Hello, 

The LED DRL is dim on my drivers side headlight. Local dealer says new headlight required (£750) as it’s a sealed unit. Is this the case? 
 

Any help appreciated. 
 

Matt

Hi,

 

I have a 2014 Vrs so same light unit, I had issues last year.

 

 

It was at night I was going slowly due to the heavy rain. I did brake but too late to prevent hitting an extremely badly flooded dip there was what seemed like a hught water fountain on the left hand side fo the car. I think the culvert under the bridge was blocked. I did report it to the council.

 

 

It was also not helped as I was blinded for a small time by a badly adjusted headlamp on a van which appeared over the top of the dip and also prevented me moving to the apex and slighty toward the other side of the road where I could see road rather than puddle!

 

 

Shortly afterwards (couple of miles) I got a warning about the left DRL. Sorry cannot recall the message, think it was something about a short.

The LED was flickering and the brightness was all over the place bright then dim bright again.

Then next day I could see some water drops within the headlamp unit.

 

In the end it required a replacement controller which is under the light unit. It was full of water!

 

The controller has a rubber seal, where it fits into the headlamp unit, but I suspect the force of the water forced its way through that. Why a headlamp unit has an electronic controller on the base is something I don't really understand as any water will naturally end up there.

 

The controller was about 120 pounds plus time to remove and replace bumper.

Sorry I can't give overall cost as I got them to do an oil change at the same time. It was a bit ahead of schedule, but seems a good idea while the car was on the ramp.

 

 

So it is possible that it might be the control unit that is poorly?

If so somewhat less costly. Clearly the light is not a "sealed" unit!

 

The receipt described the controller as

 

Genuine Skoda Power Module and a reference number 4G0907697D (can't guantee this is correct)

 

But your issue could be something else!

Still it might be worth asking them if it could be the controller?

Edited 28 March, 20206 yr by StephenVRS

As above, could be the controller which is underneath the light unit. I would search for a secondhand light, these can be had for under £100 easily these days and use that instead. Then you can keep your light for spare parts (or canibalise the new light for spares and keep yours on the car).

Thanks @StephenVRS - absolutely fantastic detailed response. Much appreciated. I’ll definitely check/swap that module. Gutted that it’s a bumper off job though. 
 

@SashaGrace - As luck would have it, I do have a spare drivers headlight, but it’s from a LHD vehicle, so I don’t know whether it would be suitable (part code is 1 digit different from UK version)

Finding a completely intact headlight for £100 isn’t that easy, but I got lucky with this one (it came from Lithuania!) for £100 including postage. 

 

 

Its not an MOT fail on your year of car, so you could just carry on without fixing 

16 minutes ago, xman said:

Its not an MOT fail on your year of car, so you could just carry on without fixing 

I could obviously do that, but I’d rather fix it if possible. 
As for being an MOT failure, Simpsons Skoda at Colne told me that it was a failure on a pre-MOT check they carried out, due to it bringing a warning light on the dashboard, however my local MOT centre passed it fine, with just an advisory. 

You won’t be able to use the LHD light as the aim is different but the DRL controller should have the same part number. That said, these cars have a separate sidelight and at this age don’t need a DRL to be legal or pass an MoT.