Only a test item if you have hid's.

Mine were tested on MOT as saw the tester do it.. But I have factory fitted Xenons on my Octy vRS

 

Interesting about the delay function thou, will have to take a look at that in VCDS later...

On my Octy if you have the lights on or auto lights activated, the headlamps get washed.

 

If the lights are off they don't get washed.

 

Which I thought was a cool idea! Surely not another thing that isn't common?

 

Although I do like to amuse myself by 'accidentally' spraying the general public... With screenwash!

Any info on VCDS would be good. The delay function sounds like a good idea. I have changed mine to only activate every 8 washes but as we all know, annoyingly the counter starts at zero for each trip.

If anyone finds the entries, please post. I will take a look when I get the chance.

Skoda dealer passed my car on two mots with factory xenons and washers not working, they didn't even mention this at the service

Any info on VCDS would be good. The delay function sounds like a good idea. I have changed mine to only activate every 8 washes but as we all know, annoyingly the counter starts at zero for each trip.

If anyone finds the entries, please post. I will take a look when I get the chance.

Is your car a FL? Mine is pretty facelift and the headlight washers activate whenever the lights are on. If so you may not be able to change the delay.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Is your car a FL? Mine is pre facelift and the headlight washers activate whenever the lights are on. If so you may not be able to change the delay.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Skoda dealer passed my car on two mots with factory xenons and washers not working, they didn't even mention this at the service

they should have done it. Any car with HID's must have working headlight washers

It's a FL on 62 plate. Hopefully get a chance to have nose around VCDS this weekend.

It's a FL on 62 plate. Hopefully get a chance to have nose around VCDS this weekend.

I think the controller is different and how the washers operate is different between the pre FL and the FL models.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Reviving an old topic, but I hope someone can help.  My Mk 1 52 plate Octy has just failed its MOT for a missing headlight washer, which the dealer/testing station is wanting £100 to replace.  I tried to argue that the new rules on headlight washers only apply to cars with HID or LED lights, but no luck - they will not pass the car without replacing the washer.  The washer has been missing for years, prized off by the frost in 2010 I think, but they are now being much stricter.  Since they have their MOT business at stake, it will take some very definitive documentation to get them to change their minds.  I've had no luck finding anything on the government MOT site, and the testers interpretation of the test guidelines - reasons for rejection "2. A headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective." is not unreasonable.  No mention of HIDs in the reasons section, it appears to be blanket coverage.  So does anyone have any experience here?  Are most testers now requiring washers to work if fitted on ALL headlights?

 

Thanks for any help.

The MOT testers manual (http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s01000701.htm) states

 

"Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted, switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted. " 

 

There is no other requirement to check the headlamp washers if HID or LED headlamps are not fitted. 

Reviving an old topic, but I hope someone can help.  My Mk 1 52 plate Octy has just failed its MOT for a missing headlight washer, which the dealer/testing station is wanting £100 to replace.  I tried to argue that the new rules on headlight washers only apply to cars with HID or LED lights, but no luck - they will not pass the car without replacing the washer.  The washer has been missing for years, prized off by the frost in 2010 I think, but they are now being much stricter.  Since they have their MOT business at stake, it will take some very definitive documentation to get them to change their minds.  I've had no luck finding anything on the government MOT site, and the testers interpretation of the test guidelines - reasons for rejection "2. A headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective." is not unreasonable.  No mention of HIDs in the reasons section, it appears to be blanket coverage.  So does anyone have any experience here?  Are most testers now requiring washers to work if fitted on ALL headlights?

 

Thanks for any help.

Are you sure they are not xenon i fit them on my 54 plate without washers had all the pluming ie 5litre bottle washer jets and pipe, washer jets can be bought for a tenner seen loads on bay loads of models have similar. Laurent was the model i aquired mine from.

Thanks for your reply.  They are not Xenon bulbs, just standard halogens, factory fitted.  I don't do much night driving, I think the bulbs have maybe been changed once in 135,000 miles.  The garage aren't claiming they are anything fancy either, just that fitted washers must work, whatever the headlight type.  It's their interpretation of the rules I am arguing about, not details of the hardware.

The MOT testers manual states

 

"Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted, switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted. "

 

There is no other requirement to check the headlamp washers if HID or LED headlamps are not fitted. 

 

Thanks for responding.  I had already found that document. and went in with a copy to argue about the fail.  No luck, they just point to the Reason for Rejection column on the same page

 

"2. A headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective."

 

I say this #2 section of Reasons to Reject applies to the #2 section in the method of inspection column, that is only for HID and LED headlamps, as you pointed out.  They say lamp type is not mentioned in the Reasons to Reject column, so it applies to all headlights.  No repair, no pass.

Edited 23 September, 201411 yr by LEC

It shouldn't matter that the reason for failure does not state LED/HID as there is no requirement to test the headlamp washer unless HID/LED are fitted.  The tester has performed a test that should not be performed.  It is the same as ABS warning lamps, if ABS is not fitted you don't test them, you don't fail a car for not having one that works.

Stop wasting your time with this particular MOT test station. I'm sure they'll glady take your £100 to pass your car when it should pass in its current condition.

 

Take it elsewhere.

It really infuriates me when MOT testers start putting their own spin on what's in the manual. Its written very clearly so that there shouldn't be any ambiguity. I'd be quite tempted to appeal so they are forced to admit they are wrong, but then perhaps life's too short, just take it somewhere else!

Turn the lights off - wash the screen - turn the lights back on again. Hard to see if the screen is clean with the lights off in the dark so you may have to repeat several times.