My vRS is about to turn into scrap because there are no headlights for the car : (

[StigDude]

Long story short: I can't find a couple of headlights for my Pearl Black Fabia vRS. Which I doubt would have happened if I had chosen another brand.

 

I got my car here in Portugal back in 2007. For years it made my commutes the most fun part of the day, the 130hp engine with 310 nm is a great road partner, and being a very efficient diesel, it burns a LOT less fuel than modern petrol engines. To me personally, a cool car, safe, with great handling for my roads, great engine and it took care of my trips excellently. It came with a couple of xenon headlights, though it wasn't my pick, they look great too. Had many happy passengers throughout these years, often surprised of how quick they got to their destinations. All that was more than "simply clever". It was brilliant. A couple of years ago, I had the seats restored and even invested in a small box where I can park it safely and leave it well kept most of the time.

 

Then... at the annual vehicle inspection (kind of MOT car safety test here in Portugal), they detected that the right beam was weaker and needed replacement. I got a pair of efficient OSRAM Cool Blue Intense xenon bulbs. Then, at the car workshop, they told me that the headlights weren't self levelling, as they should, and needed to be replaced. That is perfectly natural, the car is more than 17 years old and never had before a single problem with the original lamps, or headlights. From that day, last Thursday, to this moment, there is no one who can get me a pair of xenon headlights for my Fabia vRS. I'm not even talking about the aftermarket brands, they don't have anything available, everything is out of stock in every country I looked in the internet, in every country I searched. I only found one shop in Russia thay possibly had one... I called Skoda here in Portugal and they told me they can only get one single headlight, from a warehouse in Germany. They couldn't get the other headlight and production had stopped last year. Not to mention that even if they could actually order two headlights, it would cost me more than half the current insurance value of the vehicle: 3300€ plus for two headlights! (more than 2800£) . Obviously I don't expect Škoda to manufacture these xenon headlights for eternity, but... seriously? One headlight available from Skoda itself?

 

Well... now the car is parked in its box, with a perfectly usable great engine, restored seats. And I'll be unable to drive legally on public roads here in Portugal within nine days from now, because I can't fix the fault. Obviously I can't sell it, unless a farmer can use it as a tractor or a small chicken coop. My only option it rusting in the garage, or pay for someone to tow it to the nearest scrapyard. Why? Engine failure? A big crash? No. Because I can't get a couple of Skoda headlights replaced. How is this possible?? It sounds like a bad joke, but it's  happening... unbelievable. I honestly doubt a Seat or VW, or other brands, owner would have this problem. I sent an email to Skoda yesterday night with this info, but even if I got both headlights, what would happen if they got broken in a crash? It would start all over again. Not so "clever" decision, after all.

 

I checked with my mechanic, they can't change to regular bulbs' headlights, like H7, because the levelling systems are not compatible. The headlights won't self level anymore (even if we try manually with a screw, the plastic parts won't move anymore) and can't be used safely on the road, nor will the car pass the auto inspection like this. He could only level the beam for inspection, but whenever I would have passengers, or some weight in the boot, the headlights would turn too high.

 

Has anyone made any headlight mod in their Fabia, that required a headlight levelling system change?

 

Thanks for any help or suggestions...

[Winston_Woof]

but do you really need 2 new headlights?

Have you checked that the linkages from the front suspension are present & correct (as I understand it self leveller motors  are linked to the suspension) ?

What about seeing if you canget the self levelling motors sperately?

[skomaz]

As above I'd start by checking you actually need ne light units and you haven't just got a stuck or broken level sensor or leveling motor. 

 

Otherwise you could just swap the headlights for halogens

Edited 4 April by skomaz

[StigDude]

Thank you Winston and skomaz for your tips. I'm going to the workshop again, so they can check what can be actually done with the current headlights. They are different workshops (the one who spotted the problem and the one I'll be working with now) and the latter has more experience with lighting.

 

Hella were the manufacturers of these OE headlights and told me that the parts aren't available anymore. Skoda, from the Skoda-auto.cz site, emailed me this:

 

We are sorry that we cannot help you, but the production of parts after the end of model production is 15 years only for essential components such as engine, transmission, etc...

For other parts it is 7-10 years, however it varies from part to part.

