VRS TFSI Xenon Headlight MOT failure!

[rawcas]

Hi All

 

Decided (wisely it turns out) to get my VRS MOT'd early before a holiday next month, It failed...always annoying, but I now need some advice on one of the issues.

 

CV boots were one issue (not too fussed as that is wear and tear on an 80k car and was an advisory last year), but the annoying one is that the Offside Xenon headlight is not levelling  down into position when the lights are turned on. Drivers side moves fine.

 

So, what are my options?

 

Can the unit be fixed, could it even be a wiring issue rather than a problem in the unit itself? If it cant be fixed I'm assuming this is going to be costly because it's a Xenon unit...garage have already said it's a bumper off job to replace it if the unit does have to come out.

 

Alternatively, are there any ways just to fix the lamp in the correct position as that will apparently pass the MOT?

 

All help appreciated, I have 10 days now before I have to pay for another test!!!

 

 

Cheers

[tubbytommy]

I'm sure you can just buy the levelling part

[rawcas]

Well if so that's good news as checking online a new unit is rather hefty in terms of cost!

 

Anyone out there replaced the levelling unit? I can see from online guides that the headlight can be removed without the bumper coming off, but I'm assuming the leveling unit might be tucked away elsewhere?

Edited 20 July, 2016 by rawcas

[Tech1e]

Need a fault code check and a bit of diagnosis to see why. You may find its been adjusted improperly and fallen off the motor.

[silver1011]

...garage have already said it's a bumper off job to replace it if the unit does have to come out.

 

Fail #1.

 

The headlights (both halogen and xenon) are extremely easy to remove on the MkII. The bumper does not need to be touched. See here for pictures...

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/64315-howto-new-octavia-headlight-bulb-change/

 

A brand new genuine xenon headlight can be had on eBay, this one is for the facelift but the pre-FL ones are usually a little cheaper when they pop up on eBay. If needed the expensive bulb, ballast and ignitor can be swapped over from the existing duff headlight...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-OCTAVIA-FRONT-XENON-HEADLIGHT-2011-MODEL-/322178813201?hash=item4b035a8d11:g:82gAAOSwkl5Xd-Mt

[rawcas]

Fail #1.

 

The headlights (both halogen and xenon) are extremely easy to remove on the MkII. The bumper does not need to be touched. See here for pictures...

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/64315-howto-new-octavia-headlight-bulb-change/

 

A brand new genuine xenon headlight can be had on eBay, this one is for the facelift but the pre-FL ones are usually a little cheaper when they pop up on eBay. If needed the expensive bulb, ballast and ignitor can be swapped over from the existing duff headlight...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-OCTAVIA-FRONT-XENON-HEADLIGHT-2011-MODEL-/322178813201?hash=item4b035a8d11:g:82gAAOSwkl5Xd-Mt

 

Thanks for the response Silver1011.

So is it more likely that the light unit itself is faulty rather than any of the components that you mention? Looking up Ballast and ignitor etc. these seem to be cheaper to buy than headlight unit even from ebay. I'm new to Xenon headlights so can you cast light on what the components are actually responsible for. I'm assuming from diagrams I've seen that the Xenon bulb itself is in motorised cradle of some kind as well?

To pass the MOT I may just try and adjust the beam using the manual adjusters as it only needs to come down slightly in angle to pass apparently, I can then take a bit more (less expensive time) looking at what has broken.

[Tech1e]

The levelling motor is in the headlamp. It may have just come off. This can happen if it's manually adjusted without using VCDS because all the control module tries to do is adjust it back where is was before.

[rawcas]

The levelling motor is in the headlamp. It may have just come off. This can happen if it's manually adjusted without using VCDS because all the control module tries to do is adjust it back where is was before.

 

 

So, if the motor has just 'come off' I'm assuming it would be worth me taking the lamp out and having a look first. Also, when you say 'come off' is it just a connector or are there other parts that can easily come away or be dislodged?

 

At the moment neither myself nor the garage has tried to manually adjust anything, I am assuming though that seeing as the motor is not working, if I can manually adjust for now to get the beam in acceptable place for the MOT it can be readjusted later once I have fixed the motor (if that's what the issue is)?

