NCT Headlight Alignment Question.

ytareh

I think my 'new' shape 2005 Nissan Micra is all set for NCT BUT Im worried about headlight alignment .Its all over the place to be honest .I presume the car had a frontal collision .One of the two big headlight units has been cracked and glued at the outside mounting and theres also a crack in the mirror /lens inside(that bulb sits into)Is that an automatic failure?Is hazing of the perspex?.However is it true that they only check low beam and that if you keep it focussed down REALLY low (and to the left) that they will pass you or is there some 'minimum lighting' effect required?

Muckie

Had to get the headlights checked on the wifes Clio, brought

it to a local mechanic, up on a special machine for the job cost €20.

Ring around for a price though.

Took 10 mins to do. Car past the NCT and don't have to worry about

blinding other road users now.

Little Mickey

Just adjust them so they point down to the ground and are virtually useless, that seems to suit them!!! The way you've to set the lights for the NCT is dangerous, way too low. Just put them back up to a useable level afterwards

ytareh

Thats what Id heard too,thanks.

ytareh

So is the crack in the mirror/lens INSIDE likely to be a failure point?

Little Mickey

Little Mickey wrote: »

Just adjust them so they point down to the ground and are virtually useless, that seems to suit them!!! The way you've to set the lights for the NCT is dangerous, way too low. Just put them back up to a useable level afterwards

A new car just out of the factory would pass the NCT beam test so I don't really reckon you are correct there to be honest.

gofaster_s13

Little Mickey wrote: »

Just adjust them so they point down to the ground and are virtually useless, that seems to suit them!!! The way you've to set the lights for the NCT is dangerous, way too low. Just put them back up to a useable level afterwards

Do not take that advice, he doesnt know what he's talking about.

Just bring the car to a garage or to a larger tyre shop and they'll focus your lights and tell you if the reflector is bad enough to fail.

sean1141

you can also fail for having the beam to low.. loads of garages and some tyre places will set your lights for you. usual price is in or about 20 quid.. remember if you fail on these alone you will have to pay the retest fee as well as going and paying someone to align the lights!! cant see the crack being a fail unless its throwing the beam from the light off.. they only test the dips on the machine

Little Mickey

There was an element of sarcasm intended there, sorry I didn't express it properly.
I nearly hit a tractor head on in December of 2009 due to the fact that I didn't see him untill I was right in front of him, luckily I just tipped my drivers wing of his wheel and put the car in the ditch when I swerved to avoid him. Reason - I was on a narrow country road and the tractor had no side lights so it fooled me as being a car that was further away due to fact that tractors have headlights that are high up with a narrow gap between them and my dipped beams didn't allow me to see him in good time.
I adjust my headlights to a safe level after the NCT now.

gofaster_s13

Little Mickey wrote: »

.
I adjust my headlights to a safe level after the NCT now.

So by safe level you mean a level that blinds other road users ?

Little Mickey

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

So by safe level you mean a level that blinds other road users ?

No.

gofaster_s13

If they are over the NCT level which is the level that manufacturer's set the headlights at then you are definatly blinding oncoming traffic, theres a reason manufacturer's set them at that level.

Little Mickey

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

If they are over the NCT level which is the level that manufacturer's set the headlights at then you are definatly blinding oncoming traffic, theres a reason manufacturer's set them at that level.

I think oncoming traffic would be regularly flashing thier lights at me if I was.