Headlamp bulbs fitted by Halfords.

steve-L

vikingaero wrote: »

There are 3 scenarios:

(1) The headlights were already badly out of alignment
(2) The Halfords Guy didn't seat the bulbs properly
(3) The MOT Guy is scamming for extra work

OP has stated he is in NI (and that they ONLY have council test centres not garages so it appears 3 is not an option....)

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to replace a bulb on some cars. I could do it blind and often don't look - I just feel for the retaining wire.

Yep, been the case on most of my cars.... present BMW is actually a real pain... needs wheel aligned correctly and easier to remove the transmission fluid reservoir on the drivers side to get access .... YET .... I still fail to see how anyone could alter the alignment doing it?

interstellaflyer

vikingaero wrote: »

There are 3 scenarios:

(1) The headlights were already badly out of alignment
(2) The Halfords Guy didn't seat the bulbs properly
(3) The MOT Guy is scamming for extra work

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to replace a bulb on some cars. I could do it blind and often don't look - I just feel for the retaining wire.

The third option would not apply as the OP is in Northern Ireland and he took it to a council run testing centre. I'm wondering if the load adjuster control was on the wrong setting.

interstellaflyer

steve-L wrote: »

Yep, been the case on most of my cars.... present BMW is actually a real pain... needs wheel aligned correctly and easier to remove the transmission fluid reservoir on the drivers side to get access .... YET .... I still fail to see how anyone could alter the alignment doing it?

It's a real pain on the Astra 'H' models as well.

motorguy

interstellaflyer wrote: »

The third option would not apply as the OP is in Northern Ireland and he took it to a council run testing centre. I'm wondering if the load adjuster control was on the wrong setting.

They ALWAYS ask you to put the internal adjuster to '0'

I am surprised they failed the car just for this. I've had a couple of cars go through and them say your headlights are out of line so get them adjusted, UNLESS there was something else also that they failed the car on?

andygb

This sounds like a "mountain out of a molehill" story. The car was not dangerous to drive, and as the headlight bulbs were fitted in the dark, it should have been immediately obvious to all concerned if they were well out of adjustment.
All concerned means the driver/owner of the car as well.
When you own a car you have to start taking a bit of responsibility for its maintenance.

Strider590

OP are you there's not a height adjustment switch (most cars have one)somewhere that you may have accidentally touched? Got kids?

Robisere

Misaligned headlamps are dangerous to other road users, if they are set far too high and are what I used to call as a MOT tester "Bird Spotters". I see quite a few of these at night or in reduced visibility, but I also see too many cars with only one headlamp operative. With the exception of a few models previously mentioned, headlamp bulb replacement is one of the easiest, simplest jobs. The problem comes when people do not look at the original fitment, and fail to replace the bulb as it is originally fitted. I have seen cars brought in with "A new bulb that doesn't work," after a customer has forced them in upside down, bending or breaking a spade connector to make it fit. Others do not read the instructions on a Halogen or other Bright bulbs, and handle them with oily or greasy fimgers. This oil/grease then sticks to the bulb, burns and blows the new bulb.

Aligning lamps at a Testing Station is done with a special machine. I have seen a worhshop (nameless) which does this using painted marks on a wall, outside, on a slope. I have a local Halford's which has the correct equipment and carries out the work properly.

Height adjustable lamps have a small 'dial' somwhere in the dash/instrument panel, which can be used to lower or raise the lamp beam, to allow for more weight in the rear. When no rear passengers or heavy boot loads are carried, they should be set to "Maximum Up", although in poor visibility during daylight, I turn mine down; this is a personal choice. I do not think it is possible for a front seat child passenger to reach it. If you allow a child to sit in the driving seat of your car, to "play" at driving, that is just asking for trouble.

My own pet 'hate' is idiots who use rear Fog lamps and leave them on when visibility is good.

red_eye

newbie1980 wrote: »

just fitting the bulbs will not put them out
to adjust u need to use tools so i cant see them just fitting the bulbs making them fail your mot
most normal test centres will adjust for free anyway

fitting them upside down, sideways inside out etc will put then out

Westmead_Fan

what did it actually say on the mot refusal sheet???

headlight bulbs fitted incorrectly?

headlamp aims too high?

if its the 1st one then i would blame halfords, if its the second one then its not there fault.

Jem8472

I know its a bit different regarding MOTs in Ireland as has been stated but don't MOT test centres do free retests? All the MOT places I have used over her offer a free retest.

If that one does not do a free retest then I suggest you find somewhere better.