Headlight problem with Civic, am I covered?

Money1

Looking for some help to where I stand with a problem I’m having.

Bought a civic from a Honda dealer a few months ago and starting a few weeks ago I started having some problems with my headlights.
Sometimes they wouldn’t turn on straight away and would take a few turns for them to stay on. Then my passenger side one stopped completely, followed by the driver side one a week later.
The driver side still flickers on start up, but won’t stay on.

Went to Halfords to buy some bulbs to attempt to change them myself. When I opened the bonnet I noticed HID kits (after market) had been installed on both sides – must have been there when I purchased the vehicle but it’s not something I noticed.
The HID kits had been fitted (bolts etc) to the actual car, and are covering the compartment where I access the bulbs.

I went back to Halfords to see if their wefit service would be able to help but they said they were out of their depth and I would need to take it to a specialist or Honda.

Took it into Honda this morning, and got a call saying they also weren’t able to help and they had blown two bulbs whilst trying. I asked if they would be able to completely remove them and revert it back to standard, but again it seemed they weren’t keen on the idea and said I’d need to take it to a specialist.

Got it booked in for Thursday morning at the specialist but I’m dreading either large costs, or them saying they can’t help either.

If the latter, I’m wondering if anyone has any suggestions? I have a Honda 12 month warranty as I bought it from them, but would I be covered for this if I demanded they remove them?
Bulbs fall under wear and tear, but as the driver side still flickers on start up, could this be an electrical fault? I know it’s an aftermarket product, but it’s not something I wanted or installed myself – no idea if that makes a difference though.

I’m guessing it doesn’t, but would the Sales of Goods Act apply?

I drive to and from work during daylight hours so it isn’t a massive issue at the moment, but it’s getting dark quickly and needs to be sorted.

Any help or advice is appreciated! Cheers

lincroft1710

Check the terms of the warranty, it may say non standard items are not included.

4743hudsonj

Sounds like a hooky illegal hid conversion. I'd reject the car under SOGA based on it not being roadworthy at the time of purchase. Make sure you stress that it's not the fact that they don't work but that they are illegal for use under the road traffic act and therefore make the vehicle not road worthy in the eyes of the law.

The alternative to to buy a couple of new ballasts from eBay for about £30 making sure they're the same wattage and fit them yourself (very easy) as this is a classic case of a cycling ballast due to age.

Money1

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Check the terms of the warranty, it may say non standard items are not included.

Just had a quick look and these are two which may apply. Any ideas?

Main Exclusions:
“E: Components that have been incorrectly fitted, faulty or defective at the time of sale, or of faulty manufacture/design and alterations/modifications from the Manufacturer’s specification.”

Exclusions:
“13. B: Items which can be expected to wear as part of their normal function (such as, but not limited to, brake friction surfaces, wiper blades, tyres, bulbs...”

Money1

4743hudsonj wrote: »

Sounds like a hooky illegal hid conversion. I'd reject the car under SOGA based on it not being roadworthy at the time of purchase. Make sure you stress that it's not the fact that they don't work but that they are illegal for use under the road traffic act and therefore make the vehicle not road worthy in the eyes of the law.

The alternative to to buy a couple of new ballasts from eBay for about £30 making sure they're the same wattage and fit them yourself (very easy) as this is a classic case of a cycling ballast due to age.

Thank you, if I was to go down that route, would I be expected to prove that they sold me the car with them on there (can't think how I would)? Or would the onus be on them?

Hintza

4743hudsonj wrote: »

Sounds like a hooky illegal hid conversion. I'd reject the car under SOGA based on it not being roadworthy at the time of purchase.

Bad advice.

IUf you have an issue take it back to the dealer and explain the issue and ask him to fix it.

You can't reject a car until you have given them at least three attempts to fix the problem.

BeenThroughItAll

Could you not just take the ballasts off, fit new bulbs yourself and then just move on?


Do you really want/need the hassle of fighting the dealer over SOGA, etc etc, when actually all that's needed is half an hour of your time and a couple of bulbs for a tenner? Even if you can't do it yourself, you must know someone who can use a screwdriver and a spanner who'd fit a couple of bulbs for you.


Presumably you liked the car when you bought it, and all that's wrong with it now is the headlamps don't work right?

Money1

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Could you not just take the ballasts off, fit new bulbs yourself and then just move on?


Do you really want/need the hassle of fighting the dealer over SOGA, etc etc, when actually all that's needed is half an hour of your time and a couple of bulbs for a tenner? Even if you can't do it yourself, you must know someone who can use a screwdriver and a spanner who'd fit a couple of bulbs for you.


Presumably you liked the car when you bought it, and all that's wrong with it now is the headlamps don't work right?

I love my car and have no desire to change it. Unfortunately it's a case of I'm not great with them and having a go at changing a bulb is the extent of my mechanical knowledge.

I've attempted to rectify myself, been to a halfords, been to Honda and now feel like I'm running out of options.

I'm happy to pay money to get a small problem fixed, but I can't seem to do that.

If you could provide me with a suggestion or a guide to taken the ballasts off then I would be very appreciative. Thanks for the input.

Edit: And I literally don't know anyone with a mechanical background. Do you think it's something my local garage would touch?

4743hudsonj

Hintza wrote: »

Bad advice.

IUf you have an issue take it back to the dealer and explain the issue and ask him to fix it.

You can't reject a car until you have given them at least three attempts to fix the problem.

How is this bad advice? Did i not express that as my personal opinion of what id do personally. The op can get a repair if they prefer but i wouldnt trust a var with an owner who would fit hooky HIDs.

Where is the 3 attempts stated in the SOGA? The car is not road worthy and was sold as so. This is criminal offence under the RTA which I'm sure could be construed to a breach of contract in SOGA, giving cause for rejection. OK the time passed may pose a problem but a simple reminder of the consequences of selling unradworthy cars may be enough to persuade them. To put it right or accept the car back, whatever the op prefers.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland/consumer_s/consumer_cars_and_other_vehicles_e/consumer_problems_with_the_car_you_bought_e/the_car_you_bought_is_not_roadworthy.htm
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/extra/news-item.cfm/newsid/1316

JustinR1979

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Could you not just take the ballasts off, fit new bulbs yourself and then just move on?

Is it really that easy? Mines 2002 and has all this crap, had a look as dipped beam is rubbish and normal bulbs would be better.
Didn't look that easy, do you just take ballasts out of loop so have the original 12v for normal bulbs?

facade

Money1 wrote: »

If you could provide me with a suggestion or a guide to taken the ballasts off then I would be very appreciative. Thanks for the input.

Edit: And I literally don't know anyone with a mechanical background. Do you think it's something my local garage would touch?

If you look on youtube, there are plenty of videos about fitting them, simply reverse the process.

If you are lucky, the cheap kit that is fitted simply replaced the proper H4 bulbs with the HID modules, so they will swap back to bulbs, and the ballast unit plugged into the original lamp socket from the back of the bulb, so it will simply unplug, and the socket refit on the bulb.

I'd have thought an auto electrician could tell in a few seconds if this is the case, and it won't be half an hours work plus two bulbs to put them back.