Toyota Yaris (1999 - 2005) - 99 1.5 MOT forced replacement of headlamp - failed

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Thu 14 May 2009 22:41
99 1.5 MOT forced replacement of headlamp - failed - steelghost
MY girlfriend's '99 Yaris went in for the MOT, one of the items they failed it on was that the headlamp angle could not be adjusted (it was too low on one side). In order to pass it had to have a new headlamp fitted! We got the original headlamp off them, there's no adjustment 'mechanism' on it at all that I can see. Does the adjustment happen by the way it's mounted? If so why would they need to replace the lamp unit?

She paid ~£90 or so plus labour for the new lamp, was she conned or were they just being technically correct but unhelpful?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 May 2009 15:02
99 1.5 MOT forced replacement of headlamp - failed - Peter.N.
I have never heard of lights being failed for having the beams to low, although I suppose its possible, the usual cause for failure is having them blinding people coming in the other direction, although judging by the number that still do, they don't even seem to be failed for that!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 May 2009 15:15
99 1.5 MOT forced replacement of headlamp - failed - bell boy
i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/smartiesx3/PICT0002...g


are the adjusters
if yours dont have them then maybe you have a spurious light ,look on the front for a proper e marking
more cars fail the mot for misaligned headlights than anything, its a pain for vosa that even affects hgvs
low lights are just as dangerous as high or ones pointing to the offside

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 May 2009 16:09
99 1.5 MOT forced replacement of headlamp - failed - Number_Cruncher
>>I have never heard of lights being failed for having the beams to low

I don't know exactly when the MOT regs changed on this subject (early - mid 90's at a guess). It used to be the case that if the beam was too low, it was OK, and you passed the MOT possibly with a comment, but, now, you can fail for the beam being too low.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 May 2009 17:02
99 1.5 MOT forced replacement of headlamp - failed - geriatric
Its possible that the headlamps have had extra light bulbs.These run hotter and can soften the Toyota bulb mounts[it happened to me],causing them to droop.Toyota now supply reflectors with a higher melting point plastic.
Geriatric
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 May 2009 18:29
99 1.5 MOT forced replacement of headlamp - failed - jc2
www.motuk.co.uk/default.asp


You can fail for being too low-above site will give you all the details.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 May 2009 18:56
99 1.5 MOT forced replacement of headlamp - failed - Hamsafar
If they have electric adjusters (knob on the dashboard), the new lamps often (not sure about Toyota Yaris) don't come with these parts and they have to be transfered over. £90 for the light is a good price.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....