how to change a bulb on a Citroen C3

Nigel, February 2008

It's the 3rd time already that I have to replace the "battery side" dipped beam (H7) bulb over last 6 years - the period my wife drives the 2007 C3. First time was a nightmare, but thanks to the mirror and cellphone torch I managed to do it in 20 minutes. After 3 years the problem reappeared, but this time it took me 10 minutes with neither torch nor mirror needed. Last Friday my wife has lent her C3 to our 24-year old daughter, whose C2 was to small for a couple going skiing in the mountains. And on their way back they have been stopped by police due to the faulty "battery side" dipped beam. After 40 minutes of trials in frost and snow they had to give up and after paying a fine the policemen let them go home with only one headlight on (they switched the front fog lights on for better visibility).
So today I had to do it at the daylight. And the situation looks this way: the H7 socket is taken off and there is no bulb in place - it rattles somewhere in the headlamp bay. I can see it, but removing it with any tool I know is impossible. Moreover the outer (main beam H1) bulb also doesn't light, as my daughter's boyfriend mistakenly took off one of its tiny female sockets and (even using the torch and mirror) I cannot find this wire and socket in whole headlamp bay.
For the 1st time since the 1970s I feel forced to drive the C3 tomorrow to the local PSA service and pay some 20 Euros for fitting the stupid bulb (and the H1 socket too).
Mind that in my Clio RS replacing any of the 4 bulbs doesn't take more than 3-4 minutes. Thus not every French designer is so stupid...

Mike, January 2020

Passenger side - the mirror worked for me (eventually - having stood in H/fords car park in the rain for 45 minutes to remove the duff bulb). I tried the 'spring manipulating tool' aka screwdriver with a slot in the end. Left, right, up and down in a mirror proved too difficult for my small brain. So I suffered the agony of manipulating the springs with my fingers. I'd love to inflict similar pain on the clot whose flawed design made it into production.

KRMorben, June 2013

Thank you - this saved me a lot of time and frustration! Much appreciated.

awk7, February 2013

Thanks to all for the tips here. Had already taken pics with my phone to suss out what was what, but could not quite see how the metal reataining clip unclipped. Nipped out and did the job in under10 mins. No special tool just one of my make up mirrors and my fingers.

Saved me a trip to the garage. Thanks

Fiona C L, January 2013

I'm giving up and taking it to Citroen, (they are closed for holiday for 2 1/2 weeks). .....losers!. I see lucus electrics are now supplying the French.

dave, December 2012

Same problem as below but i decided to slip a digital camera in there and take a snap. Once i could see the configuration of the bulb clip and it`s hinge, it was much easier to understand what my fingers were feeling.
After removing the battery and fuses box cover ( essential ), remove the back cover and just feel for the clip and trace it up to the top where it`s located, then gently move L/H tang outwards and the same the R/H side. The clip then lowers down on the hinge exposing the bulb,when fitting reverse the procedure making sure not to touch the new bulb glass with fingers.
Took about 25 seconds to refit the passenger side and less for the drivers side :)
Actually found refitting the rear cover on the passenger side the most awkward bit. 10 years of boxing and 35 years working in heavy engineering have left me with hands like the `thing` from the fantastic four, so if i can do you will to.
Stay calm and you`ll do it

Alex, January 2012

after reading the answers on headlight repair i decided to buy the lamp from halfords and pay an additional £5.99 to have them fit it - it was done in 5min no pain all gain - money well spent

charles, April 2011

I've just had to change both headlights. The mirror gives you confidence that you are pushing in the correct place. I wrapped insulation tape around my finger tips, this allowed me to press harder without too much pain.

Steve, March 2011

just did Drivers side headlight bulb, mirror definitely required, and then used a screwdriver (the type that takes hexagon shaped replaceable bits - but without any bit actually fitted in place) to push the wings off each side of the clip in turn.
as kay said in jan 2010 this was the easiest way i found, taking a picture also helped.

Richard Andrzejak, March 2011

many thanks - great advice - spent 30 mins on a cold dark night trying to remove bulb before reading this.

