MOT failure help needed (please) VW Polo 2005

[JessLee2428]

Hello everyone, my car failed the MOT yesterday on various things (9 major defects in total). There are a few problems I am planning to fix by myself. One though that I am having an issue with (which I believe is meant to be a fairly simple problem to rectify) is the headlamp levelling device. Mine failed on both sides due to being inoperative. After doing a small amount of research I believe the problem could be caused by the motors, so I would have to buy two more devices and fit them? However, my partner was checking my fuses before my MOT (whilst we were trying to get to the bottom of a separate issue) and he took one of the fuses out and it fell where we could not reach it. He told me he took it out because on all the diagrams he'd seen online, that was the only one in my car that wasn't the same as in the diagrams (the diagrams didn't have a fuse there).

Now my question is (sorry for the long drawn out question), could the fuse my partner took out have affected my headlamp levelling device? Made them both inoperative? I have no idea if they need a fuse in order to work.

Thank you very much in advance for any help given,

Jess.

[mickyh7]

Nine major faults on a 17 year old car!
It sounds like it would be cheaper to buy a newer car.
If your not mechanically minded, the bill will be large.
Good luck.

[Scrump]

Possibly yes.
Is there a fuse list on the fuse box lid or nearby?

[JessLee2428]

mickyh7 said:

Nine major faults on a 17 year old car!
It sounds like it would be cheaper to buy a newer car.
If your not mechanically minded, the bill will be large.
Good luck.

I know what you mean but although they are listed as major, most of them don't seem to be too difficult to fix. I studied mechanics for four years but I really do not know much at all (as you have probably guessed). The cost will be high in a garage yes but hoping to get the cost down by doing what little I can.

I failed on:
Nearside and offside front headlamps insecure.
Misted headlamps (both sides)
Headlamp levelling device inoperative (both sides)
Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure (nearside front outer and offside)
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover needs replacing (x2)
Side repeater not working (nearside).

[JessLee2428]

Scrump said:

Possibly yes.
Is there a fuse list on the fuse box lid or nearby?

Thanks. Sadly I cannot get any information on what should go where and what is for what etc. There is a card with everything numbered but then there are no actual numbers for where the fuses are in order for me to match them up - if that makes sense.

[Scrump]

This looks like it may be the list of fuses for your car:
https://fuseandrelay.com/volkswagen/polo4.html

See halfway down the page.

Fuse number 6 is for headlight range control, I suspect that be the same as the headlight levelling. Is that fuse in place (and not blown)?

[JessLee2428]

UPDATE: Partner has since been able to locate fuse and has put it back in. Can't test whether this has solved the problem or not as my headlamps are both unattached at the moment (I am in the process of sorting out the misting problem).
- Thank you.

[JessLee2428]

Scrump said:

This looks like it may be the list of fuses for your car:
https://fuseandrelay.com/volkswagen/polo4.html

See halfway down the page.

Fuse number 6 is for headlight range control, I suspect that be the same as the headlight levelling. Is that fuse in place (and not blown)?

Very helpful, thank you. Much appreciated!

[Polome]

Not sure if your car the same but my polo ,2000 model had a headlight adjustment linkage attached to the rear suspension…the small link joining suspension to the controller had broken ( plastic )..and wasn’t sending message to headlights….can’t remember the cost but it was cheap to replace…maybe worth a check on your car since both lights appear to be inoperative.

[Hammer67]

JessLee2428 said:

I studied mechanics for four years but I really do not know much at all (as you have probably guessed).

Eh? You studied mechanics for FOUR years and can`t work out what a fuse does?

Time well spent there.

[JessLee2428]

Polome said:

Not sure if your car the same but my polo ,2000 model had a headlight adjustment linkage attached to the rear suspension…the small link joining suspension to the controller had broken ( plastic )..and wasn’t sending message to headlights….can’t remember the cost but it was cheap to replace…maybe worth a check on your car since both lights appear to be inoperative.

Thank you, I will check this out. Although, I now believe I will have no choice but to buy two new headlamps now as it turns out the previous owner has bought the wrong ones for my car! There is no motor inside in order to automatically adjust the headlamp levelling device, sadly! Appreciate your advise though

[JessLee2428]

Hammer67 said:

Eh? You studied mechanics for FOUR years and can`t work out what a fuse does?

Time well spent there.

I know what a fuse does, that wasn’t my question. What I didn’t know is if the headlamp levelling device requires one in order for the whole function to work.

I even stated that I clearly do not know very much despite studying for four years. Trying to put someone down over the internet?

Time well spent there.

[Kaptain slow]

Is it the model with the four round lights up front ?

Could you not get two whole headlamps and associated levelling gear from a breakers or online rather than new ?

[Turkish91]

Insecure, misted and knackered levelling motors… New headlights would solve all of these.

[mickyh7]

Turkish91 said:

Insecure, misted and knackered levelling motors… New headlights would solve all of these.

How much would they cost, to go onto a 17 year old car?
More than the car is worth I'd guess.

[Kaptain slow]

Secondhand on eBay for £100 the pair ? Not sure if self levelling tho. Unless they all have it ?

[the-photographer]

Not OEM but might help

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272519797818

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324535293584

[mickyh7]

Kaptain slow said:

Secondhand on eBay for £100 the pair ? Not sure if self levelling tho. Unless they all have it ?

So no guarantee that they even work then!
Second hand, long distance buying!
No thanks.

[JessLee2428]

Kaptain slow said:

Secondhand on eBay for £100 the pair ? Not sure if self levelling tho. Unless they all have it ?

That’s about it. I’ve managed to get £190 so far for some good quality ones or I could take more of a risk and pay £65 each lol. From eurocarparts though so not too much of a risk!

[JessLee2428]

Kaptain slow said:

Is it the model with the four round lights up front ?

Could you not get two whole headlamps and associated levelling gear from a breakers or online rather than new ?

Nope, I have the more upgraded cersion I believe so higher in price sadly lol. Thanks, I will try that. Looking around for the best deal for days now!