Vehicle Lighting

Circuitmarshal · 29 Oct 2007, 21:36 (Ref:2054404)

To anyone reading this, PLEASE check you vehicle lights.
Some people are using lights for the first time for months, but are they working?
Saw a car this evening the only rear lights were two number plate lights, one brake light and half a brake light in the back window.
And so many others where lights were not working.

**touringlegend** · 29 Oct 2007, 21:43 (Ref:2054410)

One of my workmates is especially bad for this, only 1 rear brake / side light is working, and I told him that about 2 months ago - nothing has been done yet! These are people who shouldn't be allowed a car, in my opinion..

minimangler · 29 Oct 2007, 22:31 (Ref:2054439)

I'm not a driver, but it does scare me when people obviously do not care.

and this goes to you cyclists too!

chezza · 29 Oct 2007, 22:34 (Ref:2054443)

I've popped this over to road car as it fits in a bit better there.

Circuitmarshal · 29 Oct 2007, 22:40 (Ref:2054448)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chezza

I've popped this over to road car as it fits in a bit better there.

I saw your indicator!!

Sorry must get out more locked into Marshals & Parc Ferme!

DAVID PATERSON · 30 Oct 2007, 06:22 (Ref:2054591)

I love the people who drive down a well lit main road at night and don't realise they haven't turned their lights on until they turn off into a dark side street. They mustn't look at their dashboard very often.

Bullett · 30 Oct 2007, 08:02 (Ref:2054616)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAVID PATERSON

I love the people who drive down a well lit main road at night and don't realise they haven't turned their lights on until they turn off into a dark side street. They mustn't look at their dashboard very often.

I have seen a few of these two...amazing hey.

Bluebottle · 30 Oct 2007, 13:53 (Ref:2054934)

Been caught out by my Previa a couple of times- it's the only car I've had where the gauges are illuminated regardless of whether the lights are on or not! Ok so there's a little green light to tell you the lights are on but I'm used to cars where the dashboard illumination acts as a Lights On indicator.

Ex_MAD_O · 30 Oct 2007, 14:05 (Ref:2054948)

What amazes me is that people don't notice that it's dark outside.

...and that it's not foggy, but thats another matter.

DAVID PATERSON · 31 Oct 2007, 07:02 (Ref:2055583)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex_MAD_O

What amazes me is that people don't notice that it's dark outside.

...and that it's not foggy, but thats another matter.

Oh don't get me started on people who drive around with fog lights on, rain, hail or shine.

Circuitmarshal · 31 Oct 2007, 17:46 (Ref:2056080)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAVID PATERSON

Oh don't get me started on people who drive around with fog lights on, rain, hail or shine.

They will tell you that the front ones are driving lights!!

Oh and are there any cars where those lights under the bumper, light up any thing you can actually see?

blackx · 1 Nov 2007, 08:07 (Ref:2056580)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Circuitmarshal

They will tell you that the front ones are driving lights!!

Oh and are there any cars where those lights under the bumper, light up any thing you can actually see?

The "driving/fog" lights on my santafe are quite large and emit as much light as a headlight and can be used to drive on...

This I do when coming home from work at night and driving through the estate as when negotiating the narrow roads my headlights tend to shine in the bedroom windows of the bungalows whereas my driving lights dont...

Just me being sensitive to the residents at after midnight every night

rescue dude · 8 Nov 2007, 09:33 (Ref:2062785)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Circuitmarshal

They will tell you that the front ones are driving lights!!

Oh and are there any cars where those lights under the bumper, light up any thing you can actually see?

They are on a Peugeot 205.

Oh and they do on a Peugeot 205.

**bella** · 2 Nov 2007, 15:34 (Ref:2057934)

tell you what, i've learnt how to reverse since the lights stopped working (and the reverse sensors with it)!! makes reversing in the dark very interesting too

in defence of those with dodgy headlights... i didn't sort out one of my front headlights for 6 months over summer because the bulbs cost a bomb! plus if you're a girl, some of the lamp fittings are impossible to deal with. my front headlight is skewed, but i can't find a single person who can get it to fix into the unit. man or woman. if manufacturers can make the units a lot better then it may encourage us to interact with the car more...

STEALTHY · 2 Nov 2007, 16:04 (Ref:2057977)

My car has automatic lights, and i drive around with the spotties on constantly, so people don't drive into me (only 300 of the car made)

Benifit of a top of the line model, it tells me if there is a light out with a warning on the dash.

Bodysnatcher · 8 Nov 2007, 10:30 (Ref:2062842)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

...in defence of those with dodgy headlights... some of the lamp fittings are impossible to deal with. ....i can't find a single person who can get it to fix into the unit. man or woman. if manufacturers can make the units a lot better then it may encourage us to interact with the car more...

