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Main and dip beam together?
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 8:50 pm
by Animal Mother
Normally, in a UK spec car, do the main and dip part of the headlamps illuminate on main beam and when using the flash/pass?
I think Mr MOT man is being an arse as he's failed the car on it. I think he's wrong.
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 8:55 pm
by Ammo
Dip and main should be on at the same time
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:07 pm
by judderod
Report him to VOSA.
Better still, take it straight to a VOSA MOT centre, and if it passes, then report him.
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:09 pm
by Animal Mother
Thanks chaps.
judderod wrote:Report him to VOSA
He's getting "re-educated" this week.

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:13 pm
by RattyMcClelland
NO!
On the 5th Gen the driving lights are seperate to the high beam, when you put the high beams on the driving beams will be on also.
On my van its the same again BUT when you put the high beams on the driving beams go out.
Your MOT man sounds like a

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:56 pm
by Animal Mother
RattyMcClelland wrote:NO!
On the 5th Gen the driving lights are seperate to the high beam, when you put the high beams on the driving beams will be on also.
I'm not sure what you're saying. You answered "NO!" and then seemed to agree with what I put.
There are 4 types of lights on the front of the car. These are:
1. Dip beam (normal headlamps)
2. Main beam (little blue light on dash when switched on)
3. Driving lamps (sometimes mistakenly called front fogs)
4. Side lights
I was talking about 1 and 2.
Basically I was asking when 2 is switched on, does 1 stay on?
Also, when 2 is "flashed" (stalk pulled toward you) does 1 stay on?
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:12 pm
by RattyMcClelland
Driving lights are your low beam, sidelights are the small lights, fogs lights are fog lights and the high beam is the unleash hell beam.
I was saying "NO!" to your MOT bus stop wanker.
But with what you said on a Prelude and most cars when 2 is switched on 1 stays on. When 2 is flashed, 1 stays on.
BUT ALSO
It works the other way like on my VW T5 Van.
When 2 is switched on 1 goes off and same again with the flash. Also my sidelights go out when the driving low beam is on.
BOTH are fine.
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:25 pm
by honda-hardy
on my 3rd gen if you have dip beam on ie 1 and then flash your lights to let someone out or just to flash, then 1 stays on and main 2 flashes, if you have dip on 1 and then pull the stalk back til it clicks main 2 comes on and dip 1 comes off.
on the 4th gen its different again, the headlight is split in 2, main and dip are separate but main dip stays on as stalk is clicked back to put the main on
http://www.ukmot.com/1-2.asp#Text_top
the mot rule does not mention the dip beam extinguishes as the main is on.
A 'matched pair' is a pair of lamps which Both emit light of substantially the same colour and intensity, and Are both the same size and shape, so that they are symmetrical to one another.
3. Switch on each main-beam headlamp and check that all main beams are switched off by one switch (dip switch) which leaves a matched pair of dipped beam headlamps switched on, or the main beam headlamp reflectors are deflected by a driver's control, to make them dipped beams.
3. a. A headlamp does not operate immediately when selected on dipped beam or on main beam
b. Operation of the dip switch does not extinguish all main beam headlamps, and leave on at least one pair of dipped beam headlamps, or deflect the main beams to make them dipped beams
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:42 pm
by honda-hardy
Ammo wrote:Dip and main should be on at the same time
only on a 4th, not a 3rd but not sure about 5th
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:10 am
by RattyMcClelland
On my 4 and 5th gen driving and main beams were seperate. On my 3rd gen its a h4 but and the high beam is a solenoid which moves a light blocker. So it was one bulb for both beams. Like bi xenons but not hid.