About a month ago, we fitted a pair of new Bridgestone A001 all-season tyres to the front wheels of the Focus, moving the best of the current ones (still very good) to the rear.
Shortly afterwards, I got the impression that the headlight beams were a tad high then, independently, my wife mentioned the same thing. I assumed that the new tyres were possibly bigger than the old ones and this had caused a slight raising of the front of the car - though I had never noticed this with new tyres before.
Unfortunately, the beam adjusters, which I hadn't tested for ages, just don't work - none of 'em. I wondered if there was a fuse that could affect them all, though I couldn't find a fuse specifically dedicated to this task noted in the handbook.
I'd be grateful for any ideas.
|
|
The light adjusters are on the same circuit as the dip beam headlights,so if they are working ok then it is unlikely to be a fuse issue.You could check the connectors on the back of both headlights for good contacts to the lift motor circuits.It is still possible to adjust the headlights manually via the fittings on the lights.hth
|
|
Thanks, carmalade, I'll have a look - tomorrow's a bit lairy, so may have to wait until Wednesday. I was puzzled by the fact that there appears to be no movement at all - I wonder if it could be a problem with the switch on the dashboard. I should add that I haven't checked the beam levellers since a panel lightbulb was replaced at its MoT/service in September.
|
I couldn't work out what was going on with the beam adjusters, so we've booked the car in for just into the New Year.
My wife made the observation that we have never actually found the need the use the beam adjusters as we don't ever find ourselves carrying any extra weight - particularly at night. I would estimate that virtually all of the journeys are made by my wife alone, going to work, or possibly with one passenger in the front seat. The question is therefore raised ………. couldn't the beams be adjusted and set at the required legal height without the added extra expense of sorting out the adjustment mechanism/electrics? BUT - would this be legal?
Any opinions gratefully received as usual.
|
|
As I suggested earlier,just set them up manually on a beam setter or against a wall .There is no legal requirement to have electric lifters (unless xenons fitted).there are plenty of older cars out there that have manual adjustment only.hth
|
|
Thanks, carmalade, I was thinking that your suggestion might just be a temporary measure but now I see what you mean. I wasn't sure if it was legal but as long as it's MoT-able, then that's what we may as well do.
|
|
Just to conclude, I took the Focus into our very good local independent; apparently the switch had packed up and, bearing in mind the age of the car, it wasn't worth trying to fix it. They simply, as Carmalade suggested, set the beams using their device. Hopefully, this will be sufficient to stop other drivers flashing at my wife!
|
>> Hopefully, this will be sufficient to stop other drivers flashing at my wife!
Presumably she doesn't carry much in the boot which would need the headlights adjusting downwards to compensate for the extra load at the rear end?
Surely a 2nd hand switch from a scrap yard or somewhere like ebay isn't going to break the bank.
Last edited by: VxFan on Mon 6 Jan 14 at 01:29
|
"Presumably she doesn't carry much in the boot which would need the headlights adjusting downwards to compensate for the extra load at the rear end?"
That's correct; the vast majority of the car's miles are done by my wife alone or, occasionally, with one passenger. Neither she nor I have ever felt the need to use the beam adjusters in 10 years of using the Focus - in fact, my wife confessed that she didn't even realise that the beam level adjuster was there. If we need to carry anything heavy or bulky, we use my estate car which is, at present, the Astra. Having said that, I can't remember having to use the beam adjuster on the Astra either.
It has only been in recent weeks that we noticed that the beam level on the Focus had suddenly become raised and we simply don't know if it was due to the change of tyres (which has never caused an issue before) or something brought about by a fault in the leveller switch.
|
>> in fact, my wife confessed that she didn't even realise that the beam level adjuster was there.
>>
In common with 99% of car drivers I'd bet.
|
>> Surely a 2nd hand switch from a scrap yard or somewhere like ebay isn't going
>> to break the bank.
£9.95 delivered it would seem: tinyurl.com/lj7g9ln
|
"Surely a 2nd hand switch from a scrap yard…………………"
There could well have been more to it than that……………I called in for the car the next day, a Saturday morning when only a few staff were in. The girl on reception was rather vague mentioning the switch, but I'm not sure how well informed she was on the matter.
The garage has an excellent reputation, and that is how I have always found them; and for electrical stuff, they generally refer things to a specialist next door. When the car was in for its MoT/service in September, I asked them to take a look at the lights on the instrument panel as the dials were barely discernible at night; apparently, they had referred this job to the next-door neighbour. I just wonder if any other wiring had been disturbed while that (bulb replacement) job was being done behind the dashboard.
I have to call in again on Friday so I'll see if I can find any more detail.
|
|
Replacing the speedo bulbs on these is a very easy job and does not interfere with the workings of the light switch.There is one multipin connector to the dash and that's it.The 3 illumination bulbs are special and usually only available from main dealer.I am not convinced the switch is at fault, more likely to be both lift motors in trouble.I would not bother any further,if they have been set manually.
|
" more likely to be both lift motors in trouble.I would not bother any further,if they have been set manually."
It's possible that the chaps at the garage had this in mind as well, considering that it's a fairly minor thing on a car that's approaching 12 years old and worth about £1500.
|
>> It's possible that the chaps at the garage had this in mind as well, considering
>> that it's a fairly minor thing on a car that's approaching 12 years old and
>> worth about £1500.
Sadly, probably half that figure.
|
"Sadly, probably half that figure."
That's what I felt, so I typed £1000 to start with - then the suggestions on one of the car valuation sites, I forget which one, were between about £1200 - 2000. Hence, I changed it to £1500. It doesn't much matter as the value is now written off as it trundles towards bangerdom. After a good scrub-down, following a week's cross-countrying to work with my wife, it still looks pretty good though (as does my wife!).
This morning, I called at the garage for the invoice; the switch and N/S/F headlamp adjuster were faulty. The cost of the investigation and subsequent manual setting of the beams on their contraption was £13.80 inc vat.
|
Ford Focus - 02 1.6 Beam adjusters have died…... - carmalade
