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#1
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156 head light beam pattern
Dear all 156 owners,
I had a real shock this week, as I took my immaculate 2001 156 sportwagon in for its first mot test. I have owned this car from new, and only covered 5700 miles, so no wear and tear almost as new. The tester refused to pass my car as the front off side head lamp beam pattern was "flaring" how ever he agreed that the actual alignment was ok according to his light tester box, but the actual pattern was not acceptable to pass the mot. I have checked the part numbers of my head lamp units with a main dealership, and they are the correct part for a uk rhd car, they suggested that I check to see if the bulb was installed correctly, ie. with the tag at the top in the bulb holder, it is, but just to be on the safe side I did rotate it and returned for a free re test the next morning, still failed, so at the test station I once again rotated the offending bulb and they rechecked the beam pattern, still no pass, but the beam position is correct, as the tester agreed. So what is the answer ? unless some one at the factory fitted a unit with a faulty reflector I cannot work out the problem, the nearside light is perfect, the aim of both is correct. Any one else experienced such a problem on a 2001 car. ?? Please answer because I need to re tax asap. Martyn. |
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#2
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>Dear all 156 owners,
>I had a real shock this week, as I took my immaculate 2001 156 >sportwagon in for its first mot test. >I have owned this car from new, and only covered 5700 miles, so no >wear and tear >almost as new. >The tester refused to pass my car as the front off side head lamp beam >pattern was "flaring" how ever he agreed that the actual alignment was >ok according to his light tester box, but the actual pattern was not >acceptable to pass the mot. >I have checked the part numbers of my head lamp units with a main >dealership, and they are the correct part for a uk rhd car, they >suggested that I check to see if the bulb was installed correctly, ie. >with the tag at the top in the bulb holder, it is, but just to be on >the safe side I did rotate it and returned for a free re test the next >morning, still failed, so at the test station I once again rotated the >offending bulb and they rechecked the beam >pattern, still no pass, but the beam position is correct, as the >tester agreed. >So what is the answer ? unless some one at the factory fitted a unit >with a faulty reflector I cannot work out the problem, the nearside >light is perfect, the aim of both is correct. >Any one else experienced such a problem on a 2001 car. ?? >Please answer because I need to re tax asap. >Martyn. > I would let an Alfa dealer look at it. It will probably be quicker and cheaper in the long run. Don't forget the automatic penalty for not taxing cars on time. It's good to see that the government have their priorities right when it comes to cracking crime... |
#3
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"Martyn" > wrote in message om... > Dear all 156 owners, > I had a real shock this week, as I took my immaculate 2001 156 > sportwagon in for its first mot test. > I have owned this car from new, and only covered 5700 miles, so no > wear and tear > almost as new. > The tester refused to pass my car as the front off side head lamp beam > pattern was "flaring" how ever he agreed that the actual alignment was > ok according to his light tester box, but the actual pattern was not > acceptable to pass the mot. > I have checked the part numbers of my head lamp units with a main > dealership, and they are the correct part for a uk rhd car, they > suggested that I check to see if the bulb was installed correctly, ie. > with the tag at the top in the bulb holder, it is, but just to be on > the safe side I did rotate it and returned for a free re test the next > morning, still failed, so at the test station I once again rotated the > offending bulb and they rechecked the beam > pattern, still no pass, but the beam position is correct, as the > tester agreed. > So what is the answer ? unless some one at the factory fitted a unit > with a faulty reflector I cannot work out the problem, the nearside > light is perfect, the aim of both is correct. > Any one else experienced such a problem on a 2001 car. ?? > Please answer because I need to re tax asap. > Martyn. I had a similar problem at the last MoT test - this was a 2000 car. Luckily, I was the last test of the day and I had arrived early so the tester had some time in hand. It was a matter of fiddling the bulb in the holder (with the lights on) until the correct beam pattern was obtained. I would try fitting a new bulb and make sure that before you latch the securing clip that the beam pattern matches that from the other headlamp. If you have to force anything it is likely that the resulting beam pattern will be wrong. D A Stocks |
#4
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Ppelectron wrote:
<snip> > > I would let an Alfa dealer look at it. It will probably be quicker and > cheaper in the long run. Don't forget the automatic penalty for not taxing > cars on time. It's good to see that the government have their priorities > right when it comes to cracking crime... I'd probably take it somwhere else for the MOT. -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS (two off) Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk |
#5
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On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 11:25:13 -0000, "David A Stocks"
>, wrote: >I had a similar problem at the last MoT test - this was a 2000 car. Luckily, >I was the last test of the day and I had arrived early so the tester had >some time in hand. It was a matter of fiddling the bulb in the holder (with >the lights on) until the correct beam pattern was obtained. I would try >fitting a new bulb and make sure that before you latch the securing clip >that the beam pattern matches that from the other headlamp. If you have to >force anything it is likely that the resulting beam pattern will be wrong. > >D A Stocks My 156 had its first MOT a couple of months ago at the main-dealer. They failed the headlights too. With only 13,000 miles on the clock from new. I refused to pay for the new bulbs and the fitting, as I insisted that they must have been fitted faulty from new. Pete -- > 156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his) 147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's) |
#6
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> From: (Martyn) > Organization: http://groups.google.com > Newsgroups: alt.autos.alfa-romeo > Date: 30 Aug 2004 16:53:57 -0700 > Subject: 156 head light beam pattern > > I had a real shock this week, as I took my immaculate 2001 156 > sportwagon in for its first mot test. > I have owned this car from new, and only covered 5700 miles, so no > wear and tear 5700 miles in 3 years? now that is some low mileage. |
#7
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Tom Boltwood > wrote in message >...
