Hi there, I have just bought a 1998 GLi Felicia with 36k on it. My Felcia has 3 faults - 1. The pretty common headlight adjuster (not working) problem, 2. My rear wiper only moves about 2 inches then stops when I try to wash my back window, if i put the wiper back (2 inches) to it's normal position then try again, it only moves 2 inches again and 3. My temprature gauge doesn't work. Which of these are Mot failures??? Could not having a working temp gauge affect my engine? Any help would be much apprecieted.

You can read a copy of the MOT Tester's Manual here. From experience of my Felicia with a broken headlight adjuster, that is not reason for an MOT fail, but incorrect adjustment of the headlights is. I can't see any mention of rear wipers in the Test Manual, nor do cars have to have them fitted, but if in doubt you could remove the wiper arm for the test. If the engine is running OK I wouldn't worry about the temperature gauge not working. Finally, can I recommend that you buy yourself a Haynes Manual for the Felicia 1995 - 2001. It is well worth having.

2. My rear wiper only moves about 2 inches then stops when I try to wash my back window, if i put the wiper back (2 inches) to it's normal position then try again, it only moves 2 inches again

Had the same problem with my 1996 felicia when i brought it, turns out the cogs had broken teeth inside the motor so just swapped them over with the cogs from a favorit wiper motor and hey presto. also the lights on my felicia keep moving down on their own and that failed the MOT but as far as the wiper is concerned, it shouldn't fail on that

Thanks for that. I'll check the wiper motor cogs this morning. And I think I can set the lights manually. The only other thing now (although not a mot issue) is sorting the temp gauge. Could anyone tell me if this affects the engine heating (run too hot etc) or is it just something that you can live with. Anyone know what it costs to replace the thermastat as I've been told its a pricey one!

Re Temp gauge

If the radiator is only lukewarm and the heater only blows very cool air, then the thermostat needs replacing. Mine went earlier in the year. Cost about £85-90 to fix. It might sound expensive, but if you run the car as it is the engine will suffer in the long run and the fuel consumption will be worse.

The headlight adjustor is not a MOT fail.

AndyC

Just had the head light alignement checked on my wife's Felicia. The garage told me the adjustment control was not working on it. Also said it was some sort of weird hydraulic system that they had never ever seen on any other car! I hope it is not an MOT failure point as the car is not really worth enough to justify any repair costs.

if the system has empied (fluid) then yep you got a prob, the headlamps will drop ..... like 6' of vision on high beam :(

The idea was great but seems very short lived , and i would not even know how to pressure the system up again. only to ignore that turny switch and fix the lights to normal. I posted something a while back as to how to by-pass the lack of liquid, and manually adjust the lamps back to correct height

look in the thread 'felicia switch'

cant offer any more advice sorry

The Favorit used the hydraulic system as well. And it failed equally well.

They leak down and then you only get manual adjustment inside which isn't a problem as long as it get done before the adjusters seize.