MOT fail for 'wrong colour' indicators, but never been previously changed?

puddy

I had my MOT in January and collected the car and was advised they had to change a couple of bulbs, couple of quid, so I just paid and left.

To be honest I didnt look at the MOT really until I was sorting some paperwork today. I notice that the reason for the bulb change has been stated as 'incorrect colour'. (only on one side of the car)

However, I have had the car since 2007 and never changed these indicator bulbs and they have never been identified as a problem on any other MOT?

I cant imagine its a dodgy method of making money on the MOT because it was only a couple of quid, but it doesnt seem right to me that its passed every other MOT with the bulbs and now fails?

colino

If its a clear lense with a coloured bulb, its quite common for the colour to fade over time and not be orange enough for a particular tester.

HiTo

colino wrote: »

If its a clear lense with a coloured bulb, its quite common for the colour to fade over time and not be orange enough for a particular tester.

Yup, the yellow lacquer cracks and falls off the bulbs.

puddy

Thanks, when I collected the car and was told the bulbs needed replacing, I thought typical, I check the car the night before the test and the bl00dy bulbs blow on the way to the test centre!! I thought they meant that they hadnt been working, it was only today that I read the thing about the wrong colour.

cajef

colino wrote: »

If its a clear lense with a coloured bulb, its quite common for the colour to fade over time and not be orange enough for a particular tester.

Agreed, definitely depends on the tester I think some of them may be colour blind.:D

I had that once as an advisory on an MOT, the vehicle went through another two MOT's with the same bulbs at a different garage and it was never ever mentioned again.

Wig

I see loads of cars on the roads everyday with white indicators, because loads of MOT testers don't fail them when they should. It's something I always check on my cars before MOT. They need to be orange.

I've looked for orange paint like the French used to have for headlamps only that was yellow, to no avail.

darich

Wig wrote: »

They need to be orange.

Or red on the rear?
Many american cars have their indicators incorporated into the rear side lights and they blink red.
I think red on the rear is also acceptable.

Wig

darich wrote: »

Or red on the rear?
Many american cars have their indicators incorporated into the rear side lights and they blink red.
I think red on the rear is also acceptable.

I don't think so, I think imports should be fitted with orange lights to pass the SVA
d. that every direction indicator emits amber light (except vehicles first used before 1 September 1965)

Direction indicators and hazard warning lamps are not required to be fitted to vehicles used only during the hours of daylight, which are fitted with neither front nor rear position lamps, etc. (See 1.1.A) Nor are they required on vehicles first used before 1 January 1936. However, if they are fitted, they must be tested.

Vehicles first used before 1 September 1965 may have direction indicators incorporated with stop lamps, or combined with side or rear lamps, in which case front indicators may be white and rear indicators red.

http://www.import-car.info/times1.shtml
Most American vehicles need alterations to the lights (including fitting separate rear indicators and second indicator bulbs on the side of the car), while some cars also need new tyres with a higher speed rating, or to have heavy tinting on the windscreen removed. Converting left to right-hand drive is rare as it would cost thousands of pounds extra.

Kilty_2

darich wrote: »

Or red on the rear?
Many american cars have their indicators incorporated into the rear side lights and they blink red.
I think red on the rear is also acceptable.

Never seen red indicators on any UK spec car - I'm not sure it'd pass the test that's done when you register an import

darich

It appears that red indicators aren't allowed then....but I've definitely seen them in my area.
Always catches the eye because when the car brakes while indicating, the brake light blinks on and off.....and always looks odd.

EDIT : Just did a quick search and it looks like many drivers of american cars do indeed have red indicators even if it's not strictly legal. Some of them for many years that claim. So I presume they're friendly with the MOT station and show the correct coloured bulb to the tester so he can at least see the car can be legal.
I did similar with my illegally spaced plate - legal plate in the car but illegal one on it. Spoke to tester who simply said as long as he sees the legal plates he'd pass it.

Inactive

darich wrote: »

It appears that red indicators aren't allowed then....but I've definitely seen them in my area.
Always catches the eye because when the car brakes while indicating, the brake light blinks on and off.....and always looks odd.

Do you have an American Air Force base near to you? They sometimes use American vehicles that seem to be exempt from our laws, not sure how.