Hi, I've just been told that my front drivers side light isn't working. The passenger side is working!

This is a shock to me and I wonder why my Focus Titanium 2020 plate, dashboard hasn't got a warning light lit up indicating that there's a fault. My friend tried to bang the light and that failed to get it to come on.

My car's under a years Ford warranty and that can't cover that particular item, surely? 

Would someone kindly advise what may have happened, please? And what can I do to get the problem sorted out ? Go to Halfords, perhaps? or an independent garage?

I should be grateful for a response/s.

Thanks in advance.

Martin.

P.S I hope I haven't posted where I shouldn't have. If I have, apologies

13 minutes ago, fiesta boy said:

My car's under a years Ford warranty and that can't cover that particular item, surely? 

Would someone kindly advise what may have happened, please? And what can I do to get the problem sorted out ? Go to Halfords, perhaps? or an independent garage?

Martin, have you owned a car before? A bulb can blow at any time for many reasons. Yep, with the knowledge you have displayed, my advice is pop down to Halfords, and pay them the few quid to supply & fit one for you... (No warranty will cover blown bulbs...) Oh, don't 'bang' the light, you may shatter the headlight and you'll be in deep doodoos 🤣

Yes I have owned cars before and I do know that bulbs/ fuses can fail. I was just shocked that no warning light/s came on , on the dash. If it wasn't for the fact that a mechanic didn't just happen to be there, I would have never ever known. The previous car that I had for 22 years always showed me when there was a fault. Bearing in mind that the car spec is a Titanium it's shocked me even more.

Thank you Stephen; I am grateful to you for replying and for your advice.

Martin

Legally it is the drivers responsibility to check lights regularly.

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-safe

 

Is it the dipped beam bulb that has failed?  Or the LED DRL?  Very different repairs needed depending on which it is.

 

Just now, TomsFocus said:

Is it the dipped beam bulb that has failed?  Or the LED DRL?

I didn't want to complicate matters as the OP did state it was the, 'sidelight'... 😁

Just now, StephenFord said:

I didn't want to complicate matters as the OP did state it was the, 'sidelight'... 😁

That is the LED DRL though.  So a much bigger repair than just changing the manky yellow halogen for dipped beam.

 

5 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

That is the LED DRL though.  So a much bigger repair than just changing the manky yellow halogen for dipped beam.

 

My fault - I have mistaken a 'sidelight' for an LED DRL, who'd have thought... (I think I'm too old as for me, a 'sidelight', is a 'sidelight' LOL)

In my defense, I took the OPs word for it, after all, he's had a car for 22 years! 😂

I'm cracking up about the "my mate tried banging it"... someone clearly remembers the Fonz and crt tellies😂 

1 hour ago, fiesta boy said:

my Focus Titanium 2020 plate,

I'm a little confused firstly about what car you have as your profile says its a 2022 Focus ST Line.

Neither model would normally have the front sidelight (now known as parking light) on unless the vehicle ignition was off and the light switch was turned from 'Auto' to the parking light position.

If this is the front light that is displayed when the ignition is on and the light switch is in the 'Auto' position then it will be the DRL and not the parking light.

As regards the lamp failure indication, the system does not monitor the parking lights (formally known as sidelights) or the DRL's and so would not show a warning.

I own a Focus 20 plate Titanium and my son owns a 22/23 plate St Line. Sorry for the confusion. I called it the sidelight but it's probably not called the sidelight?

I am looking through my Owners manual to see exactly what it it's called but haven't found it yet. I will carry on looking. I was just very curious why my model which has so many things that I've never come across before didn't have a warning light that came up indicating that a bulb had gone?

I will have to see if the man ( mechanic) that told me the light had gone can help me or else go to Halfords.

Thanks to everyone for helping me

I must be getting old.  There's such a thing as a "walk 'round check" that I do once a week.  All lights and hazard lights on then walk around the car to see if any bulbs have failed.  No computer required )

9 minutes ago, Bar72 said:

I must be getting old.  There's such a thing as a "walk 'round check" that I do once a week.  All lights and hazard lights on then walk around the car to see if any bulbs have failed.  No computer required )

You can also carry out checks when stuck in traffic, and use the vehicle in front to reflect back your lights. Or, when you're reversing near some glass fronted building to do same. I'm old too LOL

If you can post a picture of both lights together on here, one showing the faulty light, we can confirm which light it is.

