MOT faliure on nsf side light, help required.

[Mighty Boosh]

Hi first post since joining last year.

My 54 plate sharan failed its MOT and cost me a bit to get the bits needed.

Anyhow the front nearside side light bulb is blowing everytime i replace it.

I'm not very electrically minded, does anyone have any ideas what the problem could be?

Would it be ok for me to take the power from the opposite side light, as a temporary measure just to get it through the retest?

Also is thier a cheaper alternative to reinforced tyres or are these required?

Tyre size 215 55 16.

Thanks in advance.

[martin1810]

"Anyhow the front nearside side light bulb is blowing everytime i replace it"
That is almost impossible. Are you sure you are using the correct bulb. If you had a short circuit the fuse would blow, not the bulb. The other side light is on a different circuit so I wouldn't join them together.

[phil miller]

Are you using brand new bulbs that you have got from a garage or ones you have at home? It could be the bulbs are no good

[motman]

Don't know about the bulb, but the minimum load/speed rating normally fitted to the Sharan with 215/55 R 16 is 95H. Some manufacturers make a 97H instead.
Many budget brands (imported) are only made in 95 or 97 load index to avoid dual production, so the price you pay is down to make and supplier more than anything else.
The word Reinforced (or Extra Load)is not required, if they 95 or 97 they are extra load!

[Mighty Boosh]

"Anyhow the front nearside side light bulb is blowing everytime i replace it"
That is almost impossible. Are you sure you are using the correct bulb. If you had a short circuit the fuse would blow, not the bulb. The other side light is on a different circuit so I wouldn't join them together.

Quick update.

I've just took the capless bulb from the glove box and fitted it.

It is working faultlessly.

It wasn't me that had "apparently" changed the bulbs.

It was "apparently" the garage that put the new tyres on that said they had changed the bulb twice.

Initially i asked them if they could sell me some bulbs, both sidelights and one brake light were out.

they said that they could fit them for me for no charge, so i took them up on the offer.

I presume the fitter didn't know about the sliding flaps in the wheel archs and could only manage to change the off side bulb from the engine bay and didn't fancy having to remove things for access to the near side bulb.

So instead of being honest with me they told me the bulbs were blowing.

So ive spent the last 24 hours fretting about getting the bulb working for the MOT retest without need.

Alls well that ends well, although the fools will be recieving an email from me.

Thanks everyone for thier help and the info re the tyres.

[matthewgdavies]

It is important that tyres meet the 95/96/97/98 etc load rating
These are listed on a sticker inside the fuel filler flap for all tyre sizes current when your car was built. You should fit precisely the same size/load rating as when it left the factory. Failure to do so can lead to MOT failure, possible prosecution and worst of all invalid insurance - terms such as extra load and reinforced are not relevant