M.O.T Failure Headlamp Adjusting Not Working (no longer fitted)

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MonsterRepairMan

MonsterRepairMan

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Location
Norwich
My son's Disco 2 td5 has failed the MOT because the headlamp adjusting does not work. The headlamps have been replaced with LED headlamps which do not have headlamp leveling motors installed.
Can I just remove the headlamp adjuster switch inside the vehicle and fit a blanking cover in it's place?
It passed it's last 2 MOTs with no problem.
 
MOTs regarding LED and HID bulbs as it was once a grey area tightened up in 2021-22.
So these bulbs are illegal public roads, so off road only, and LED and HID lamp units must have levelling, I would expect that this function would be controlled automatically and is built in, as modern cars fitted with LED headlamps do.
 
discool said:
MOTs regarding LED and HID bulbs as it was once a grey area tightened up in 2021-22.
So these bulbs are illegal public roads, so off road only, and LED and HID lamp units must have levelling, I would expect that this function would be controlled automatically and is built in, as modern cars fitted with LED headlamps do.
Click to expand...

I remember reading the mot bible not too long ago & they have removed some something regarding leds I'll see if I can find it.
It may or may not be of any help to the op. Im sure if its removed you cant fail it, although if its fitted it must operate.

Firstly..............

1. About headlamp conversions​

Section 4.1.4 of the current MOT inspection manuals for both motorcycles and cars and passenger vehicles states ‘Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.’

2. Changes to current rules​

From 22 March 2021, we’re changing these rules so that not all motorcycles and vehicles will fail the MOT test if their halogen headlamp units have been converted to be used with HID or LED bulbs.

edit....

Class 3,4,5 and 7 vehicles​

For class 3,4,5 and 7 vehicles, the defect ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ only applies to vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986.

Should a vehicle be presented for an MOT test with conversions before 1 April 1986 they must not be failed with immediate effect.

Vehicles presented with converted halogen headlamp units first used on or after 1 April 1986 will continue to be failed.

Headlamps must comply with all other requirements of the test and headlamp aim.

The cars and passenger vehicles inspection manual will be updated shortly.
 
Last edited:
kevstar said:
I remember reading the mot bible not too long ago & they have removed some something regarding leds I'll see if I can find it.
It may or may not be of any help to the op. Im sure if its removed you cant fail it, although if its fitted it must operate.

Firstly..............

1. About headlamp conversions​

Section 4.1.4 of the current MOT inspection manuals for both motorcycles and cars and passenger vehicles states ‘Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.’

2. Changes to current rules​

From 22 March 2021, we’re changing these rules so that not all motorcycles and vehicles will fail the MOT test if their halogen headlamp units have been converted to be used with HID or LED bulbs.

edit....

Class 3,4,5 and 7 vehicles​

For class 3,4,5 and 7 vehicles, the defect ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ only applies to vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986.

Should a vehicle be presented for an MOT test with conversions before 1 April 1986 they must not be failed with immediate effect.

Vehicles presented with converted halogen headlamp units first used on or after 1 April 1986 will continue to be failed.

Headlamps must comply with all other requirements of the test and headlamp aim.

The cars and passenger vehicles inspection manual will be updated shortly.
Click to expand...

Clear as mud as usual!
 
MonsterRepairMan said:
My son's Disco 2 td5 has failed the MOT because the headlamp adjusting does not work. The headlamps have been replaced with LED headlamps which do not have headlamp leveling motors installed.
Can I just remove the headlamp adjuster switch inside the vehicle and fit a blanking cover in it's place?
It passed it's last 2 MOTs with no problem.
Click to expand...
The LED headlamps were installed by a previous owner. I understand that fitting of LED bulbs is an issue, but fitting of complete headlamps is acceptable. MOT rules say headlamp leveling must work if fitted, which it is not anymore. The vehicle still has air suspension fitted which I assume will keep the vehicle level under different loads. I don't see why I can't just remove the inside headlamp leveling switch?
 
MonsterRepairMan said:
My son's Disco 2 td5 has failed the MOT because the headlamp adjusting does not work. The headlamps have been replaced with LED headlamps which do not have headlamp leveling motors installed.
Can I just remove the headlamp adjuster switch inside the vehicle and fit a blanking cover in it's place?
It passed it's last 2 MOTs with no problem.
Click to expand...
Ok, can we assume that the head lamps are not the D2 pre-face fitment? because u say the headlamps were replaced with the LED version which don’t have the self levelling facility.
What ever u do, if they are not equipped with self levelling and the MOT tester notices then its a fail, blanking the old manual dash switch won‘t help… it‘s still not self levelling.

I you still have the D2 pre-face lift head lamps fitted but with bulb conversion then like the D1 equipped then the levelling servo’s can fail because their location.

Bulb conversion are off road only according to my google search.
 
Last edited:
sierrafery said:
You should be the only one who sees... simply remove it and blank it then go to a different tester and you'll see :cool:
Click to expand...
Any tester that knows their vehicles would notice straight away the lights had been swopped....
I know of a tester who refuses everything that has been modified from original specification
 
Toyota Twonk said:
Any tester that knows their vehicles would notice straight away the lights had been swopped....
I know of a tester who refuses everything that has been modified from original specification
Click to expand...
If the rules in UK for MOT doesnt allow swapped lamps of mods from original specs then the whole discussion is futile, if not that super-scrupulous tester is out of line.... even though here it's about a failure due to unfunctional headlamp levelling not the type of lamps hence my reply
 
Toyota Twonk said:
Modified lights if you read properly so fail weather they adjust or not

Twonk
Click to expand...
If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test.

Vehicles with high intensity discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with a suspension or headlamp self-levelling system. If these systems have been fitted, they must work.

Taken from the link from @kevstar

J
 
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