Hello folks. I was wondering if anyone else has a problem with their Mk1 vRS headlights? I've changed all the bulbs for brighter ones from Power bulbs and it's much better now. But...

When driving along the desolate roads of North Yorkshire at night, I can only see about three cars lengths ahead. The electric adjuster is in the right place,but it just doesn't go far enough. The only time the lights were good is when we had three people in the back and the boot was full.

As you know, the moor roads round here are mainly wide and sweeping and the vRS is happy to trundle along at the maximum speed limit. I have found though that I am outrunning my lights, not able to see far enough down the road to be 100% happy or safe. The only other car had with this problem was my MK1 Golf GTI, but that was 25 year old technology. I am pretty sure it should be better in my Octavia.

Sorry for the long post, but any advice would be welcome.

Thanks.

The joy of not having xenons is that you are able to adjust them with a 10mm spanner or an allen key. There is an adjuster on the top of the lights with a little picture telling you how to adjust them IIRC. Mine with the Phillips Rally 80/100w bulbs had a range of 1.6 miles (checked this on a motorway with a long straight, I could see a sign reflecting and it took 1.6 miles to get to it) so thay can be made good

Could be that the adjusters behind the lights are broken. Park in front of a wall or garage door with you headlights on, and try and adjust them via the dash mounted switch, you should see them rise and fall as you work the switch. If they dont then you have a problem.

Pop into an MOT centre and get them set up properly, it is required by law that headlights are set and maintained correctly.

TaviaRS, thanks for the advice. I just had a look at the headlights in the staff carpark and couldn't see which bolt/allen key you mean. I know I'm being dense, but could you explain a bit more which one I need to fiddle with?

I would check that the switch on the dash is set to the blank position, and not 1,2 or 3.

Yep done that already. If I can sort it out easily with a spanner/allen key that would be great, just need to know which bit to twiddle before I ruin anything.

One of the adjusters is left right and the other up/down. Park close to a wall and turn each 1 or 2 turns remembering how many, it should be obvious which is which, then just return the other adjuster back to its original position.

With the bonnet open, look at the metal subframe above each headlight. You should see two holes giving access to the adjusters. One adjusts left and right, the other up and down.

Make sure that any adjustments are made while the dash adjustment switch is set to blank, as mentioned above.

Many thanks for the information. I'll wait 'till it gets dark and give it a go.

Cheers fellas.

Thanks folks. Your advice was spot on, I've managed to find the right bit and adjust it. I can now see for more than 20 feet down the road.

Many thanks.

You need to get them set properly. You can't just randomly change the beam or you are likely to dazzle other drivers!

Good point. I'll see how it goes and if anyone flashes, I'll have it sorted properly. Mind you, the driver's side was so low I'd have to move it a lot to get anywhere near dazzling someone though. I couldn't see more than two white lines or three parked cars down the road. I have turned the adjuster by 360 degrees and I'm quite happy with the improvement. I will bear in mind that I'm not a qualified headlight person and act accordingly if needed.