OK, I've snipped Bella a bit (sorry)
but I agree very strongly. I've been driving around now for about 3 months on one side light.
(if it was a headlight I'd make more effort)

Why - because in order to replace the nearside bulbs on a diesel SEAT Ibiza there are 2 options
1 - take the battery out to obtain access to the light units
2 - take the bumper off in order to take the light units out through the front

absolutely looney piece of design.

The offside is slightly better spacewise, in that I could just change bulbs, but it did take about an hour to do combined with some knuckle surgery.

blackx · 9 Nov 2007, 13:28 (Ref:2063744)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodysnatcher

OK, I've snipped Bella a bit (sorry)
but I agree very strongly. I've been driving around now for about 3 months on one side light.
(if it was a headlight I'd make more effort)

Why - because in order to replace the nearside bulbs on a diesel SEAT Ibiza there are 2 options
1 - take the battery out to obtain access to the light units
2 - take the bumper off in order to take the light units out through the front

absolutely looney piece of design.

The offside is slightly better spacewise, in that I could just change bulbs, but it did take about an hour to do combined with some knuckle surgery.

To change bulbs in either headlight on our Mondeo the headlight has to be removed...
Doesnt stop us replacing a blown bulb at the first opportunity....

Its a legal requirement to have all bulbs working and the vehicle would fail an MOT or roadside inspection....

No excuse for not replacing them IMHO

Bodysnatcher · 9 Nov 2007, 15:34 (Ref:2063825)

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackx

Its a legal requirement to have all bulbs working and the vehicle would fail an MOT or roadside inspection....

thank you very much for informing me officer, I'll attend to it right away.......

MOT in 4 weeks - that's when it'll be fixed.

Believe me, if it was as easy as taking the headlight out it would have been done.

Do a search on Renault's Megane. For DIY light bulb changes they have to take the wheel off.... the manual has it as refer to dealer.

VW Passat also has light bulb changes as "refer to dealer"

Maybe it should be a legal requirement for manufacturers that all bulbs can be replaced at the roadside using only the supplied toolkit?

**Tim Falce** · 9 Nov 2007, 15:47 (Ref:2063831)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodysnatcher

thank you very much for informing me officer, I'll attend to it right away.......

MOT in 4 weeks - that's when it'll be fixed.

Believe me, if it was as easy as taking the headlight out it would have been done.

Do a search on Renault's Megane. For DIY light bulb changes they have to take the wheel off.... the manual has it as refer to dealer.

VW Passat also has light bulb changes as "refer to dealer"

Maybe it should be a legal requirement for manufacturers that all bulbs can be replaced at the roadside using only the supplied toolkit?

I MOT'd a Skoda a few weeks ago and a side light bulb (IIRC) had blown. To change it it's a take it to the dealers job as the headlight has to come out. After faffing around for more than 15 minutes trying to find out how it was removed one of the other mechanics came over, lifted a clip up on one side, moved a clip over on the other, and the headlight just slid out. Ho Hum.

**bella** · 10 Nov 2007, 00:05 (Ref:2064082)

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackx

Its a legal requirement to have all bulbs working and the vehicle would fail an MOT or roadside inspection....

not exactly true! as i say, reverse light bulbs don't have to function for an mot. all headlights and so on, yeah. but not a reverse light. ask ANY mot technician to go through the mot process, and you'll find it's not a requirement.

blackx · 10 Nov 2007, 00:29 (Ref:2064094)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

not exactly true! as i say, reverse light bulbs don't have to function for an mot. all headlights and so on, yeah. but not a reverse light. ask ANY mot technician to go through the mot process, and you'll find it's not a requirement.

I prepare vehicles for VOSA MOT tests every night of the wek and I can tell you if I sent one to the Goods Vehicle Testing Station with inoperative reverse lights it would fail under the construction and use regulations...

**Tim Falce** · 10 Nov 2007, 07:59 (Ref:2064174)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

not exactly true! as i say, reverse light bulbs don't have to function for an mot. all headlights and so on, yeah. but not a reverse light. ask ANY mot technician to go through the mot process, and you'll find it's not a requirement.

I was going to say you are being pedantic there but...

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackx

I prepare vehicles for VOSA MOT tests every night of the wek and I can tell you if I sent one to the Goods Vehicle Testing Station with inoperative reverse lights it would fail under the construction and use regulations...

HGV MOT is not the same as a class 4 car MOT.

**bella** · 2 Nov 2007, 17:05 (Ref:2058043)

well, mine does too allegedly, but apparently not if you have to cut the wire leading to the offending lights...

strider · 4 Nov 2007, 00:19 (Ref:2058961)

It's probably illegal, but you could always put your hazard lights on to get some extra illiumination when reversing.

**touringlegend** · 9 Nov 2007, 15:38 (Ref:2063827)

I swear that one days cars will come as sealed units and only the dealers will have some fancy pants funny shaped tool to access any components.

Sir, that'll be £42.50 + VAT for that bulb please.

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