

APAULR, July 2012

Just tackled mine. What a great design (not!).
Haynes says just pop the rear panel off the light - fine if you've already removed the headlight but utterly impossible if it's in situ.
So, removed the front wheel, dropped the front half of the wheelarch liner and got in through there.

Julian, April 2010

With great difficulty as I found out with the W reg I bought recently.The previous owner must have had trouble as well. One dipped light bulb was blown and the other dipped bulb was peaking crookedly from the side of the weather shield
I have a small hand for a man but I gave up in the end.I happened to be visiting a car dealer and service centre to sell him an electricity contract so in return for a good deal he gave me a new bulb and fitted it for £5 although on one side he couldnt attach the wire clip properly.I dont think it is perfectly aligned either. And this guy is a mechanic by trade
The dipped beam adjuster in the car doesnt seem to have much effect. I may have to revisit this problem before my MOT is due.The car owners guide makes it sound easy and in principle it is but getting access to it and the visibilty is a nightmare
The spring clip on the cover of the light assembly lifts upwards to remove
The electrical connector pulls off,the wire clip should be released and the bulb replaced (very fiddly and difficult even with a small hand)
Reverse procedure to reassemble
You are not suppose to hold the glass of the bulb when installing. Impossible I say !!
My KA drives fine but the accelerator pedal seems to be too close to the brake especially if you have wide shoes which could have lethal results.Ford really ought to know better.
I think the cute design has taken priority over safety and practicality.The price of headlight bulbs at £8 each shocked me as my old Hyundai headlight bulbs were about £1.50 in Tescos !!!. Good luck
Dom

Mr Dominic Colgan, March 2008

just in case it helps someone else i managed to sort this without removing bumper, very fiddley as very little space. once the rear cover was removed managed to replace bulb it took me longer to replace the cover as you can't see to lign it up. its a case of keep trying to align it then eventually it just falls in to place.

richard, February 2008