My Volvo 940 has a slightly damaged front nearside indicator - the orange plastic has a couple of approx. 1cm square chunks missing from the side of it due to a minor impact. The indicator still works fine so is this an MOT issue ? If so, other than buying a brand new one from a Volvo dealer, where might I be able to find a replacement in the Bromley/Orpington area ?
As always, any help gratefully received.
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The MOT website should tell you I would have thought. AFAIA if there is any white light showing through a coloured lense, then it's a failure.
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Yep DD - just had another look and although the missing plastic is on the bottom corner of the unit as it wraps around the side of the front wing, you can just see the edge of the silver reflector through the hole.
Next question - is the whole thing a sealed unit and where might I find a replacement ? I've never used a breakers and wouldn't know where to start looking for a 'good' one nearby so anyone got any ideas ? Ta lads !
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Use Google & try searching on "volvo breakers" - just tried it & it came up with over 100 hits. If you can manage till Monday, phone round for the cheapest & get it posted.
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V,
This goes against what others are saying so it's probably wrong, but my Renault had quite badly broken orange plastic for years and it was never an MOT issue.
HF
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HF, you were lucky. Not all MoT testers are as thorough as they should be - or the plastic was just a reflector and the bulb area itself was fine, not allowing any white light through.
My Renault had the same problem; two rear light lenses cost me £30 from a specialist breaker in Stratford, East London. They're called Just Renaults and they're very friendly.
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Depending on model, Euro Car Parts has them from £17.46 + VAT.
Your nearest would be Bellingham, past Bromley on the South Circular, though I don't know that part of London at all.
Otherwise, www.eurocarparts.com
Failing that, probably your best bet is a specialist breaker that will probably allow you to do mail order.
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Thanks Mike and David - Euroxcarparts is not too far so I'll try them first.
HF - anyone who passed that heap of junk which masqueraded as a car must have been blind and/or bent ! ;-)
PS can I have their number just in case ?
PPS Happy impending birthday - you know the one you don't want anyone to find out about. Oooppsss... I just posted this by accide....
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Volvoman
Just to point out the legal aspect if stopped....
Under Road Vehicles Lighting Regs, 1989, Direction Indicators are mandatory on motor cars. Schedule 7 says that their colour should be amber. Further Reg 23 states that indicators shall be in good working order. Technical offence therefore if it is showing white from the parts where the glass is missing. Not that I would expect Plod to book you but could give you a ticket under the Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme. Further this would be grounds for a failure under the MOT.
DVD
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V - I'm afraid your post does not even warrant a response. Therefore I won't be giving one.
HF;)
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Hi gang - just an update to say I sorted the broken light at Eurocarparts who had a very good non OEM unit on the shelf for just over £20 !!
Quids in for once I thought :-) - however that was before I managed to just clip the corner/kerb of one of those central island thingies with the rear offside tyre whilst turning right at a junction. Result ? Small tear in side wall of a new Michelin tyre, £70 quid down the tubes and 30 truly harrowing minutes spent changing wheel on a very busy red route with all sorts of traffic blasting by.
:-(
To make matters worse the kerb of this old island thingy was only 3-4 inches above the road surface and, yes, I'd hit the only sharp protrusion on its otherwise smooth and rounded surface.
Arrgghhhhhhh !!
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vm
short term, the problem is not that the indicator is physically broken, but that it is capable of emitting white light
3 workrounds that should get you through the mot
1 - buy a coloured bulb (I used to have a citroen AX - they have white indicators & coloured bulbs !)
2 - some car accessory shops sell kits of red and amber cellulose tape just for repairing indicators
3 - for small holes and cracks, get some bits of broken indicator from a scrapper (or any accident blackspot !!), pound them to powder with a lump hammer, mix with polystyrene cement and use to fill the crack !
hth
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up
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Thanks DVD.
b20 - so I can avoid buying a replacement unit by simply ensuring that no white light is visible through the small hole ? Sounds good to me !
Ahh... I've just had another look with the hazard lights on and discovered that the area where the small hole isn't actually illuminated from behind at all so no white light is escaping from it. The damaged area is in the section of the light cluster which wraps around the side of the wing for about 10 cms. It's right on the far edge of this and all that lies behind the hole is a silvered reflector.
To me it looks as though this part of the unit it's intended simply to reflect external light back. Does this make any difference to any of the advice given above ?
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Unfortunately VM the external light reflected back will be silverish (not red ) so I think you must go for BoraSports 3rd option. This is a man after my own heart. Always go for the cheapest bodge.
Phil I
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V
I'd put my pocket book away.
Now I bet before the weekend is over its fixed. Why? Because like a lot of car owners you know the lens is cracked and it will niggle you, and niggle you and niggle you to know that.
Come Sat pm it will seem as if the whole front is falling off so off to the parts dept or scrappie and a new one purchased.
Smiles all round?
DVD
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Always go for the cheapest bodge. Phil I
Calling me a cheapskate Phil ? ;-)
besides, it takes skill to grind the bits up properly
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up
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Definitely not in the Kenwood Mixer either VM. BFH it has to be.
Do wear some safety specs while you do the biz.
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Ok I've been wanting to ask this since this morning, but felt too dumb - but since it's been mentioned again, what is 'BFH' please?
HF
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BHF = Big Flipping[1] Hammer.
[1] Edited for BR viewing. Don't want my 6th fluffy dice just yet ;o)
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Rather large mallet? ;-)
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If is bottom corner of indicator and otherwise is fine a bit of duck tape/electrical tape over that bit only should be fine for MOT. If not, your MOT tester is taking the michael. Last time I MOTed tester didn\'t even notice reversing lights weren\'t working (though I fixed it asap). It\'s your responsibility to keep your vehicle safe so pop your indicator on stand back and think. I have a dislike for people who think that keeping their vehicle safe is to be left to MOT and then spend 10 months driving around with one headlight and one brake light (but it\'s okay since the fog lights are on [tight smile]).
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Gen
I believe that repairs are acceptable provided they are reasonably permanent - eg decent adhesive as opposed to just sticking tape over it. In terms of lights, the repair must not significantly afect the beam pattern of a headlight for example. A bit of a grey area on the test, but I'd have thought tape would not have passed.
No, the tester wouldn't have noticed your car had no reversing lights, and even if he did he'd have ignored it. They are not part of the MOT.
Regards
John S
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