SilentBob
24-02-2010, 04:24 PM
It's that time of year again... MOT! And unlike previous years, I have had a right old list of things to correct. All done now, with the exception one thing (or two if your picky). For both headlamps the aim is too low.
Having sorted everything else, I took it back to the test centre & asked them to adjust the aim & check the other failure points. But they told me they cannot adjust the headlamp height.
Upon inspecting the setup, there should be a vertical plastic cog with an allen key receptor. This is accessible via a hole in the front panel. This should marry with a second, horizontal, plastic cog which is over the adjuster shaft. On both headlamps this 2nd (or shaft) cog is missing. The outside adjusters are complete, but both height adjustors have this same cog missing.
I can see how the adjustment works, as pulling the shaft inwards raises the headlamp.
I have phoned the local VW dealer, but they say these cogs are not a listed part, and instead recommended replacing the complete headlamp units. :aargh4:
Now, it did cross my mind to visit a breakers and see if I could pull these cogs off another car. But my bet is that (if they don't break trying to pull them off) they would no longer be tight enough on the shaft to do their job.
So my question is what do I do? I really don't fancy paying hundreds of pounds for new units. Is there another way to deal with this? Perhaps a wing nut of just the right size over the shaft (so that the thread just cuts into the shaft) would be enough to hold it whilst remaining adjustable?
Has anyone had to deal with the same? What worked for you?
Many thanks,
Simon
Having sorted everything else, I took it back to the test centre & asked them to adjust the aim & check the other failure points. But they told me they cannot adjust the headlamp height.
Upon inspecting the setup, there should be a vertical plastic cog with an allen key receptor. This is accessible via a hole in the front panel. This should marry with a second, horizontal, plastic cog which is over the adjuster shaft. On both headlamps this 2nd (or shaft) cog is missing. The outside adjusters are complete, but both height adjustors have this same cog missing.
I can see how the adjustment works, as pulling the shaft inwards raises the headlamp.
I have phoned the local VW dealer, but they say these cogs are not a listed part, and instead recommended replacing the complete headlamp units. :aargh4:
Now, it did cross my mind to visit a breakers and see if I could pull these cogs off another car. But my bet is that (if they don't break trying to pull them off) they would no longer be tight enough on the shaft to do their job.
So my question is what do I do? I really don't fancy paying hundreds of pounds for new units. Is there another way to deal with this? Perhaps a wing nut of just the right size over the shaft (so that the thread just cuts into the shaft) would be enough to hold it whilst remaining adjustable?
Has anyone had to deal with the same? What worked for you?
Many thanks,
Simon