Mot And Indicator Bulbs

[paul.h]

Our C3 (2003 1.4sx petrol) passed the MOT today but to get through it had to have all 4 indicator bulbs replaced and a slow puncture repaired. I have not seen the car yet to tell if the indicators are any brighter but the bulbs are the orange painted ones and were still the originals. Since any loss of brightness (or orangeness) would be gradual it would be hard to check before the test and the day before they looked ok to me. For the next test though I may just replace them all to save the possible labour charge and keep the old ones as spares (or maybe just temporarily fit the new ones for the MOT). I did not take the car for the MOT but maybe we should have asked to look at the old bulbs to see how they had deteriorated.

[Johndouglas]

It seems to be a favourite fail for some MOT stations which I've used in the past. Happily my present test centre where I take four cars per year, usually put it down as an advisory, "O/s indicator bulb slightly discoloured". Then I change them just prior to the next test.

Pity that yellow paint that used to be on sale for UK visitors going to France with yellow headlamps isn't still available.

[ukwide]

It seems to be a favourite fail for some MOT stations which I've used in the past. Happily my present test centre where I take four cars per year, usually put it down as an advisory, "O/s indicator bulb slightly discoloured". Then I change them just prior to the next test.

Pity that yellow paint that used to be on sale for UK visitors going to France with yellow headlamps isn't still available.

 

 

John,

 

It's still available, take your pick:

 

Amber/Orange Car Bulb Colour Tinting Lacquer/Paint 12ml

£4.95 - PassionAuto.co.uk

Granville Amber Light brush on bulb paint

£4.99 - Direct Car Parts

 

Gary

[Johndouglas]

 

It's still available,

 

 

 

Thanks - That's interesting - but with four cars to look after I've already bought a box of ten bulbs at around £7.50.

[paul.h]

I got the chance to check our C3 MOT work at the weekend and was not impressed. We were new customers for Evans Hallshaw Citroen in Hull but are unlikely to use them again.

All 6 indicator bulbs had been replaced but to do the front left you remove the battery and fuse box covers for access. The fuse box cover retaining clip is tricky to undo (I have done it a few times, the clip has to be levered off from the back with a small screwdriver) but found the clip lower retaining lug had simply been cut off leaving the cover loose and liable to let water in - as a fix I used a screw in place of the lug to hold it down. I also found the air filter box 90° turn plastic retainer clip was missing - this would not come out on its own so possibly the filter box had also been moved. Finally, the clip holding the right hand headlight bulb cover was not fully on. All simple things but if this is how they treat the car of a new customer I will not use them. It is 2 months since the MOT so there is little point in complaining and now it would be difficult to show they were responsible.

Edited June 17, 2012 by paul.h