Mot fail

 
Bint Box said:
What pad would you use with that polish please?
I am due an MOT on a 20 year old Audi TT that has cloudy lenses.

Thx
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Even something as cheap as these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hilka-83100505-Polish-Applicator-Pads/dp/B01FLQHWKS or even a microfibre cloth.

You don't even need a special polish, most mild car polishes will work fine - I've use Autoglym SRP (Super Resin Polish) and it did a great job on headlights - then just followed up with a quick coat of wax - difference was night and day.
 
Thx guys, it sounds like it is something I could do. My neighbour has a machine polisher so just the pads and some polish should be all I need.
If I use pads and polish do I start off with a coarse pad and work my way down to fine or does it not matter? I have not used a machine polisher before so just hope to be safe rather than sorry.
 
Bint Box said:
Thx guys, it sounds like it is something I could do. My neighbour has a machine polisher so just the pads and some polish should be all I need.
If I use pads and polish do I start off with a coarse pad and work my way down to fine or does it not matter? I have not used a machine polisher before so just hope to be safe rather than sorry.
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Honestly if you've never used a machine polisher, just get some hand applicators or microfibre cloth and do it by hand.

Took me about 5 minutes per headlight by hand on a a 14 year Suzuki SX4 that had really badly discoloured headlights.
 
Resident said:
No disrespect but it's ridiculously easy to check if your lights are working. Turn them on and if they don't light up, they don't work.

People that turn up to MOTs with basic failures like tyres, bulbs, screen wash etc, all the ones where simply opening your eyes will tell you that they need attention should be fined IMO, it's basic maintenance and if you're not going to maintain your vehicle, don't bother driving.
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yep as i mentioned on another thread daughters partner has had his car 12months 13 plate and when i was in hospital they couldnt get me to give it a once over for mot...it failed for indicator light on drivers mirror not working and both headlight beams faulty........
headlights had been replaced by someone previous and got the fitting clips damaged so bodged them in with sika flex type adhesive..... indicator was bulb.. come on he drives it every day, i wonder if he uses his indicator?? still tryed to blame the garage they bought it from.
on a plus note the mot station did the repairs and the other problems it failed on (tyre, 2 rear suspension joints and took nearly 400 notes of them ) even found some clips from a damage car.
maybe they will learn but i dont hold my breath:)
 
bigmike20vt said:
lights, tyres and brakes.... the 3 most obvious vital things to work/be in decent shape on any car.

yours lights have failed, i would say given your obvious lack of any knowledge (not a dig, i am pretty clueless as well) i would say this isnt something you should try to meddle with yourself.... so you dont need ideas from us, just tell the garage to fix it and pay them.
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No I want to learn. Why pay someone to do something that is probably a really simple fix.

The lights turn on and seemed to illuminate the road well so I assumed they were fine.



I have fixed main beam, just worked the controls about 30-40 times quickly and now it's fine.
 
Resident said:
No disrespect but it's ridiculously easy to check if your lights are working. Turn them on and if they don't light up, they don't work.

People that turn up to MOTs with basic failures like tyres, bulbs, screen wash etc, all the ones where simply opening your eyes will tell you that they need attention should be fined IMO, it's basic maintenance and if you're not going to maintain your vehicle, don't bother driving.
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Though I agree in a general sense - I did van checks at work the other day, lights all working fine, colleague comes to use one of the vans not long after and a brake light was out, while unlucky entirely possible for one to fail right before an MOT, etc.

Had an interesting one recently as well - turns out on one of the vans a hose was rubbing eventually causing a leak and the coolant system was bone dry - from what we can tell they somehow drove ~18 miles with zero coolant before a warning came on - hard to tell if it has done any damage as the engine sounded like a bag of bolts on that van anyhow LOL (it is on something like 230K miles).
 
katy81 said:
No I want to learn. Why pay someone to do something that is probably a really simple fix.

The lights turn on and seemed to illuminate the road well so I assumed they were fine.



I have fixed main beam, just worked the controls about 30-40 times quickly and now it's fine.
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What state is your headlight glass is in. Sometimes people neglect them and dont clean them properly and it affects the beam.

The beam also needs to be the correct height, you should have contacted the MOT center and asked for a detailed explanation.
 
Micro cracks in the plastic can effect them too if they get bad enough. You can't do much once they get to that stage. Yay for plastic stuff :/
 
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dave28 said:
What state is your headlight glass is in. Sometimes people neglect them and dont clean them properly and it affects the beam.

The beam also needs to be the correct height, you should have contacted the MOT center and asked for a detailed explanation.
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Ive certainly had worse pass. My bora headlights were extremely badly oxidised. My mondeo ones were yellow too.

On the clk they don't look that bad, I'll buff them quickly.

I thought height/aim was a separate failing? I've never had it worded like this before.
 
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Ref headlamps and beams etc..

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