NCT Question [one light brighter]

spudulike

Hi,

My NCT is due and one of my front headlights was out. I got the bulb changed but now the light output is significantly brighter from the new headlight that the other working one. Will this cause me problems in the NCT or do they just look for alignment?

Cheers.

davo2001

As far as i know it is only a visual inspection, once its working it shouldnt be an issue.

nct tester

is it the main beam or dip beam??

spudulike

nct tester wrote: »

is it the main beam or dip beam??

The normal dipped headlights (not the full lights)

nct tester

quite possible the bulb is fitted incorrectly and in that case will be a €28 retest

spudulike

nct tester wrote: »

quite possible the bulb is fitted incorrectly and in that case will be a €28 retest

you mean the new bulb? the new one is the one that's brighter and the other one seems less bright, I asked the guy and he said that the light can fade over time and that might explain why the new bulb looks brighter, though i'm not sure about that.

biko

It's usually best to change light bulbs in pairs for this very reason. It's probably not the new bulb that is bright, it's the old one being dimmer.
You'll probably pass NCT but for your own sake change the other bulb too so you can see the road properly.

You have almost certainly fitted the new bulb incorrectly.

spudulike

samih wrote: »

You have almost certainly fitted the new bulb incorrectly.

I got it changed in atlas, do you think they messed it up? Would it fail an nct if it was in wrong?

biko

Swing by tomorrow and tell them to check it. It's just a few mins to correct it anyway, which they should do for free.

Since it's not a DIY thing, moved to main forum (although changing light bulbs is often DIY step #1 so let us know what car it is and we can help you with instructions on how to fit it).

miller50841

Is it a Avensis 03 upwards, Primera 99 to 02, Almera 02 to 07 VW Passat 01 upwards or a similer type angel eye type ball where the light is emitted as these lamps do this H7 type bulb

You would be better replacing both lamps as the other is finished and will be very dangerous as your view of the road ahead is greatly reduced.

You only have to look at a lot of taxis including Garda Avensis cars going around with the beams greatly lower then they should because the bulb is burnt out and also with high beams on all the time.

naughtysmurf

I had the same situation, bulb not fitted correctly is more than likely the issue, it just seems brighter when you look at it, bet if you park about 10metres away from a wall you will see the misalignment clearly

Wheelnut

Another vote for "bulb not fitted correctly". It looks brighter because it's out-of-focus and causing glare.

spudulike

naughtysmurf wrote: »

I had the same situation, bulb not fitted correctly is more than likely the issue, it just seems brighter when you look at it, bet if you park about 10metres away from a wall you will see the misalignment clearly

it's an 07 Nissan quasqui. Steps to fix would be great. Thanks all for your help.

Alun

spudulike wrote: »

it's an 07 Nissan quasqui. Steps to fix would be great. Thanks all for your help.

Qashqai headlight bulb replacements are a PITA.

The bulb holders are held in by rotating them in the hole in the headlight housing, and it's very, very easy to think you've got them in properly, but actually for one side of the holder to miss it's slot in the housing, and this results in the bulb being angled slightly either upwards or downwards, if you see what I mean. Also, it's easy for the flimsy metal parts on the holders to bend out of shape and this means it's difficult to mate the two up properly. Basically a crap design.

It's also especially difficult for the passenger side lights as space here is quite tight (you also have to remove a portion of the air inlet to get at them.)

I should also add that it's important to make sure you push the new bulb all the way in to the holder, it can be a bit stiff resulting in the bulb sticking out a bit from the holder and thus moving the focus a bit.

spudulike

I took the car back to Atlas and they checked the bulb and alignment... they said the bulb had been wrongly fitted but the alignment was also wrong and they charged me 35e. I argued with them on it and they eventually let it go....

thanks all for the help.

Wheelnut

Thanks for reporting back, it's good to get some feedback after giving advice.