Headlight - Strange Pattern

[Lee406]

Hi all

Thought I'd stick this in here.. as I guess its more mechanical than electrical..

My car failed MOT yesterday..

* Front brake pads
* Handbrake 12%]
* Headlight pattern defective

Brakes are simple..

Headlight is strange..

The tester is telling me that its showing a pattern thats upside down! and facing the wrong way.. the lense looks fine, and the headlight vertical adjusters are working.. it has a sticker on the top which has L on it which is correct..

Any ideas? Could someone have fitted a bulb upside down? Or one of the units on the back incorrectly?

Cheers

Lee

[teamster1975]

There's no way it's had continental headlights fitted in the past is there?

[Lee406]

I'm not sure.. Its only giving me a dodgy reading for the near side headlight.. the drivers side headlight is fine.

[teamster1975]

I suppose in the past an owner may have got a replacement off ebay and it was for an LHD version, although it shouldn't have passed an mot since!

[puggy]

Check the bulbs , look to see if if one has been put in upside down also
make sure they are seated properly .

[Welly]

Just change the bulb, they can go funny after a few years.

[DiscoPol]

Just change the bulb, they can go funny after a few years.

they can last a few years

not on mine

[Lee406]

Will snap a picture of the little sticker onto of the headlight tonight.. see if anyone can confirm UK or Euro..

It failed last MOT (previous owner) headlight defective, then passed after headlight was replaced.

Its a new headlight for all intents and purposes!

[eoin27]

Lift the bonnet and take a photo up close of the top of the headlight. There is printings on it that determine what type it is.

[Lee406]

Will do. If I need to replace the unit I need one before Saturday morning.. eBay is my friend..

Cheers

[puggy]

Still think its a bulb not seated correctly , but if you do have to get a
headlight i have a new passenger side one

[jasper5]

If you had a continental headlight you would have a reverse pattern to your good other headlight, if you shine the lights against a garage door or wall you will see this straight away.An upside down pattern would lead me to believe you have a bulb problem, as others have said.
It would have failed last year if it was continental.
This fault should have taken you just a few seconds to ID.Stick a new bulb in or swap the bulb with the other side and look how it appears against a door or wall.

[Lee406]

To me it looks fine.. driving along at night it does exactly as it should..

I will sort it out tonight. I only drive the car once a week.. walk everywhere else.

[Doggy]

I had a similar one - in changing the bulb, I managed to disturb the little, 'anti-dazzle' shield which should sit in front of the bulb. (You could see it was wrong looking into the lamp from the front).

[Lee406]

I checked the headlight, and it would appear that the bulb holder has been bent, I'm guessing over zelous fitted of headlight bulb.. when trying to bend it back it worked, but as soon as I used the headlight height adjuster it got stuck on one side.

I'll just fit a new headlight and be done with it. Do all 406's have electric height adjusters? So it wont matter which headlight I get providing its for the correct 99-03 406.