PS - also have an audi - no better !!

ubends1, November 2010

For the passenger side the answer is definitely as follows:
1. Remove the plastic cover from the battery. This just pulls off.
2. Remove the plastic cover from the fuse box. This has a small plastic clip on the side you can see so get your finger to that and it will release
3. Pull the metal clip upwards that holds the back of the plastic headlight cover and remove the plastic headlight cover. The metal clip is hinged on either side and just pulls up with a small amount of force. The plastic cover is a little fiddly to get out of the gap but it does come out OK.
4. Place the small mirror into the gap between the headlight and the fuse box and tilt it so that you can see the back of the headlight bulb.
5. Remove the wires that are connected to the headlight bulb. This is a black plastic cube shape that comes off with a little bit of wiggling.
6. You will then be see the metal clip that holds in the headlight bulb. In order to get this away from the bulb you need to push outwards both sides of the clip that are at the top of the bulb. The bottom is hinged. This is however the most difficult part of the job and what everyone gets stuck on. If your fingers are small enough and you are strong enough you can probably do this with your fingers but if not you need a tool (see below)!
7. The best tool for the job is an adapted screwdriver as mentioned in other answers. The screwdriver needs to have a small slit cut into the head (I used an angle grinder with a thin diamond blade but a hack saw would probably work if the screwdriver is a cheap one). The end of the screwdriver also needs to be bent to an angle of about 45% so that it can fit under the back of the headlight. Once you have the screwdriver and with the mirror showing you where the screwdriver head is place the slot onto one side of the metal clip and press that firstly towards the headlight and also away from the headlight (i.e. either left or right depending on what side you are pressing). This part of the job is a little fiddly and it's a little bit difficult to co-ordinate because the mirror shows everything back to front but it does work. Once the metal clip is free this can then be moved out of the way by way of the hinge that is on the bottom of the clip.
8. You can now remove and replace the headlight bulb. Once replaced check to see that the new bulb is working.
9. Put everything back in the reverse order.
Sounds a bit time consuming but with the right tool it can all be done in about 10 mins.

Nigel Mathers, November 2010

Buy normal car. Audi for example.

Kamil, October 2010

spot on mate - class advice - just spent 15 mins fiddling blindly before reading this, then, with acquired knowledge and a mirror, 2 mins to actually do the job

Stevie G, July 2010

If you have small hands, it may be easier to use your fingers than a slotted screwdriver. The parts of the spring that you have to push are the top ones. Push in (towards the headlights) and then outwards (away from the other part of the spring). Remove the bulb, and put the new one in in the same orientation (the part of the iron ring that sticks out must be on top). Then put the spring back. Move it back in position, push outwards, and then towards the light, and then back inwards.

Marko, July 2010

Thanks for all the information on replacing bulb it has saved me a lot of cash. Thank you all.

George McLennan, June 2010

My next door neighbour tried to help me change my head light bulb but failed as he snapped of the spring. I took it to the garage they want £50 to put the spring back on ive said no way .He informed me that he needed to take the battery out to get at the head light. And then i would have to have my radio code back in am so fed up am going to put a bitter of gaffa tape it in

marie, June 2010

Thank you, thank you, thank you, I was on the verge of tearing the old light bulb out with some pliers before my “I wonder if this is on the internet?” eureka moment. The mirror worked a treat, definitely remove the battery and fuse box plastic covers then you won’t need to fashion any MacGyver tool.

The wire braces holding the bulb in place are on a hooked latch meaning that you need to push the hoop in the wire towards the bulb slightly before you move it across it should then release and move on its hinge towards the wheel arches. This will mean that even a baby’s hand could release them and none of the strong arming mentioned below is needed. I practiced on the driver’s side bulb first a couple of times to get used to the L-shape movement.

DON’T use your right hand to change the passenger side light as I annihilated the back of my hand before finding that my left could work around the fuse box easily… although I’m no Jeremy Beadle, I wouldn’t say old lefty was massively strong either and it was still easy to get the wire braces off once I visualised the latch movement.