[Tech1e]

The motor clips into the light unit so it can move it. If it has come off the unit will be wobbling about.

The levelling has to work to pass the MOT iirc. So it just being in the right place won't be good enough.

[phil5556]

The levelling has to work to pass the MOT iirc. So it just being in the right place won't be good enough.

It does but our TT has been through 3 mots without the leveling working and never had anything said about it.

[Tech1e]

Less than proper MOT then I guess.

[softscoop]

This was the cursory headlight check on my Octavia which has HIDs fitted, but not auto-levelling.

 

Passed with no advisories.

 

[silver1011]

Given the fact that the car has already failed it's MOT for this very issue I'm assuming that this particular MOT testing station has an eye for detail.

 

It might be an option to try another MOT station to at least buy you some more time to fix it.

 

For what it's worth I have an aftermarket HID kit on my Superb, without the headlight wash or self-leveling and I too have never had issues during the MOT. It would appear standards vary very much across different locations.

[Stoofa]

Just unfortunate that the OP went to a garage that does a proper job - actually bothers to inspect vehicles and picks up the faults, dangerous or otherwise.

Take it along to another station, the usual "Yer - we'll do your MOT" type, and when they don't bother checking half the things they are supposed to you'll get a pass.

 

Although many will tell you how cool it is that this happens, it scares the s*** out of me knowing that there are bloody dangerous cars out there.

[alberg]

That happened to me once.

Cleared codes and back to normal.

[rawcas]

That happened to me once.

Cleared codes and back to normal.

 

Hi alberg. So did you just get the garage to plug in their computer and reset any fault codes? I don't have VAGcom or VCDS so I'd need to get my garage to do that if that's the case.

 

I'll be taking the headlamp out tonight to check and see if there is an issue with the motor as suggested above, I'll give the connections etc. a good clean whilst I'm at it. I'll have a look at manual adjustment for now as I don't want to go to another MOT, being honest I'd prefer that it goes through a garage I worked hard to find and that I trust (having spoken to them today the actually volunteered the info too me that the bumper does not need to come off after all having checked), rather than an unscrupulous MOT centre just giving it a pass to save time!

[silver1011]

Just unfortunate that the OP went to a garage that does a proper job - actually bothers to inspect vehicles and picks up the faults, dangerous or otherwise.

Take it along to another station, the usual "Yer - we'll do your MOT" type, and when they don't bother checking half the things they are supposed to you'll get a pass.

 

Although many will tell you how cool it is that this happens, it scares the s*** out of me knowing that there are bloody dangerous cars out there.

 

Calm down, it's a headlight motor 

[rawcas]

Don't suppose any of you guys are Northamptonshire based, have VCDS and may be able to help me see if clearing the codes helps?....had no time to remove the light last night in the end so I will still try and do that this evening.

 

There are some replacement Xenon headlights  for sale that I've found but they are miles away and don't want to take the journey unless I really have to.

[Nepomuk]

Calm down, it's a headlight motor 

 

... which has failed, so the headlight dazzles an oncoming motorist, who swerves into a pedestrian at the side of a road with no pavement ...

 

Not trivial.

[rawcas]

Okay.....so the garage have had some more time to have a look having dropped the car too them today and it looks like the actual motor is knackered so after all that a new headlamp unit is required.

 

Cheers for all the help everyone as usual

[ryan-re]

Have they checked the links where the headlamp is connected to the front and rear suspension? If those are not connected it will not level

[silver1011]

... which has failed, so the headlight dazzles an oncoming motorist, who swerves into a pedestrian at the side of a road with no pavement ...

Not trivial.

Killing pedestrians!? Seriously.

[emoji1]

Sent from my Kestrel using Tapatalk

[Tech1e]

Okay.....so the garage have had some more time to have a look having dropped the car too them today and it looks like the actual motor is knackered so after all that a new headlamp unit is required.

 

Cheers for all the help everyone as usual

Pretty sure you can get a motor.

[Tech1e]

Killing pedestrians!? Seriously.

[emoji1]

Sent from my Kestrel using Tapatalk

Yes, then after killing a pedestrian the car piles into a bus full of nuns which explodes.

[Guest]

Yes, then after killing a pedestrian the car piles into a bus full of nuns which explodes.

Nun survived!