> > From: (Martyn) > > Organization: http://groups.google.com > > Newsgroups: alt.autos.alfa-romeo > > Date: 30 Aug 2004 16:53:57 -0700 > > Subject: 156 head light beam pattern > > > > I had a real shock this week, as I took my immaculate 2001 156 > > sportwagon in for its first mot test. > > I have owned this car from new, and only covered 5700 miles, so no > > wear and tear > > 5700 miles in 3 years? now that is some low mileage. Thanks to all you guys who offered advice concerning my head light pattern. Good news is (following some of your advice) I went to a main Alfa/Fiat dealership (Cleveland of Aldershot Hants) and was treated with the up most courtesy, they really could not have been more helpful and knowledgeable, nice bunch. The outcome was that one of the service team just whizzed the car straight into the workshop, "most of the techs were at tea break" anyway they reset the lights checked the bulbs, and in 10 minutes I was on my way no charge happy to help. I then went back to the mot place and it passed without a hitch, taxed and done. The answer was headlamp not set correctly from new, and bulb not seated correctly. Now I can go out after dark and clock up some more miles, but not when it is raining..... Martyn. |
#8
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#9
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"Martyn" > schreef in bericht om... > Good news is (following some of your advice) > I went to a main Alfa/Fiat dealership (Cleveland of Aldershot Hants) > and was treated with the up most courtesy, they really could not have > been more helpful and knowledgeable, nice bunch. > The outcome was that one of the service team just whizzed the car > straight into the workshop, "most of the techs were at tea break" > anyway they reset the lights > checked the bulbs, and in 10 minutes I was on my way no charge happy > to help. Looks like Alfa's new UK service manager is getting things under control!! > The answer was headlamp not set correctly from new, and bulb not > seated correctly. Now I can go out after dark and clock up some more > miles, but not when it is raining..... Why not in the rain. Firestone tyres?? -- Ciao from Holland AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan) Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000) Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4) |
#10
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"Alfistagj" > wrote in message news:<XUKZc.277$L43.67@amstwist00>...
> "Martyn" > schreef in bericht > om... > > Good news is (following some of your advice) > > I went to a main Alfa/Fiat dealership (Cleveland of Aldershot Hants) > > and was treated with the up most courtesy, they really could not have > > been more helpful and knowledgeable, nice bunch. > > The outcome was that one of the service team just whizzed the car > > straight into the workshop, "most of the techs were at tea break" > > anyway they reset the lights > > checked the bulbs, and in 10 minutes I was on my way no charge happy > > to help. > > Looks like Alfa's new UK service manager is getting things under control!! > > > The answer was headlamp not set correctly from new, and bulb not > > seated correctly. Now I can go out after dark and clock up some more > > miles, but not when it is raining..... > > Why not in the rain. > Firestone tyres?? No I am on Michelin Pilot Sport, in the rain well it could get dirty underneath, the joke used to be in my days of driving a "Fulvia Zagato" dont get it wet, same when I had an Aurelia. Yes I know its all different now, I only use it if I have to, not much fun out there with all those cameras. Martyn. |
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