Hiya, just wondering if anyone could clarify a query for me.
I was under the impression that to pass the MOT your sidelights had to operate whilst the ignition is turned off, but someone recently told me that this is not the case. Which is correct?
Got an old MOT failure I am trying to restore but this is one of the items noted on the failure sheet. Hate electrics and dont want to struggle to fix them if they dont need to be fixed. They work perfectly well when the ignition is turned on.
Thanks
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From the MOT Testers Manual
On vehicles fitted with dim-dip headlamp systems, the front position lamps must be checked for operation with the ignition switched off. This may involve the operation of a separate switch.
www.motuk.co.uk
Go to Testers Manual - front position lamps.
DVD
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not sure if this is the same thing, but my car had its MOT yesterday and passed no problems. Thing is, when the ignition is off, if I've left the lights on, both rear lights work, but only the offside front works. Is this part of the system that you're talking about or is this something else?
I never changed the bulb as the side lights work fine when the the ignition in on!
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Before a recent MOT, I went through considerable anguish trying to find out why only one tail light on my old Escort came on when the sidelights were left on and the ignition switched off. Both worked with the ignition on. Everything else worked. Couldn't find a problem anywhere.
Resorted to the Haynes manual and it turns out it's supposed to do that. I think it's a parking light but... well... what if you park the other side?
Anyway, my point is that this could be correct behaviour.
-M.
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Make, Model and Year may help us to fix your problem !!. Regards Peter
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according to the vauxhall carlton i used to have....you set whichever parking light you wanted to come on with the ignition off, by setting the indicator to that side - cant remember if you set it before switching off or after.
billy.
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I thought a car parked on an unlit road was obliged to show sidelights? Having lights showing on only one side seems to me to be dangerous - a bit like the old days when people fixed feeble little lights to their windows, or put a parafin lamp in the road.
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Car is a1980 Mini which I have been restoring, obtained as a MOT failure from lady who worked away and didn?t have the time to fix it. Lights had been working in this fashion since she bought the car 4 years earlier and it had never failed a test on them.
The person she had bought the car off had done some restoration work including converting the original Mini sealed beam headlamp units for newer halogen units, but I don?t think they have done their wiring up correctly.
Think the original units are what you are calling dim-dip, a single unit containing one bulb.
First click = that bulb on dimmed,
Second click = same bulb on brighter.
These newer lights contain two bulbs, rather like my Corsa:
First click = small bulb lights,
Second click = large bulb lights.
I presume they should work in the same way but don't. Looks as if person who fitted them didn?t change any wiring. Small bulbs don?t work at all but the large bulb is working in the same manner as the original single beam unit. However, whereas the original lights do work in dimmed mode with ignition off, these don?t work at all.
To be honest I know very little about electrics, struggle with a household plug!! I do own a multimeter to test any wires with if necessary, but not sure what settings to use.
Any help would be appreciated it?s the last thing we need to sort before she is on the road.
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Dim-dip is not the same as parking lights.
Was intoduced to UK for a couple of years in early 80's? to stop people driving around on parking lights.
On my old Polo the headlights came on dimly if you switched on the parking lights when the engine was running.
However the parking bulbs were still there and entirely separate.
Dim- dip system involved relays and a large resistor to drop voltage.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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maybe i`ve missed the point but,
if the lights work perfectly well with the ignition on..(re-your first post) why can`t you simply find the wire from light switch to "ignition-on" live circuit, disconnect it, and re-wire it to a "permanent live" circuit, so that the lights will work "perfectly well" anytime?
billy.
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if the lights work perfectly well with the ignition on..(re-your first post) why can`t you simply find the wire from light switch to "ignition-on" live circuit, disconnect it, and re-wire it to a "permanent live" circuit, so that the lights will work "perfectly well" anytime?
Someone did actually suggest doing that when I last attended a show - might give it a try. Thinking about it I suppose the original lights could have been connected to the permanent live circuit but on changing them the person doing the work just wired them up wrong.
Thanks for the tip
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>> Think the original units are what you are calling dim-dip, asingle unit containing one bulb. First click = that bulb on dimmed, Second click = same bulb on brighter.
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I had dip dim on my Sierra.
Your observations apply to the dip filament of the headlamp bulb only.
Main beam filament in the bulb is not involved
GWS was spot on with his posting.
On my Sierra, when driving on dipped beam, when I switched off ignition it changed to dim.
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The current Fiat's (Punto,Stilo etc) the sidelights or headlights will not work at all without ignition on ie position 2 so impossible to leave car parked on road with sidelights on, so what happens to them then regarding parking on unlit road?
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what happens to them then regarding parking on unlit road?
or in an MOT test?
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The current Fiat's (Punto,Stilo etc) the sidelights or headlights will not work at all ....
Can you select either sidelight from the indicator stalk? ie, flick it left and the LH sidelights come on - right for RH sidelights.
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Can you select either sidelight from the indicator stalk? ie, flick it left and the LH sidelights come on - right for RH sidelights.
i don't think so DD but i maybe wrong i'll check one at work on monday unless a Fiat owner posts answer beforehand.
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The current Fiat's (Punto,Stilo etc) the sidelights or headlights will not work at all without ignition on ie position 2 so impossible to leave car parked on road with sidelights on, so what happens to them then regarding parking on unlit road?
Im well confused now with all this talk about dim dip, sidelights, parking lights etc. My Corsa only has one light but it contains two bulbs, if I have my headlights on at night and turn off the ignition without switching them off the small bulb stays lit - are these what you consider to be parking lights? Sorry to appear a bit thick, told you electrics werent a strong point:)
As for Fiats, could it be because foreign brand vehicles have different rules with regards to headlights, bit like the Volvos with their lights on during the day?
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me confused too i think we need clarification from a MOT tester.
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The current Fiat's (Punto,Stilo etc) the sidelights or headlights will not work at all without ignition on ie position 2 so impossible to leave car parked on road with sidelights on, so what happens to them then regarding parking on unlit road?
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This sounds like the stupid dangerous set up in the UNO.
Come to a halt in a dark lane and switch off the ignition and everything goes out. Wonderful.
On the UNO if you press a button on the bezel of the ignition key slot and turn the key in the other direction the side lights come on AND the instrument lights. Why instrument lights when you want to leave the parking lights on?
Must be some Italian logic to it.
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Like this on the old Mark 1 Punto also
I think it has more to do with making sure you don't accidentally leave the lights on. My 405 has an alarm to indicate the lights are on if the door is opened. My 309 hasn't, and I have flattened the battery.
The FIAT system makes sure it is a conscious decision to leave the sidelights on.
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Like this on the old Mark 1 Punto also I think it has more to do with making sure you don't accidentally leave the lights on. My 405 has an alarm to indicate the lights are on if the door is opened. My 309 hasn't, and I have flattened the battery. The FIAT system makes sure it is a conscious decision to leave the sidelights on.
>>I would rather have a flat battery than be UNconcious due to someone ramming me cos I turned the ignition off in the dark.
If they were so concerned about the battery then why have the dash lights on when only parking lights are wanted?
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