Citroen driver, May 2010

I just completed a bulb change after reading this thread. The key to removing the spring that holds the bulb in is a tool. I made one by cutting a small slot (1.5mm wide by 1mm deep) in a bicycle tyre lever. A screwdriver with a slot cut would do just the same. You can then use this to push the top of the spring towards the front of the car. The left side of the spring (sitting inside the car) goes forwards and left, the right side goes forwards and right.

I had to use the tool by feel, guiding it onto the spring with fingers from one hand whilst holding and pushing the tool with the other hand.

Once I had made the tool it only took about 10 mins. Without this you would need very strong fingers.

Ben, April 2010

My Citreon C3 (05 Plate) has had endless bulbs to change and has cost me at my local garage. This time I used your forum and employed my wife's mirror along with her smaller hands and the job done in 10 minutes.....thank you very much

Geoff, March 2010

my trick was to find a mechanic who was too embarressed to charge me when it took him more than 20 minutes

john, January 2010

OMG ur all scaring me haha I have no idea what any of you mean (typical woman) going to go and have another go now after reading some of your answers, mirrors at the ready!!

Kay, January 2010

I have done both sides now and started by using a camera phone to get a good close-up picture of the layout just to be certain which way to push the clips etc. and then used a screwdriver (the type that takes hexagon shaped replaceable bits - but without any bit actually fitted in place) to push the wings off each side of the clip in turn.
Still very fiddly but no damaged tools & much easier on the fingers and with the photo to refer to, much less frustrating too!

Rod, December 2009

if you are really stuck, drive to Halfords in Cumbernauld.
The guy in there put mine in for £5.99, No mirror, no tools, nothin, just using his hands and done in under 10 minutes.

mick, November 2009

Great advice - the mirror is essential for the H7 dipped beam bulb in particular, but I managed it with a standard cosmetic mirror borrowed from my wife. After taking the power lead terminal off the bulb, was able to remove the clips by pressing each in turn towards the lamp and then flicking outwards - didnt need to use a tool, and I have quite big hands. Then pull the clip ring down and away from the bulb and out the bulb comes. Reverse procedure no problem. Definitely not to be done in the dark with a torch - much better in daytime

Nick Pinkney, October 2009

For info , the headlamp bulb is type H7 12v 55w halogen lamp, if you want to buy it before you attempt to remove the old one . Prices range from £3.75 to £8 , depending on the manufacturer , I guess.
A bit of advice , try not to touch the glass part of the bulb with your fingers , because the sweat might cause the glass to crack when hot. If touched , wipe clean well with a dry tissue .

CG Malta, September 2009

Thanks for the advice , I managed to change the battery side headlamp beam.
As instructed ....the simplest way to do this job, is to buy a small make up mirror, or any small mirror will do, then buy a cheap flat blade scewdriver about 6 mm wide blade with a 100mm long shaft, cut a notch in the centre of the blade with a saw or a dremmel, only 2mm wide and about 3mm deep, then bend the shaft of the screwdriver, at 90 degrees, about 60mm up from the blade.
Remove the cover from the rear of the headlight ,lever off the clip with a screwdriver if required, and pull the connector from the bulb, hold the mirror at 45 degrees, facing upwards towards the inside of the headlight so you can see the clips, fit the notch of the blade onto one side of the clip and push in then out slightly, repeat this on the other half of the clip and remove the bulb.
Fitting the bulb was not easy , since I have huge hands. Opted for a tool to hold the bulb. Fashioned a tool out of two wire end connectors that fit onto the buld clips. I used the old bulb for measurements and connected the clips to some stiff wire bent to shape ,and thus could keep the bulb in place , while using the mirror to locate the top notch in the holder.
The holding spring can be pushed into place with fingers, while the other hand keeps the bulb in place using the wire tool .Once the clips are on , the tool can be slid off .
Removing the battery and the fuse cover helps .

