Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Topuz on 21 May 2012, 18:42:39

Title: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: Topuz on 21 May 2012, 18:42:39
Previous owner fitted some cheap-ass aftermarket HIDs to my 2003 Omega, and they're so horrible that I'm ashamed to show you the picture. The wires for HIDs are routed from inside the headlight outside through the bulb cover opening, rubber covers are lost somewhere along the way so dirt and dust comes in, they barely produce any light whatsoever, sometimes they refuse to turn on the first time...  >:( So, I've decided to dump them and return to all-stock. I've already got two pairs of Osram Night Breakers (two for dipped and two for main) and I'm making a list of things I need before I start doing anything.

That brings me to the point. The inner headlight assembly is flopping around on both headlights, which I've heard is a symptom of broken headlight adjusters. But, mine work fine I can clearly see that they're moving when i move the switch. Wihy are they flopping around then?

I'll probably remove both headlights anyway to clean them before i put the new bulbs in, but I just want to know should I expect broken adjusters or not?
Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: RobG on 21 May 2012, 18:48:26
Previous owner fitted some cheap-ass aftermarket HIDs to my 2003 Omega, and they're so horrible that I'm ashamed to show you the picture. The wires for HIDs are routed from inside the headlight outside through the bulb cover opening, rubber covers are lost somewhere along the way so dirt and dust comes in, they barely produce any light whatsoever, sometimes they refuse to turn on the first time...  >:( So, I've decided to dump them and return to all-stock. I've already got two pairs of Osram Night Breakers (two for dipped and two for main) and I'm making a list of things I need before I start doing anything.

That brings me to the point. The inner headlight assembly is flopping around on both headlights, which I've heard is a symptom of broken headlight adjusters. But, mine work fine I can clearly see that they're moving when i move the switch. Wihy are they flopping around then?

I'll probably remove both headlights anyway to clean them before i put the new bulbs in, but I just want to know should I expect broken adjusters or not?
The motors will move the lights regardless of state of adjusters.
Yep, busted adjusters
Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: Andy B on 21 May 2012, 18:49:10
  .....
That brings me to the point. The inner headlight assembly is flopping around on both headlights, which I've heard is a symptom of broken headlight adjusters. But, mine work fine I can clearly see that they're moving when i move the switch. Wihy are they flopping around then? .....

The headlight adjusters that break are different from the electrically operated adjusters used for heavy loads etc If you strip the headlight down you'll see the bit that's broken.  :y
Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: TheBoy on 21 May 2012, 19:28:29
And best way to strip them is 100C oven for 10 mins.  Lens comes off nice and easy then :)
Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: flyer 0712 on 21 May 2012, 20:51:39
The boy.......thanks for the info on taking the headlights apart  it answers my question before i ask it...Not only are you all so very helpful  but must be mind readers as well...cheers  :) :y
Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: Topuz on 21 May 2012, 21:40:19
I've seen people complaining that the reflective coating on the projectors comes off extremely easy if it's been contaminated with dust or humidity. I'm kind of afraid to touch it, is it really that serious?
Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: Andy B on 21 May 2012, 21:44:04
I've seen people complaining that the reflective coating on the projectors comes off extremely easy if it's been contaminated with dust or humidity. I'm kind of afraid to touch it, is it really that serious?

Yes! You have to be careful if you stare hard at it.  ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: dbug on 21 May 2012, 21:50:47
The boy.......thanks for the info on taking the headlights apart  it answers my question before i ask it...Not only are you all so very helpful  but must be mind readers as well...cheers  :) :y

I've heard it said that TB can read minds  ::) ::) ;)
Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: TheBoy on 21 May 2012, 21:59:27
The boy.......thanks for the info on taking the headlights apart  it answers my question before i ask it...Not only are you all so very helpful  but must be mind readers as well...cheers  :) :y
Just seen your location, drove through there yesterday. Had I known, I could have dropped by and shown you ;D


//Edit, you're not the guy I dropped some headlight washers off to a couple of years ago - can't be that many Omegas in Houghton Regis  ::)
Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: TheBoy on 21 May 2012, 22:00:24
I've seen people complaining that the reflective coating on the projectors comes off extremely easy if it's been contaminated with dust or humidity. I'm kind of afraid to touch it, is it really that serious?
Very, very easy to wreck. Nothing harder than a very gentle wipe with a soft cloth.
Title: Re: Adjusters working, but inner headlight assembly flops around
Post by: Andy B on 21 May 2012, 22:04:17
..... Nothing harder than a very gentle wipe with a soft cloth.

Even that's debatable, the silvering was damaged on one of mine doing exactly what you've described.  ???