Help with headlight alignment (MOT failure)

OpenToSuggestions · 20 Sep 2011 at 20:37

Hey all.

The Micra had an MOT and failed it on last Saturday, on a few small things.
I replaced the passenger headlight 4 years ago and it is apparently too high, which is wierd as the same place has MOT'ed it since 2005.

I replaced the driver headlight a few weeks ago as a stone cracked it and this one also failed. The beam (roughly 2m from my garage door) was about 1 foot higher than the passenger headlight as the levelling mechanism had popped out.

I have done my best to sort the headlights and now the driver's one is the almost the same level as the passenger one. I have used the black screw thing on the headlights to lower them both as far as I can, but am concerned the vehicle will fail the retest, which is free for two weeks.

Any advice guys? Thanks in advance.

Phil W · 20 Sep 2011 at 20:41

Pay them a fiver to align them for you?

OpenToSuggestions · 20 Sep 2011 at 20:42

Phil W said:
Pay them a fiver to align them for you?

They are saying 30 mins to allign them but I think that is BS. Provided the new headlight is not faulty of course.

Conscript · 20 Sep 2011 at 20:44

Phil W said:
Pay them a fiver to align them for you?

This, it would be the most hassle free option. Some places may even do it for free, I went for an MOT a few years ago and the guy did them for me even though I didnt mention them.

EDIT: Have you tried another garage?

Ricochet J · 20 Sep 2011 at 20:52

Same as Conscript above. My last MOT failed on headlight alignment. However after the failed MOT, he alligned the lights for free and passed it. In effect having two certificates, one for the fail and one for the pass.

Fuzz · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:35

I think I'd be taking my custom elsewhere if someone charged me to adjust the headlights.

(assuming that is, the adjusters worked and the headlights moved.

)

PhillyDee · 21 Sep 2011 at 08:21

Ricochet J said:
Same as Conscript above. My last MOT failed on headlight alignment. However after the failed MOT, he alligned the lights for free and passed it. In effect having two certificates, one for the fail and one for the pass.

Same for me! Never charged me, just been done. Its only a 2 minute job unless the lights are faulty, or they need refitting etc.

Although it failed one year, and was adjusted. It then failed the next year (this year) and I realised they must ave incorrectly adjusted them the first time as they always appeared too low and visibility was not great once they were done. Just assumed that they were incorrect the first time, until this year when it went back to where it was!