headlamp issues 2009 dodge challenger - mot fail

headlamp issues 2009 dodge challenger - mot fail

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Mexican cuties

Original Poster:

729 posts

129 months

Friday 15th January 2021
quotequote all
Wonder if any one can help/advise, have been taking our 2009 dodge challenger to the same mot station since we had her 2014. Authorised Jeep/Chrysler Never any issues, today was advised the following, (despite never touching the front headlamps and never been mentioned or advised on previous MOT;s)

headlamp aim projected beam image is obv incorrect Nearside 4.1.2 (c)
Headlamp light intensity reduced Nearside 4.1.4 (c)
Headlamp aim projected beam image offside, (kick up wrong way)

Any suggestions, any one replaced their headlamps for the aftermarket headlamps , or best way to replace these and any recommendations of who to use, we're in Buckinghamshire,

Not sure if the mot tester got a bit carried away!!

thank you for any input


mfp4073

1,984 posts

181 months

Saturday 16th January 2021
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The first thing I would do is replace both headlight bulbs with good quality items. Be aware some high output bulbs are made in Chine and unsurprisingly are utter rubbish they will scatter light all over the place causing undue dazzle and poor light output. You will also need to find someone with the right equipment to realign both headlights correctly.
Failing that you might have have some sort of earthing issue causing the light to go dim or some electronic issue, that might get expensive!!!

C350Akra

12,287 posts

287 months

Saturday 16th January 2021
quotequote all
Sounds to me like they are still set for the US? Beam pattern appears wrong with the angled up bit on the wrong side? Is there a method of flattening off the top of the beam, all our Camaros ended up with a flat beam pattern. Also check earth connections as a weak earth can reduce the light output.

p4cks

7,013 posts

206 months

Saturday 16th January 2021
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What did the dealer you took it to suggest as a fix?

Mexican cuties

Original Poster:

729 posts

129 months

Monday 18th January 2021
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thanks for the replies, due to the HID bulbs, and the zap they can give, being looked at by an expert, bulbs now changed, mot now passed but didn't go back to the original station, still waiting to hear from them as to what they would have suggested.

first thing the new mot station said was exactly as ph'r said, due to left hand drive, they would do that. so main thing, all sorted, especially as we didnt realise the mot had run out, as previously we were contacted by the garage to remind us, change of hands apparently, firmly marked on the calendar for next time!!

Mexican cuties

Original Poster:

729 posts

129 months

Monday 18th January 2021
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just update, dealer finally came back with £130 for each bulb, and £70 each side to fit, plus vat, its a no from us !!!

mfp4073

1,984 posts

181 months

Monday 18th January 2021
quotequote all
Where do they get these prices from yikes
Just get the headlights aligned and go for a retest and see how you go.

C350Akra

12,287 posts

287 months

Tuesday 19th January 2021
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£130? That must be the gold plated, platinum filament set in titanium version! smile

Mexican cuties

Original Poster:

729 posts

129 months

Wednesday 20th January 2021
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exactly!! so our guy has sussed out bulbs are fine, its the servo thats playing up, looks like headlamps modified for uk purpose, any ideas people best place to start in uk for replacement headlamps rather than take these to bits, have seen $150 dollars for a pair with $70 dollars shipping, with poss 2 week time scale, but if can get them in uk, will be having a look at classic american adverts and making some calls this afternoon.

Again thanks for the help, cars been good as gold since we had her 2014, apart from a couple of recalls that the dealer sorted out.