Peugeot 107 - Strange rattle when lights turned on

Twiggy_34

Hi all

I plan to swing by my local garage tomorrow but wanted to see if anyone here had any thoughts on what might be the cause of a rattle which developed today on my way to work after switching my lights on in the fog (not sure if it happened straight away or after a short while but now starts/stops immediately when switching lights on/off).

You tube video:
http://youtu.be/t8ajlR6ZfoQ

The sound on the video makes it seem louder than it is but it's still pretty noisy. I've struggled to find suggestions online but theories so far include alternator trouble or an issue with the motor for headlamp adjustment.

Thanks

DUTR

Is it xenon lights, is the engine running when the sound comes?
I would have suspected a weak alternator, but this may not be if the sound is there when the engine is not running.

Twiggy_34

DUTR wrote: »

Is it xenon lights, is the engine running when the sound comes?
I would have suspected a weak alternator, but this may not be if the sound is there when the engine is not running.

Hi, no I don't believe so (had to google what they were!). The video is taken with the engine switched off so I agree it suggests it's not a problem with the engine, but then I'm no car mechanic and certainly this strange sound has stumped me! Hopefully the garage will know what it is tomorrow and if they don't there's a peugeot specialist in town I can try as a back up plan.

Thanks for taking the time to reply

marksandsparx

Hello, sounds to me that the electric headlight adjuster is trying to centralise.
On the dashboard somewhere, there will (should) be a height adjuster. Might look like a thumb wheel. Try moving that with the headlights on and see if a./ they adjust up and down (might want to drive up to a wall to see the light pattern) and b./ see if the noise stops or changes tone.

Twiggy_34

marksandsparx wrote: »

Hello, sounds to me that the electric headlight adjuster is trying to centralise.
On the dashboard somewhere, there will (should) be a height adjuster. Might look like a thumb wheel. Try moving that with the headlights on and see if a./ they adjust up and down (might want to drive up to a wall to see the light pattern) and b./ see if the noise stops or changes tone.

Thanks, that was one of the first things I tried (although not anywhere where I could check if the height was actually moving). I had hoped that if it was the source/cause of the noise it might right itself by adjusting it but no change unfortunately

marksandsparx

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

Thanks, that was one of the first things I tried (although not anywhere where I could check if the height was actually moving). I had hoped that if it was the source/cause of the noise it might right itself by adjusting it but no change unfortunately

You may find that the one that is clicking isn't moving... or is "shaking".

If you can (or want to) you could unplug the Height adjuster on the side that is clicking. If the adjuster is at fault, the noise will certainly stop.

The Height adjuster unit has a Hexagonal shape whole in the top of it, looks at though it is "pushed" into the actual light unit. Usually the plug points to the floor, unplug that and see if it stops.

I think in your video, the light adjuster is the bit to the right of the sticker.

Hopefully some of that will make sense and hopefully help.

Twiggy_34

marksandsparx wrote: »

You may find that the one that is clicking isn't moving... or is "shaking".

If you can (or want to) you could unplug the Height adjuster on the side that is clicking. If the adjuster is at fault, the noise will certainly stop.

The Height adjuster unit has a Hexagonal shape whole in the top of it, looks at though it is "pushed" into the actual light unit. Usually the plug points to the floor, unplug that and see if it stops.

I think in your video, the light adjuster is the bit to the right of the sticker.

Hopefully some of that will make sense and hopefully help.

Thanks, great advice. I did read that it could be the motor for the height adjuster but couldn't work out how it was connected to this. If it resolves the noise by disconnecting it I presume there shouldn't be any repercussions from leaving it disconnected? I would of course re-attach it first to see if the problem has gone as a result of reconnecting it!

marksandsparx

MOT wise, it is acceptable for the height adjuster to not work, so it can be disconnected. Unless the lights are Xenon or LED.

The problem may arise if you have passengers or load in the boot, as the height adjuster is there to allow you to dip the headlights so you do not dazzle oncoming vehicles.

Hope that helps

Richard53

Headlight aim is part of the test, but as long as the aim is correct it will pass. The adjuster is not a testable item.

As marksandsparx says, you run the risk of dazzling other people, so unplugging it is really a diagnostic/temporary fix until you get it working properly.

Twiggy_34

Thanks everyone. It was another really foggy morning here today so I was in need of lights again. I had a quick look to see if I could work out how to unplug the adjuster but wasn't confident I would be unplugging the right thing. I had one last attempt at moving to a different "height", it was on 0 previously, 1 & 2 offered no change but 3 stopped it! I rarely do night driving and can borrow the other half's car if it seems the height is too high (I know only too well how horrible it is to be blinded by other road users) and intend to get it serviced before the darker mornings/nights creep back in and will get it looked at by the garage at the same time. Thanks again for all your comments/suggestions

marksandsparx

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

Thanks everyone. It was another really foggy morning here today so I was in need of lights again. I had a quick look to see if I could work out how to unplug the adjuster but wasn't confident I would be unplugging the right thing. I had one last attempt at moving to a different "height", it was on 0 previously, 1 & 2 offered no change but 3 stopped it! I rarely do night driving and can borrow the other half's car if it seems the height is too high (I know only too well how horrible it is to be blinded by other road users) and intend to get it serviced before the darker mornings/nights creep back in and will get it looked at by the garage at the same time. Thanks again for all your comments/suggestions

Glad you have gotten to the bottom of it. As luck would have it, number 3 is the lowest setting (for if you are fully laden). So dazzling won't be a problem, the only downside is the distance the lights will cover to light the road ahead will be less.
It may pass it's MOT as it is, but may require adjustment.

Again, glad you have sussed out the fault.