Charles Galea --Malta, September 2009

thanks for the advise this old lady i knw is about to get ripped of by a local garage in perranporth cornwall (£132) im on my way to have a go at it now save her some money chears

pablo, August 2009

Well thanks for the help - ive done mine in the end and once i knew how it only took minutes!

Ok it started off me knowing the near side main headlamp bulb had blown. Popped into Halfords for replacement bulb for about £10 (later to find our could of got 2 for £3 at proper job!). Rejected their extra charge to fit it, thinking it couldnt be that hard! Spent the next 20 mins trying to get the bulb out but as you can not see what your doing, i gave up to try the next day.

Researched the internet, found this help and worked out it was the clips i was having problems with. Used a mirror and torch to see what i was dealing with and then its blind touching due to the limited room. I have small hands and even i struggled and yes it hurts your fingers pushing and trying to flick those clips off. After hour of trying different tools I gave up.

Rang my local dealer, £16.79 +vat for labour to change bulb (which was extra).

A quick visit to my local hardware shop, found me a set of screwdriver heads, with small extenstion bar for £2. four of the heads had a slit in it of different sizes. Within 5 minutes i had the 2 clips off and bulb out! another 5 mins and bulb replaced. Best £2 spent plus I could of got two bulbs for £3 in shop as well!

Well at least im ready for the next time and done the worse side.

Trouble was i decided to check my oil and the last 5cm of the dip stick snapped off! yes in the engine!! At least its plastic.

Kevin, July 2009

how can i change passenger side headlamp bulb on citroen C3.

Dave, May 2009

Jim's advice worked a treat.....I have had to take my C3 to the garage in the past after having messed around for an hour or so before giving up...Changed the drivers side in 5 mins literally.

Martin, May 2009

I spent most of Saturday skinning my hands and failing to get the the springs holding the light bulb on the passenger side to move. Having found this great resource, on Sunday I followed Jim's advice and made a tool which worked exactly as needed. It took me a bit longer than 2 minutes but not much more once I'd worked out how the mirror reversed things!! Follow Jim's advice, it's spot on. Thank you very much.

John, November 2008

Hi All, the simplest way to do this job, is to buy a small make up mirror, or any small mirror will do, then buy a cheap flat blade scewdriver about 6 mm wide blade with a 100mm long shaft, cut a notch in the centre of the blade with a saw or a dremmel, only 2mm wide and about 3mm deep, then bend the shaft of the screwdriver, at 90 degrees, about 60mm up from the blade.
Remove the cover from the rear of the headlight and pull the connector from the bulb, hold the mirror at 45 degrees, facing upwards towards the inside of the headlight so you can see the clips, fit the notch of the blade onto one side of the clip and push in then out slightly, repeat this on the other half of the clip and remove the bulb, fit the new bulb, and it is easy to fit the clips back with your fingers, then refit the cover.
With this method, I can change the bulb on either side in less than 2 minutes , on the fuse box side , it is slightly easier if you remove the top of the fusebox.
Hope this helps somebody.

Jim, September 2008

Managed to change the driver side (European) after removing the battery cover and ECU cover. Couldn't have done it without the advice given here. Thank you for you help.

LSF, August 2008

Thanks for the above.

Just so you know, it is possible to change the passenger side without bumper removal (ive done it) but you have to take out all the battery box, and the ecu cover. It takes a fair while too!

But as you say, the quick was is too remove the bumper!

WCopland, March 2008

It's not easy at all, just changed the drivers side (UK) main beam, I'm not sure it's possible to change the passenger side without removing the bumper! Unclip the cover and remove the large black cover. Now you need to use a mirror, to try and see what you are doing, as it's impossible to see and do it at the same time. Pull the connector off the bulb, so now you have the bulb left clipped into the headlamp. The clip is hinged at the bottom and clipped awkwardly at the top. Get your fingers onto the top of the clip, push the top of the brackets into the headlamp, then out to each side - do one at a time, then the clip will hinge off and you can remove the bulb. It's an absolute nightmare and took me a good hour!

Jonathan, February 2008