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MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
http://classiccamaroclub.mfatw.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4188		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  arjk [Fri Nov 14, 2014 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
My '68 has just failed its MOT. The clear front indicator lenses have amber bulbs. They act as both indicator and sidelight. To pass the indicators need to be amber, and the lights white.

Does anyone know how to solve this?
Author:  chevy-stu [Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
Best way is to find an mot tester that won't fail it.. (if possible);)

Quite a good upgrade is change to modern halogen headlight units with halogen bulbs and built in sidelight. Then just rewire existing indicator to just indicate function. .
Author:  78 Camaro [Fri Nov 14, 2014 3:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
Interesting... couple of thoughts:

1) My personal experience is that i have a 3rd gen which has amber lenses, therefore the running light and indicator are in the same housing, making it impossible to have a white running light. Car has been in the country for many years and has been MOT'd this way.

2) What Chevy Stu says (mini 7" headlights should work):
Quote:
change to modem halogen headlight units with halogen bulbs and built in sidelight. Then just rewire existing indicator to just indicate function. .
3) I know of a way without touching the wiring or anything, should it be required. I have done this on my 2nd gen which also has clear lenses. Purchase something called a switchback LED. This type of LED bulb has amber coloured LED's on one circuit and white LED's on the second circuit. Therefore, when placed in a BAY15d (dual circuit) bulb holder, depending on which circuit is receiving voltage, the colour will change.

I can't see any on ebay right now, but i bought a set earlier in the year. You can buy them from a Hong Kong seller on ebay, only a few quid and about 1-2 weeks delivery. Alternatively there's a place in the U.S that i originally got a set from. http://www.autolumination.com/switchback.html

Have a look at my build thread, got a few snaps in there of it in action: http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com/phpB ... f=1&p=9830
Author:  Twistedsanity [Fri Nov 14, 2014 3:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
im with the "find another MOT place" brigade, theres no shortage of them about! whereabouts in the country are you?
Author:  arjk [Fri Nov 14, 2014 3:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
Thanks for all the very useful replies.

I live near Norwich - have been told about a place which should pass the car as is. trouble is having to shell out another fifty quid!

I've looked into the LED option - the bulbs are on Amazon. However feedback says that the white also comes on with the amber lights - as they are brighter than the amber they effectively cancel it out.

As I only have ten days to fix this the 7" Mini lights seems to be the most straightforward option. Do you know if the following would work (I am not a Mini guy)...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI- ... 27e7bc3838

Cheers,

Ash
Author:  78 Camaro [Fri Nov 14, 2014 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
Quote:
Do you know if the following would work (I am not a Mini guy)...
Yessirr:

http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/7326 ... light-size
Quote:
r feedback says that the white also comes on with the amber lights - as they are brighter than the amber they effectively cancel it out.
Interesting, there are a few different types of swtichback out there. The ones i have, i had the option of going for ones that kept the white on whilst the amber came on, or another type swiched the white off while the amber was illuminated. The ones i got from the states are briliant - when running lights are on, then indicator is activated, it will be white inbetween the flashes and the flashes are amber only. Paid a decent price for them but i'm quite happy with them. I have them for the rear too... white reverse light and amber indicator in a clear housing. In comparison, the 3rd gen i have has had the wiring redone so that the reveerse lights are indicators and it doesn't have reverse lights... finding that reversing in the dark is a bit more difficult, so going to look at getting a dual bulb holder into the housing and then doing the same switchback LED in there.

Let us know how you get on with changing out the lights. If you get it fixed within 10 / 14 days, they shouldn't charge you again, right?
Author:  arjk [Fri Nov 14, 2014 5:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
Thanks once again

Will do!

:thumbup:
Author:  DAVID BROWN [Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
My car has never failed, I have a very nice MOT man.
You can always ask the Mot place how they stand with amber/white lights if they say they will fail it, go somewhere else, saves you money.
Author:  3rdGenmalc [Sat Nov 15, 2014 9:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
I had to get rid of my amber sidelights too, just rewired from the sidelight connection at the indicator to a bulb placed in the headlight.

Here in Spain all cars are on an MOT computer, all stations can see your history.
Author:  sportsroof [Sat Nov 15, 2014 4:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: MOT Fail on amber front lights - can anyone help?
OK, have to jump in now. As I'm on the 'other side of the fence' I have to point out that all of you with happy MOT's that pass illegal items have BENT MOT's. I do MOT's for a job and one thing about lights that make them hard to ignore is that everyone can see them, including the Police and DVSA (was VOSA to you)
Yeah, I know you all think us MOT testers are a bunch of w*nker jobsworths but if we do happy bent MOT's for mates, and something goes wrong, who do you think gets clobbered.
Plus there are real safety implications if you think about it. Off my soapbox now.
Cheers, Martin
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