I took my 2008 cabrio for its MOT last week and, as I expected, it passed but with three advisories: 1. nearside headlamp washer not working; 2. three tyres worn to near legal limit and 3. all four brake disks worn but still serviceable.
'But my car doesn't have headlamp washers' I said to the bloke in the office who then went off to speak with the mechanic who'd done the test. The tester emerged a few minutes later, listened to my explanation and then asked me to stand in front of the car while he demonstrated.
To my complete amazement when he turned on the headlights and held the washer stalk on for a couple of seconds what I thought were blanking plugs in the bumper opened, two arms popped out, sprayed the headlights and then retracted. What? I've only had the car for 13 years and I didn't even know they were fitted! Apparently, washers are required by law when Xenon headlamps are fitted and from 2009 they must be fully operative for MOT purposes, all of which was news to me. I also learned that when driving with the headlights on, the washers will operate every fifth time the windscreen washers are activated.
To say that I felt a complete idiot is an understatement but, looking on the bright side, both washers operated correctly during the demonstration and I drove home quite happy that my car had 'had an upgrade' during its MOT.
'But my car doesn't have headlamp washers' I said to the bloke in the office who then went off to speak with the mechanic who'd done the test. The tester emerged a few minutes later, listened to my explanation and then asked me to stand in front of the car while he demonstrated.
To my complete amazement when he turned on the headlights and held the washer stalk on for a couple of seconds what I thought were blanking plugs in the bumper opened, two arms popped out, sprayed the headlights and then retracted. What? I've only had the car for 13 years and I didn't even know they were fitted! Apparently, washers are required by law when Xenon headlamps are fitted and from 2009 they must be fully operative for MOT purposes, all of which was news to me. I also learned that when driving with the headlights on, the washers will operate every fifth time the windscreen washers are activated.
To say that I felt a complete idiot is an understatement but, looking on the bright side, both washers operated correctly during the demonstration and I drove home quite happy that my car had 'had an upgrade' during its MOT.
