MOT failed! headlamp wrong side!

[Theflyingpostman]

I have Citroën AX 1.5D 1995, it has been through three MOT during of owning this car, today my fourth MOT has failed because the headlamp is point on the wrong side and I can't be trust him because it has been through the three MOT in the last four years at the same place but with different mechanicals people. I have not bought new headlamps before. Furthermore, I have taken photo of my headlamp code, could anyone confirm if this is right or left-hand drive?

[RichardW]

Which side did it fail on? The arrow on the glass just below the the E13 should show which way it dips. Yours are in opposing directions, and it looks to me like the passenger lamp is dipping correctly, and the driver's headlamp is wrong, and dipping to the right. An eagle eyed tester! Is this an import? You should be able to get it through the test by adding a mask to the light to remove the kick up, giving you time to find a correct RHD lamp.

[RichardW]

From the test manual

It’s acceptable for masks or converter kits to be fitted to right hand dip headlamps to temporarily alter the lamp for use in the UK by removing the beam ‘kick-up’ to the right.

[Paul-R]

Can you provide photos of each complete headlamp so we can see the full lens? The position of the kick-up should tell us.

[GiveMeABreak]

Well spotted Richard.

[Theflyingpostman]

Which side did it fail on? The arrow on the glass just below the the E13 should show which way it dips. Yours are in opposing directions, and it looks to me like the passenger lamp is dipping correctly, and the driver's headlamp is wrong, and dipping to the right. An eagle eyed tester! Is this an import? You should be able to get it through the test by adding a mask to the light to remove the kick up, giving you time to find a correct RHD lamp.

What?! It has been through three MOT, how is possible? so you are tell me that both headlamps are import? left driver side?

[Theflyingpostman]

Can you provide photos of each complete headlamp so we can see the full lens? The position of the kick-up should tell us.

I will take one now, post later.

[Theflyingpostman]

Which side did it fail on? The arrow on the glass just below the the E13 should show which way it dips. Yours are in opposing directions, and it looks to me like the passenger lamp is dipping correctly, and the driver's headlamp is wrong, and dipping to the right. An eagle eyed tester! Is this an import? You should be able to get it through the test by adding a mask to the light to remove the kick up, giving you time to find a correct RHD lamp.

It say the left (passenger side) is wrong lamp but not mentioned the right side (driverside)

[Theflyingpostman]

The OEM number on both headlamp comes out to be correct side in UK?

[RichardW]

I was thinking was the car an import?

Have you fitted a new headlamp bulb recently?

[Paul-R]

Looking at this photo of a LHD AX (from Wikipedia) both headlamps look the same as yours, i.e. both your headlamps look as though they're for LHD cars.

I'm aware that the photo is of the earlier model but the general pattern is virtually the same.



https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... uselang=fr

[Paul-R]

You can only make out the RH headlamp on this LHD car but looks the same to me.



https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... 007%29.jpg

[CitroJim]

On my AX the arrows on both headlights point to the nearside (left)...

[xantia_v6]

The situation could be even more confusing if (as is common on Citroens of that era) the headlight lenses can be easily removed from the headlight body.

A LHD/RHD body also has the bulb holder twisted to a different angle so that the dip beam is pointing slightly towards the footpath compared to main beam.

I think that it is possible that you have correct lamp bodies which have wrong lenses, or vice versa.

See also: https://www.danielsternlighting.com/tec ... codes.html. A right-pointing arrow does not appear to be a valid symbol on a headlight lens!

[xantia_v6]

The OEM number on both headlamp comes out to be correct side in UK?

Note that the UK has RHD but LHT (Left Hand Traffic), so the product page quoted above is for LHD markets.