Astra Headlights

[Wendelspanswick]

My Son has a 57 plate 1.8 Astra which is due for MOT this week. The nearside headlight is out so he bought some H7 bulbs but on going to change them he has realised that they are HID projector lamps, he says the nearside one glows yellow but doesn't light.
A mate of his reckons it must be an after market conversion as if you have HID lamps you also have to have headlamp washers which he doesn't.
He's worried that if he goes to the expense of changing the lamp (circa £100) it will fail the MOT as it has no headlight washers.
It's outside of my knowledge base as all my vehicles have standard bulbs.

 

[anto44]

get a picture of the back of the headlight and I'll tell you if it's aftermarket

 

[gav0994]

His mate is correct in regards to HiD lighting requirements. They must be fitted with headlight washers and self levelling system.

 

[Aaron_]

His mate is correct in regards to HiD lighting requirements. They must be fitted with headlight washers and self levelling system.

Only if the HID are standard on the car not after market

 

[gav0994]

Only if the HID are standard on the car not after market

That's why the aftermarket HID are not legal

 

[pondy]

Only if the HID are standard on the car not after market

as above, i had this on an mot a week ago, test manual only mentions standard fitment

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Well some progress, it does have headlight washers.
He didn't realise the washers, which are hidden, only activate when the lights are on and you activate the windscreen washers.
We swapped the bulb for one from his scrap Mazda and it briefly lights but goes out so we are going to swap the ballast/transformer thingy from the offside.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

So we've swapped the ballast and the bulb but the fault stays on the nearside so it must be the supply wiring, it looks like it's 3 pins plus the casing of the plug but we can't see where the cable goes to.
Is there anything else we need to look at?

 

[bs2236]

I have just had a similar issue with my sons nissan, it turned out to be the contacts in the lighting switch on the stalk. stripped the multi function switch, cleaned all contacts and all sorted.

 

[normspanners]

as above, i had this on an mot a week ago, test manual only mentions standard fitment

His mate is correct in regards to HiD lighting requirements. They must be fitted with headlight washers and self levelling system.

when testing, whether they are standard does not matter and is not in the manual just IF fitted the washers and levelers must work BUT you cant test the leveling system so, benefit of doubt is given. ie you presume they are working.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Finally found the problem, it's the ballast control unit, there is one fitted to the base of each headlight and to access it you need to drop the front bumper and remove the headlight units.
It's a 5DV 008 290 00 and when you swap them over the fault goes with the ballast control unit, not too bad for a replacement, about £35.

What ever happened to opening the bonnet, pull the plug off, undo spring clip and remove bulb!!!

 

[Cobbler]

What ever happened to opening the bonnet, pull the plug off, undo spring clip and remove bulb!!!

Progress they call it. I've got projector lights on my Skoda, not HID ones though & they are useless. I spoke to the dealers one time & asked about them, the reply "yes they aren't good are they" why fit them then!

 

[normspanners]

Some of the problem with halogen headlights is the size of the wires, nowdays they use cable that would have been used for sidelights years ago, and if you test the voltage at the bulb you are only getting 11V ish or under, a good mod is to fit relays close to the lights with thicker cabling it makes a marked difference to the 'throw' of the lights.