Failed NCT twice for lights, confused

enfant terrible · 16-08-2023 04:17PM #1

First time I failed for Dip Beam on Offside, turned out bulb was installed incorrectly.

I then took car to garage to make sure beam were correctly aligned and guy working there said it was touch and go whether I'd pass and might need to change the headlight(assuming he meant the offside one)

Failed again on re-test only this time, I failed on Offside and Nearside.

Attached a picture of the lights shining against my wall.

Looks like Offside light is lower than Nearside, do they basically just have to be in parallel to pass?

I was gonna buy a new Offside headlight but not sure if that's the issue, its a 06 Micra.

lamps.jpg

Bigus · 16-08-2023 04:34PM

It’s hard to tell in daylight but it’s looks to me like they’re both lacking definition, ie no sharp top line on either , this would indeed be down to bad aged reflectors or fuzzy glass/ Perspex lens/cover. Nct always like a sharp top line with nothing above .

enfant terrible · 16-08-2023 04:41PM

I did use some compound and buffered the lights before the NCT as they were very foggy.

Maybe I damaged them, attached before and after pictures of buffering below

PXL_20230713_125132591.jpg

PXL_20230713_130452943.jpg

User1998 · 16-08-2023 05:09PM

They don’t just have to be parallel, they can both be too high or too low

G1032 · 16-08-2023 05:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120987040#Comment_120987040

What did you use to get the fog off? Mine need to be done before nct soon

enfant terrible · 16-08-2023 05:31PM

Might take it back to the garage and ask which side is bad and if it's too high or low.

You have any inclination looking at the picture of the beams I posted which headlight is off?

standardg60 · 16-08-2023 08:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120987269#Comment_120987269

They both look too high to me. I've never got an actual alignment done, just always used a wall like your first pic.

You know by kneeling down in front of the car and looking into the light until it glares, your head should be slightly below the light.

Adjust one down and then level the other side to the same height, has always worked for me.

Spook_ie · 16-08-2023 08:36PM

It's a bit wordy wordy but does seem to be a good DIY guide

https://www.championautoparts.eu/news/how-to-check-headlights.html

enfant terrible · 16-08-2023 09:11PM

Think that's a bit about my pay grade.

The garage I went too just put a metal frame in front of each headlight and had a look at the beams.

Are there places in Limerick that do proper light alignment, like posted in that link anyone know?

bazz26 · 16-08-2023 11:58PM

Bring it to Des Kennedy in Garryowen just up from the Market's Field.

Spook_ie · 17-08-2023 08:23AM

Or 20% off at TyreStop branches

http://www.tyrestop.ie/voucher.pdf

orm0nd · 17-08-2023 09:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120988049#Comment_120988049

Christy Madden

enfant terrible · 17-08-2023 05:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120987235#Comment_120987235

I did it properly for previous NCT, you wet sand the light then buffer with compound

Was lazy for this NCT and just used the buffer with compound.

https://youtu.be/UG54xt56uZo

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G1032 · 17-08-2023 07:38PM

Thank you

Failed NCT twice for lights, confused

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