Fog Light MOT fail

[mcbutler]

Hi All,

I bought a tintop 2 days ago, it failed MOT on the rear foglight showing a white lamp!

I have the all in one clusters with the reverse lamp at the bottom on the passenger side and a fog light at the bottom on drivers side.

The foglight has a red bulb in it, does this seem right or should I have a red lens?

Foglight switch is a DIY affair on the dash, I feel that it was originally a reverse lamp which has been re-used.

If this is the case can I turn it back into a reverse light and have no foglights? Is this legal?

Cheers all

Mark

[Northern Bongolow]

that was a reverse light that has been converted!!
most have 2 reverse lights and do an internal mod that puts a bulb and holder into the reflector part of the lamp and fit a brighter bulb.but most have a dangly rear fog light as an add on.
you must have a rear fog in this country.

[missfixit70]

As Ady said, legal requirement for a rear fog, I fitted mine in the "spare" lens after pinching the idea from someone who pinched it from one of Nevets AA mates http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=24588
Sounds like your mot station are being a bit pedantic re the white light if it's got a red bulb, red lens tape? or a squirt of red spray inside the cluster?

[francophile1947]

Mine is like yours and passed MOT with a red bulb - can't see why yours should fail, unless the red coating, on the bulb, has come off

[Doone]

...And doesn't illuminate automatically when the Bongo's put in reverse.

[missfixit70]

Good point Lorna, could also be it's been wired wrong so t'other reverse light comes on?

[mikexgough]

Mine is like yours and passed MOT with a red bulb - can't see why yours should fail, unless the red coating, on the bulb, has come off

Me neither......I have a 36 LED red bulb in mine..... passed the last 2 MOT no probs.... The LED gives same brightness as a Red 21w BUT looks clear in the offside Reverse light cluster..... Could be a pedantic tester too.....he could advise or even fit a Red bulb for you....

[jaylee]

Good point Lorna, could also be it's been wired wrong so t'other reverse light comes on?

Nah! woulda/coulda shorted other wise..?? Wasn't red & 21 watt enough..?

Just got unlucky with the tester??

Where are you mcbutler i got a spare fog.. could legalize you in 1/2 hour...?

[mcbutler]

In Plymouth matey, sorted it today by putting a surface mounted fog lamp on the rear bumper and reinstating the reversing lamp to its original use.
Lot neater now.

[Diplomat]

francophile1947 wrote:
Mine is like yours and passed MOT with a red bulb - can't see why yours should fail, unless the red coating, on the bulb, has come off

I had an advisory on mine not being red enough the time before last so I checked it and found that a clear bulb had been painted over with nail varnish, or similar. I wonder which importer uses that particular mod?

A proper red bulb raised no comment from my very conscientious tester last time round.

I agree that having only one rather feeble reversing light is painfully inadequate. Is it illegal to fit a nice big halogen flood somewhere inboard of the bumper so it won't get damaged but shining downwards so it will cast plenty of light onto the road surface,with some spill out to the sides as well as the rear? I need this facility for backing into unlit private property mainly and also reversing parallel to kerbs.

I would probably want to give it a separate dashboard switch but interlock it using a relay with it's coil in the normal circuit so it cant get left on. Even having a spring biased off switch would do.


Frank

[jaylee]

francophile1947 wrote:
Mine is like yours and passed MOT with a red bulb - can't see why yours should fail, unless the red coating, on the bulb, has come off

I had an advisory on mine not being red enough the time before last so I checked it and ound that a clear bulb had been painted over with nail varnish, or similar. I wonder which importer uses that particular mod?

A proper red bulb raised no comment from my very conscientious tester last time round.

I agree that having only one rather feeble reversing light is painfully inadequate. Is it illegal to fit a nice big halogen flood somewhere inboard of the bumper so it won't get damaged but shining downwards so it will cast plenty of light onto the road surface,with some spill out to the sides as well as the rear? I need this facility for backing into unlit private property mainly and also reversing parallel to kerbs.

I would probably want to give it a separate dashboard switch but interlock it using a relay with it's coil in the normal circuit so it cant get left on. Even having a spring biased off switch would do.


Frank

I rigged an extra light to come on only in reverse & only when my lights are on to help on such occasions... & mainly so i don't back over tents!


I fitted an isolator switch so it needn't come on all the time.


Of course, i've seen classier set ups.. Freewheeler (Bob) got a mini spot at the back, set just under the bumper? & Bigdaddycains looks like dawn coming up!!

Is it legal...? Used sensibly, shouldn't be a problem... But i could be wrong?

[francophile1947]

I believe that more than 21w in a reversing light is illegal, except when only used off public roads.