When turning the dipped beam on from sidelights the passengers side light makes a loud wirring noise. Sounds like the motor is stuck or something from that area. Dont think I can adjust the level either because of this. Anyone had this before?

Yup - the motors are utter crap, and fuse as soon as a bit of moisture gets in. One of mine is completely dead and the other just whirrs.

Have you tried fixing it? New headlights cant be cheap.

When turning the dipped beam on from sidelights the passengers side light makes a loud wirring noise. Sounds like the motor is stuck or something from that area. Dont think I can adjust the level either because of this. Anyone had this before?

I've got the same issue with my passenger one, the driver still adjust OK however.

I haven't actually taken it to bits yet, but I suspect the problem is that the unit is basically a servo and the pot in there that gives the positionis knackered. The result is the motor runs all the time because it can't find the place it's meant to be at.

As for a solution,if yours isn't stuck in the wrong location, ie it's fine to drive with, then you could do the same as me and wait until the weather warms up and if you can be bothered to take it out and have a look if it can be fixed. Otherwise

it's the knackers yard for a cheap one, assuming you can find a car of the same vintage, or the dealers.

Tom

Took the offending light off and opened it up, but couldnt see anything wrong. Like Interphase said it looks like the motor has gone haywire due to moisture. I have noticed condensation in the headlights which couldnt have helped.

While the passenger side was off I thought I would make sure the noise has gone, and would you guess, the drivers side has taken over making the same noise. :'( Skoda man said it was £137.33 for just the passenger side. Btw this is a 2003/53.

Took the offending light off and opened it up, but couldnt see anything wrong. Like Interphase said it looks like the motor has gone haywire due to moisture. I have noticed condensation in the headlights which couldnt have helped.

While the passenger side was off I thought I would make sure the noise has gone, and would you guess, the drivers side has taken over making the same noise. :'( Skoda man said it was £137.33 for just the passenger side. Btw this is a 2003/53.

That's a newer model than mine.

Mines an 02, the motor is in the little oblong black box. From what I've read on here, if you have the Xenon lights, then the unit is considerably more expensive.

As I say, when it's not dark & cold outside and I have a half day spare I'll take a look at mine, but I expect it to be a knackers yard replacement job to be honest.

Tom

Assuming you have "normal" headlights, then just replace the adjuster motors. They are about £25 each from a Skoda dealer, and take about 15mins to swap.

I changed mine a few years back.

New motors have been ordered. Suprised they sold them seperate tbh, glad they do though.

Bodge, how did you remove the black box, I havnt got the new ones yet so not sure what comes with it. Ive removed the 2 torx screws on top (that hold the lid on also). There is a 3rd one underneath that looks hard to get at but doesnt look like part of the unit. Im guessing something pops off but I have the touch of a small elephant so trying to be carefull here.

Edited 18 January, 201115 yr by Stakeknife

Bodge, how did you remove the black box, I havnt got the new ones yet so not sure what comes with it. Ive removed the 2 torx screws on top (that hold the lid on also). There is a 3rd one underneath that looks hard to get at but doesnt look like part of the unit. Im guessing something pops off but I have the touch of a small elephant so trying to be carefull here.

Haha yeah you have to be gentle with the screws into the reflector, as if you strip the weak plastic threads, you may need a new headlamp.....

You literally just get the small black box, and not the linkage piece that snaps over the plastic ball on the motor output or any screws.

I'm struggling to remember what it looks like now, but as far as I can remember, you remove a couple of screws holding the black box down, then move things about a bit to get to the screw holding down the lever or something. Sorry I really can't remember what it looks like any more! If you took a picture it would remind me!

I do remember there being a sequence of which screws to do first, but you'll soon figure that out once you have it all. You definately do have to pop the lever bit of the motor output though. Just be gentle with those screws, as I managed to partially strip the threads on one hole, and ended up using loctite to secure it!

Haha yeah you have to be gentle with the screws into the reflector, as if you strip the weak plastic threads, you may need a new headlamp.....

You literally just get the small black box, and not the linkage piece that snaps over the plastic ball on the motor output or any screws.

I'm struggling to remember what it looks like now, but as far as I can remember, you remove a couple of screws holding the black box down, then move things about a bit to get to the screw holding down the lever or something. Sorry I really can't remember what it looks like any more! If you took a picture it would remind me!

I do remember there being a sequence of which screws to do first, but you'll soon figure that out once you have it all. You definately do have to pop the lever bit of the motor output though. Just be gentle with those screws, as I managed to partially strip the threads on one hole, and ended up using loctite to secure it!

I've not tried this, but I seem to recall reading in another thread about this same issue that you take out the two obvious screws, then rotate the black box and a 3rd screw comes into view through one of the holes you've just removed a screw from.

I'll try and find the post...

Here you are...

Link

Post No.7 onwards

Tom

Edited 19 January, 201115 yr by tomsimmons

Ah yes ive sussed it, once the 2 topscrews are out you have to lift the black box (which lifts the internals of the light aswell, this is where I first stopped) but doing this bring it out of its groove then it can be turned to get access to the third screw.

UPDATE: parts arrived and fitted, bit fiddly putting the black box back in without loosing the screw somewhere in the light. Thought id put some Phillips X-treme Vision bulbs in and new sidelights, much much better!

Edited 19 January, 201115 yr by Stakeknife