For reference, this is diagram for the left hand side halogen headlight.

DRL around the edge (in purple)
Indicator bulb on the left
Dipped beam bulb on the right
High beam bulb in the centre

(The positions are reversed for the right hand headlight)

5 hours ago, Bar72 said:

I must be getting old.  There's such a thing as a "walk 'round check" that I do once a week.  All lights and hazard lights on then walk around the car to see if any bulbs have failed.  No computer required )

I must follow your advice which makes a lot of sense

4 hours ago, StephenFord said:

You can also carry out checks when stuck in traffic, and use the vehicle in front to reflect back your lights. Or, when you're reversing near some glass fronted building to do same. I'm old too LOL

Nice one, too

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

If you can post a picture of both lights together on here, one showing the faulty light, we can confirm which light it is.

For reference, this is diagram for the left hand side halogen headlight.

DRL around the edge (in purple)
Indicator bulb on the left
Dipped beam bulb on the right
High beam bulb in the centre

(The positions are reversed for the right hand headlight)

I was thinking of that but am not sure I know how to attach a picture , which I took earlier./ my wife came to the rescue !!!

Bytw my car's going to Fords on weds evening and I shall ask them to look at it/them and advise me. I'm still very baffled that no warning light has come up on the dash. I went to the car today and looked at both sets of lights and neither was on ( either side of the car). I then thought I should ask the mechanic to come out again and explain why he said one was on and one was off. I'm referring to the light under the headlight

The "light under the headlight" is the fog lamp. This doubles up as a cornering lamp when the ignition is on and the wheel is turned. Could it be that?

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/112095-mk4-fog-light-cornering-lights/

HOW DO CORNERING LAMPS WORK



The cornering lamps illuminate the inside of a corner when you are turning the steering wheel or when you switch the turn signal lamps on.

Note:   You cannot activate the system by switching the turn signal lamps on if your vehicle is stationary.

AHeadlamp beam. BCornering lamp beam.

 

21 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

HOW DO CORNERING LAMPS WORK

Badly in my opinion 🤔

Which is why I've used FORScan to disable the pointless function on my car.

Thank you Eric, Very informative.

I don't recall me attempting to corner. I was driving very slowly and getting ready to reverse park my car in the garage. I definitely will talk to the mechanic tomorrow , when I see him and also explain all that I posted, when I leave my car with Trustford on Weds.

Thanks everyone.

6 minutes ago, fiesta boy said:

I was driving very slowly and getting ready to reverse park my car in the garage.

That would be enough to cause one of the front fog lights (cornering light) to come on. It only takes about 5 degrees of steering to cause one to come on.

Can we just confirm that you don't mean, the DRL under the headlight?? As according to the schematic posted by @TomsFocus it doesn't continue all the way round?

If you want to test the corner light theory:  Go outside when it's dark.  (Difficult this time of year!). Start the engine and then turn the steering wheel half a turn one way and then have a look.  One of the fog lights should come on by doing that.  Turn it the other way to check the other bulb.

If it turns out one of the bulbs has blown, they are just standard halogen bulbs, cheap and easy to replace.  For reference, those lights are not required legally or for MOT so I don't think there will be a warning message if one of those does fail.

2 hours ago, unofix said:

That would be enough to cause one of the front fog lights (cornering light) to come on. It only takes about 5 degrees of steering to cause one to come on.

Blimey Really? Ok I will still ask Fords for their views on wed/thurs

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

If you want to test the corner light theory:  Go outside when it's dark.  (Difficult this time of year!). Start the engine and then turn the steering wheel half a turn one way and then have a look.  One of the fog lights should come on by doing that.  Turn it the other way to check the other bulb.

If it turns out one of the bulbs has blown, they are just standard halogen bulbs, cheap and easy to replace.  For reference, those lights are not required legally or for MOT so I don't think there will be a warning message if one of those does fail.

Too kind Tom. I will try that when the weather changes i.e when it gets dark/er

Of course, as a very last resort, you could always try & read the owners manual 🤣

https://www.ford.co.uk/support/vehicle/focus-2018/2022/owner-manuals