Hi all

I noticed yesterday that my driver's side headlight doesn't raise or lower. Passenger side is fine - I can hear the motor on that side when I 'scroll' the dial wheel, but the driver's side seems dead.

On investigation I've come up against a brick wall.

• The motor appears to be sealed within the headlight unit. The Haynes manual says that those with a rectangular cover (which mine has) need to be cut off (!), but doesn't explain how - for example which orientation. It also says to use the screws in the 'headlight repair kit' to re-attach the cover (I don't have a kit, and wasn't intending on getting one - I can't even find anything like a 'repair kit' on the Internet). I've been unable to find anyone with a similar problem on the various forums who has done anything other than replace the entire unit which seems a bit overkill.

• I'm also unable to pull the plug from the unit - is there a clip I need to press down to release? If I could do this then I can at least check the voltage on the right pins.

Has anyone successfully replaced the motor in a head light unit?

Is this fault going to be an MOT failure - do the headlights need to be adjustable, or just pointing at the correct angle (I think it's ok as-is)?

Photo attached showing the rear of the headlight unit, and I've circled where I believe the motor is located.

Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

First Welcome to the forum.

Here's a guide from the dealer manual on replacing the motor

9N3 Hella Headlight Removing and installing headlight range control motor.doc

6Q0 998 296 Right

6Q0 998 295A Left

1K6 941 295 Motor

Thanks very much for the guide. That at least explains how to cut open the cover, but it does look like I need the repair kit to keep the moisture out. I assume the 'right' and 'left' part numbers are for the repair kit? Where can I get that from?

I think replacing the entire unit is probably the easiest solution so I'll check the local scrap yards - unless you have any other ideas?

Thanks again.

Yes they are the repair kit part numbers,, it would be a VW or TPS to supply.

You might be better off trying for a complete replacement, but you don't know what your getting from a scrappy!! If they are anything like the headlights on the other models it's often not the actual motor that fails, most common is where the ball joint on the end of the motor shaft fits into the adjustment mechanism this bit snaps, or the wiring to the tiny 3 pin connector corrodes and falls off

Thanks for your reply. I agree a scrappy might be a bit hit-or-miss. Fitting a new unit is also pretty daunting - requires removal of bumper, plus replacement unit will likely require re-alignment anyway.

They don't make it easy!

Either way, if you go for the repair kit, or a replacement, you'll have to remove the headight unit and all that entails