Can anybody tell me how to disconnect the headlight levelling motors in an 03 Fiesta? Mine are whirring continuously when the headlights are on. Thanks for the help.

Before you disconnect them, have you checked all the conections and operated the control pot on the switch from one end to the other a few times to find if they stop whirring in any particular position?  If both are whirring, the only common thing is the switch and the ground for the control pot.  Are the headlights pointing in the right direction ?

If you have to disconnect, pin 1, Bu/Rd on the back of the switch will disconnect the control signal to the levelling, and then you may need to get the lights adjusted. There are a lot of connections on the back of the switch, and no specific fuse for levelling.

I do not know if a car fitted with levelling needs them to work to pass an MOT ??  Anyone help here ?

Thanks guys.

My understanding is the MOT is ok so long as the headlights are set at an appropriate level. I am basing that on fairly random opinion from t'internet though.

It is both motors that are whirring (although one of them stopped, for a while, when I gave it a clonk). Bit wierd cos neither of them were doing it when I bought the car, next day they are both doing it. I think it might have started after I tried the full beam for some reason.

I've tried all levels of the switch, same result. How do I get the switch out to have a look at it? Do I need to take the fascia off or can the switch just be prised out? (Searched for this info already but can't find out.)

For your version, the relevant Haynes paragraph starts with "This is an extremely difficult switch to remove"....... Held in with three screws, only accessible from behind the facsia it seems.

My recommendation is to get a copy from a certain auction site...  Your local Oxfam shop may also have a copy - ours always seem to have a few on various cars, so you might strike lucky.(but in Scotland, some paragraphs may be redacted!)

The ground for the levelling control is on the steering column fixings somewhere.  I think the headlamp levelling only works with the dip beam.

 

1 minute ago, FiestaForever said:

A car will pass an mot without a levelling switch , or headlights that have the ability to have the levels changed. 

I think that later cars that are fitted with what I call "Overbright" headlamps need to have working automatic levelling ?

MOT manual

4.1.5 Levelling devices
Make sure any manual headlamp levelling devices (driver controls) work by:
• switching on the dipped beam headlamps
• operating the manual levelling device
• checking that the headlamp beams move up and down
• returning the levelling device control to its original position
Vehicles with high intensity discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with a suspension or headlamp self-levelling system. If these systems have been fitted, they must work.
Sometimes it isn't easy to determine if the self-levelling systems work. In such cases you should give the benefit of the doubt.

OK, I'm not an MOT tester, but what is the relevance of "(driver controls)"  ?

The adjusters on the headlamp unit itself normally require a tool of some description (eg a long 7mm hex drive) so surely cannot be considered driver controls and are generally adjusted by a garage using specialist equipment ?

Ok thanks to you both. That video looks like what I need. The problem has actually now fixed itself, at least for now - today the headlights adjusted to their set level and then the motors stopped whirring. I will check the the wiring of the switch though as probably the problem will recur.

FiestaForever, you say the '03 is a Mark 6? I'm confused about this - my searches suggested it would be a Mark 5. Although I do now find some saying Mk 6. What is going on with that? Mk5 in some countries, Mk 6 in others?

5 minutes ago, FiestaForever said:

I am glad you brought that up. It is technically a mark 5 but Britain is a strange country, and to many of us, it is a mark 6. If you go to say a car parts site in Germany, it is a mark 5, even some car parts sites here in Uk will have it as an mk5 too. I have no idea why there is contradicting information around, it's just plain strange.

Strange right enough. Need to watch out when ordering parts then.

Sean,

I certainly agree with your logic, it seems over the top that as long as the beam is in the correct alignment, it would be a problem.

Steve,

Regular confusion over what mark a 2003 Fiesta is, and as Sean says 2002-08 oes identify the model, and it seems you must have a facelift model, glad to hear it is currently working !