If the vehicle's production mileage is more than 15, it is likely that it will not be possible to obtain official parts through ŠKODA AUTO, it is necessary to solve this unofficially.

 

So basically, I'm left alone to sort it out myself. I just hope my mechanic can help, otherwise I'll just have to look somewhere else, or use some duct tape and chewing gum...

[StigDude]

The original fault was a weaker beam. That means they were self levelling, but probably the glass lens within the headlight had become cloudy. I first thought the bulb wasn't working properly, but now I guess the lens could be the problem.

 

Only after the first workshop handled the bulb replacement was there a problem with the levelling. Tomorrow I'll talk with the guy and ask him to see what's happening now. But his first hint was that the headlights were gone. We'll see.

 

Thank your for your help guys 👍

[sepulchrave]

Xenons get so hot that the reflectors lose their shine and the plastic internals distort, the only solution is to convert to halogens, if you want new I believe Depo may still have stock of LHD units.

[StigDude]

22 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

Xenons get so hot that the reflectors lose their shine and the plastic internals distort, the only solution is to convert to halogens, if you want new I believe Depo may still have stock of LHD units.

Yes, I found there are still lots of halogen headlights. If I had those lamps, there wouldn't be any problem. But these xenon weren't so common. And they're simply gone now... 🤦‍♂️

[petrolcan]

This any good?

 

https://retrofitlab.com/collections/skoda-fabia-6y/products/skoda-fabia-6y-1999-2007-bi-xenon-xenon-headlights

[skomaz]

2 hours ago, StigDude said:

The original fault was a weaker beam. That means they were self levelling, but probably the glass lens within the headlight had become cloudy. I first thought the bulb wasn't working properly, but now I guess the lens could be the problem.

 

Only after the first workshop handled the bulb replacement was there a problem with the levelling. Tomorrow I'll talk with the guy and ask him to see what's happening now. But his first hint was that the headlights were gone. We'll see.

 

Thank your for your help guys 👍

 

I have a vague recollection that the levelling motors have a ball and socket connection on the end of them that can become detached.  I wonder if the garage that fitted the new burners has somehow managed to pop the levelling motor ball end out of the socket on the back of the light unit. 

[StigDude]

1 hour ago, petrolcan said:

This any good?

 

https://retrofitlab.com/collections/skoda-fabia-6y/products/skoda-fabia-6y-1999-2007-bi-xenon-xenon-headlights

Thank you petrolcan, I've already contacted them some days ago. They only sell the lamp set, but not the headlights... : (

[Winston_Woof]

8 hours ago, skomaz said:

 

I have a vague recollection that the levelling motors have a ball and socket connection on the end of them that can become detached.  I wonder if the garage that fitted the new burners has somehow managed to pop the levelling motor ball end out of the socket on the back of the light unit. 

Like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134705166676

 

[skomaz]

2 hours ago, Winston_Woof said:

Like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134705166676

 

 

Yep that's the sort of thing I was recalling!

[StigDude]

Wow, thank you guys! I've already put that item under watch, in case they find out those parts are the faulty ones. This morning I used the car for working and still weren't able to take it to the workshop. Thanks again 👍

[delroy]

The self levelling sensor is at the back of the car, passenger side on RHD, if this stops working it should throw a fault code/bulb warning.  The motors shown above are a common VW part so should be readily available. If thete are no codes or dashboard lights, they are probably working but the ball & socket may have popped off. When I had headlight issues a few years ago I bought a pair & I'm sure they were about £10-£15 each.

 

If there is really a problem with the xenon units, you can swap them with a set of halogen units but the self levelling would need to be working & would need swapping over

[delroy]

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/502535-factory-xenon-headlights/#comment-5642170

That thread might help a bit

[StigDude]

23 hours ago, delroy said:

The self levelling sensor is at the back of the car, passenger side on RHD, if this stops working it should throw a fault code/bulb warning.  The motors shown above are a common VW part so should be readily available. If thete are no codes or dashboard lights, they are probably working but the ball & socket may have popped off. When I had headlight issues a few years ago I bought a pair & I'm sure they were about £10-£15 each.

