How do you change a 2002 Volkswagen Passat fog light and do you have to replace the whole assembly or just a bulb within?

Answer 1

No, you don't have to replace the whole assembly to repair a dead bulb. I have checked with the Bentley shop manual on this procedure and what you have to do is the pull on the black surround trim around the fog light. Do this from the area between the light and toward the license plate and the piece of black surround trim should POP off. IT is held in by tabs.

Next you have to unscrew the whole fog light assembly with the three screws holding it in (Not the adjuster TORX head screw-that is for adjustment).

It should then be able to pull it out of the bumper a bit and disconnect the connector from the foglight assembly. Twist off the back of the fog light assembly and you will have access to the bulb and will see how it connects.

Unsnap the retainer holding in the bulb and disconnect the lead going to the bulb to remove. Be careful not to touch the new bulb with your bare hands!! If you do carefully clean it with a cloth wetted with alcohol to remove any oil from your hands. If you don't, the bulb will shatter as soon as power is applied or will fog over instantly. These are halogen bulbs that get very hot and any oil will harden instantly on it's surface and crack the bulb.

Installation is the reverse from removal.

IT is not a very hard job to do but care should be taken with disconnecting the assembly connector first so that you can remove the whole light making it easier to work on.