Club 80-90 Forums

My van has failed its MOT on 'NEARSIDE (WITH IGNITION OFF) FRONT POSITION LAMP NOT WORKING'
Firstly - I have looked at the MOT checklist and cant see that this is part of the test - but maybe Ive missed it.
Secondly - having tested it we are confused!!! with the ignition off you whichever way the indicator is switched too it only lights the O/S??
Any suggestions please???

Thank you in advance

I think they mean the sidelights not working?

^^^^^ sounds good to me..check both the side lights are working

although normally they would tell you and replace it for a quid or so , so you dont need to retest for the sake of a bulb..depends on the station i suppose

D&DCAMPA wrote:My van has failed its MOT on 'NEARSIDE (WITH IGNITION OFF) FRONT POSITION LAMP NOT WORKING'
Firstly - I have looked at the MOT checklist and cant see that this is part of the test - but maybe Ive missed it.

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s01000101.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - no mention of ignition switch at all.

Secondly - having tested it we are confused!!! with the ignition off you whichever way the indicator is switched too it only lights the O/S??

Most vehicles don't even have the side-to-side selectable parking lights, and where it is fitted, it isn't testable.

Assuming the sidelights do all actually work, I can't see what they've failed it for. Add in their seat "issues", and I'd be going somewhere else.

On mine with the ignition off , when my indicator lever pushed as if indicating left then the left rear and left front side light, lights up and if indicating right then the right rear and right front side lights, light up. It's normal for only one side to iluminate. I would have thought as long as on yours the off side light up they would have been happy ?

Correct, they only work one side with ignition off. Thats standard on these.

It's not the parking lights, i.e indicator positon to put parkin light on, its the front side lights that have failed. Leave indicator stalk in the off posiiton and put your light switch to the first position 'i.e sidelights with no key in. Should have 2 front lights and 2 rear. 5w peanut bulb.

Interesting this - how would a test be carried out on an old vehicle without a battery and just a handle to start? As far as I know there is no requirement for a vehicle to have a battery.
Front sidelights used to be running lights for built up areas - it was frowned upon to have headlights on in town. Therefore they did not need to be on without the ignition. The parking lights were quite often a single bulb with a clear lens to the front and a red to the rear clipped to the side window.
Just some random thoughts.

To be honest, as a tester if something that old came in for test, then I would run a mile or quickly loose my smart card so could not test it. Old stuff is not for me just gives you a headache trawling through the manual for the dates and to see what it needs or doesn't need. Any thing pre 1970 can stay parked up in a garage

Hi everyone - Thanks for your replies,
Just to clarify - both sidelights work but it failed on the 'parking light' which we cannot get to work either side - and would suggest it doesnt have it??
I have spoken to a couple of people who have said theirs doesnt have it - so wondering if 'every' vehicle does or not??
basically it turns on both side lights as it would normally.
Friday is retest day so getting abit frustrated with it!

Do the sidelights work with the ignition off?

Otherwise parking lights are not testable and are not fitted to all vehicles.

Yes the sidelights work with the ignition off.

I don't have the parking light that works on the indicator on my van. Never have failed an MoT for not having it. Your tester must need to go back to school.

Just make sure all the side lights work and send it for retest.
From the vt40 'NEARSIDE (WITH IGNITION OFF) FRONT POSITION LAMP NOT WORKING'
This is the sidelights. nothing to do with indicator parkin lights

Wanted to update you all that I discovered that I dont have the 'parking facility lights' on my van - so spoke to the manager on Tuesday who confirmed that it shouldnt have failed on it and that he would personally do the retest - which he did today and lo and behold it passed!!!!
Now just got to get my seats repaired that they kindly wrecked in the first place!!!!!
Thank you for all your replies and advice as always.