 

If there is really a problem with the xenon units, you can swap them with a set of halogen units but the self levelling would need to be working & would need swapping over

Thank you delroy, and that thread was also very enlightening. I'll check if there is any fault code with VCDS. My dashboard hasn't got any fault light on, but if I'm lucky then maybe it's mainly a ball and socket problem that they messed around with. I think the new electrician who was recommended to me is able to do the kind of work within the headlight mentioned in the other thread. If he could solve the ball socket problem with new parts, maybe with the new lamps the whole xenon headlight nightmare could be done away with. First thing Monday morning I'll take the car to him, I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks!

[delroy]

No worries. The weak beam you first mentioned is likely burnt out projectors bowls as mentioned above. There is no easy fix for this.

 

The self levelling issue is likely one of the reflector ball/socket mounts on the motor has popped off. Over zealous adjusting can cause this (if the headlights aren't set using VCDS to adjustment) - by taking the headlights out & looking at them from behind should identify this & make it more obvious how to pop it back on. 

 

I'm not sure how the brightness of a headlight is tested on an MOT or the Portuguese equivalent - I'm guessing it's the testers discretion as there are so many variables with ambient light etc?

 

Good luck

[StigDude]

On 09/04/2024 at 18:16, delroy said:

No worries. The weak beam you first mentioned is likely burnt out projectors bowls as mentioned above. There is no easy fix for this.

 

The self levelling issue is likely one of the reflector ball/socket mounts on the motor has popped off. Over zealous adjusting can cause this (if the headlights aren't set using VCDS to adjustment) - by taking the headlights out & looking at them from behind should identify this & make it more obvious how to pop it back on. 

 

I'm not sure how the brightness of a headlight is tested on an MOT or the Portuguese equivalent - I'm guessing it's the testers discretion as there are so many variables with ambient light etc?

 

Good luck

 

VCDS isn't indicating any fault concerning the lighting. Just the usual EGR rubbish... In our similar MOT inspection they use a regular headlight tester, just as in your MOT. Traumatized as I am now, I can only see my car's nemesis 😡 when I look at that contraption thingy 🤣 Hopefully the new lamps I had fitted can help with the brightness level...

 

I just went to get the car back. The experienced veteran mechanic my father-in-law's friend recommended (I'm officially that desperate) told me the headlight regulators are busted. I'll still have to confirm that, but at least he adjusted the level to the correct one, so it can pass the inspection. Tomorrow I have to take the car to another garage, one where I was told they would only work with new headlights. There they can work out a separate fog light problem, but which won't suffer from the parts issue as in the headlights case. This guy was recommended by our VW mechanic. I feel like being part of a soap opera at this stage.

 

The only definite solution would be a conversion from xenon to halogen, but I don't have the time, space and means to do it. Sooner than later I'll have to part ways with my little black beauty 😭. But I'm determined it won't involve a scrapyard, hopefully, as I intend to get this problem reasonably done with, and this is a rare vehicle here in Portugal. The last Skoda dealer I talked with, asked me to show him a picture of my car...

[StigDude]

Well, it's done. I was finally able to sort the problems and the car was approved at the inspection test!!

 

So it avoided Scrappy Heaven and will be safe for now 😄. But I'll probably have to sell it, since I'm not sure what surprises await in the future. It's a shame, I was hoping to keep it "forever", but I guess I'll rather get something valuable for it now, than risking a more serious problem and then... get nothing for it.

[Winston_Woof]

What was it? Popped out adjusters?

[StigDude]

On 20/04/2024 at 09:11, Winston_Woof said:

What was it? Popped out adjusters?

No, they didn't blame that. I even showed the picture of that adjustment motor you mentioned from eBay. They just told me the plastic parts were worn/broken. I honestly don't know what kind of contraption/method they used to fix it. But it worked for the MOT kind of test we have here. So the car is approved for going on the roads again. I'd rather have had a better artist to work the problem out, perhaps pointing a way to prevent this for the future. But it's not easy without the proper parts, unless you've got the real skills and craftmanship we can see done in other topics here. That's why in my opinion, some of the guys here, including some of yourselves, are real artists.

 

It's a shame, but I'm having to leave my beloved Fabia RS. Now it's just a matter of who gives more money for it, preferably in exchange for another efficient and punchy diesel engine. If only the new Fabia had one... 😔 I'd have to skip meals if I had to use a petrol engine here in Portugal, it's a luxury item these days 🤑