Xenon Headlight Issue

[crumbta]

It seems the xenon headlights are stuck, and aimed really low. Any suggestions? The manual adjustment screws don't seem to be doing anything at all. Maybe it's just me?

[sweets4style]

If you try to manually adjust the HID headlight housings without first puytting the auto levelers in learning mode you will break the adjusters after only a few turns. And then you pretty much have junk headlight housings. So if you turned it I would say more then 1 to 2 turns in tryiong to adjust them I think you need some new housings.

[crumbta]

If you try to manually adjust the HID headlight housings without first puytting the auto levelers in learning mode you will break the adjusters after only a few turns. And then you pretty much have junk headlight housings. So if you turned it I would say more then 1 to 2 turns in tryiong to adjust them I think you need some new housings.

I didn't turn them much at all. Do I need VAG-COM to get them into learning mode?

[Austonwerner4]

Well thanks for the news. I've got junk headlights now....

[wannabeS4]

I would check the headlight level sensor in the driver side wheel well. I had this issue and it turned out to be that the level arm had broken off the sensor.

[crumbta]

I would check the headlight level sensor in the driver side wheel well. I had this issue and it turned out to be that the level arm had broken off the sensor.

Ill definitely check that out, I've also got a windshield washer leak to investigate...

Would I need to hit up the dealer to get the headlights into the correct mode to adjust them?

[sweets4style]

If you didnt turn them much at all you will probably be safe and yes you need vag com or a dealer to put them in learning mode. As for the level sensors they are on the DS front and rear lower control arms. If the arm broke that would do it, or if the sensor is bad that would do it. Sensor will throw a code when its bad as well. If you end up needing these I have extras front and rear for 20 shipped each. But that would be much better then needing new lights.

[crumbta]

If you didnt turn them much at all you will probably be safe and yes you need vag com or a dealer to put them in learning mode. As for the level sensors they are on the DS front and rear lower control arms. If the arm broke that would do it, or if the sensor is bad that would do it. Sensor will throw a code when its bad as well. If you end up needing these I have extras front and rear for 20 shipped each. But that would be much better then needing new lights.

Ok, Im not getting a CEL right now, I do see the "Service in XXX" miles, but can't tell how many, given the number of dead pixels I have. So I'll check up on the sensors in the AM. Anyone local to Salem, NH with VAG-COM? I can give gas $ or beer.

IF by chance the sensors and arms are good, are aftermarket headlights capable of the auto leveling, or is it OEM only?

Thanks for all the help!

[black99.5a4]

it wouldnt through a CEL.. youd have to check your module via vagcom to find out if they were throwing a code.

[airjawed]

Mine was like that as well from previous owner. I used JB weld and applied it to the inside connection between the adjusters and the housing. Basically too many turns of the adjuster will make this come apart.

Do your headlight beams shake around when you hit bumps on the road? If so, then the adjuster has come off internally and needs to be glued back on.

[Austonwerner4]

Yes my do shake around. Could explain more on how to fix it?

[airjawed]

There are 2 adjusters...one for vertical and one for horizontal. In my case the vertical one came apart...this is the adjuster to the outside. It can be viewed by removing the back cover with entire headlight assembly out of car. Not sure about the horizontal adjuster. Once you have the headlight off the car and the back cover removed it should be visible as to what I'm talking about. I mixed up some JB weld (cement that works very well for this application) and using a long applicator ( a q-tip on the end of a stick) apply the jb weld to the inside of the hole where the adjuster connects to.

I don't have pics to explain but you'll see what I mean when you get it open. In my case I could hold and move the inner bulb apparatus around inside of the entire assembly. It should not move around. When you move it around you should see the part that has become disassembled.

Once you apply glue pull the inner assembly so that it reattaches to the adjuster part. You may have to leave the entire headlight off the car facing up so that it can set overnight.

[crumbta]

Mine was like that as well from previous owner. I used JB weld and applied it to the inside connection between the adjusters and the housing. Basically too many turns of the adjuster will make this come apart.

Do your headlight beams shake around when you hit bumps on the road? If so, then the adjuster has come off internally and needs to be glued back on.

Mine do not shake.

[crumbta]

Well, both arms are looking solid and connected. Here's the front.



Not entirely sure how long the car may have sat before I got ahold of it. Perhaps a bit of WD40 on the joints and non electrical parts could help?

[crumbta]

Anyone local with VAG-COM?

[crumbta]

So it is getting a code in VAG COM of 01539, which I've read is "headlight not adjusted" I'm not sure if the car has been lowered, and haven't taken a fender measurement yet. When the tech at the garage clears the code, I can hear the motor(s) moving, but the code just comes right back.

Would you guys think that, that is caused from a possible bad sensor? Or because the car may possibly be lowered and just needs the drivers side lifted a bit to "trick" the sensors? I'd rather go that route vs bending anything to make them level, bit at least I know the motor works.

Any other ideas than that?

[somebody5788]

If you try to manually adjust the HID headlight housings without first puytting the auto levelers in learning mode you will break the adjusters after only a few turns. And then you pretty much have junk headlight housings. So if you turned it I would say more then 1 to 2 turns in tryiong to adjust them I think you need some new housings.

How? I took my lights out to look at them and see why that would happen and I couldn't see any reason. The adjuster and leveling motor aren't even in the same side of the headlight.

As for the OP, your headlamp lens is pretty bad it appears and the OEM fresnel projector lenses are usually pretty grimy by this time. I swapped mine to TSX-R lenses and then spent some time properly aiming my lights, I'm extremely happy with the outcome. Even just taking the projector out and cleaning the Fresnel lens would help a lot.

I don't think that the car is lowered as it looks like original suspension. I'd bet one of the sensors is not reading correctly, should be able to park on a flat level surface and read what the sensors are telling you in vagcom. On a level surface I would expect them to read almost the same.

[crumbta]

How? I took my lights out to look at them and see why that would happen and I couldn't see any reason. The adjuster and leveling motor aren't even in the same side of the headlight.

As for the OP, your headlamp lens is pretty bad it appears and the OEM fresnel projector lenses are usually pretty grimy by this time. I swapped mine to TSX-R lenses and then spent some time properly aiming my lights, I'm extremely happy with the outcome. Even just taking the projector out and cleaning the Fresnel lens would help a lot.

I don't think that the car is lowered as it looks like original suspension. I'd bet one of the sensors is not reading correctly, should be able to park on a flat level surface and read what the sensors are telling you in vagcom. On a level surface I would expect them to read almost the same.

Thanks man. Good info.

From the mouth of the garage, the passenger side headlight needs to be replaced. They said that they can move the driver's side normally, and the passenger side motor is working, so the headlight unit itself needs to be replaced. Which is fine, the tabs seemed to have been broken and just repaired with some epoxy, and I would've replaced it anyways. So i'm gonna have the dealer do that ( the car won't pass inspection if the headlights can't be properly aimed, and it's still within the period when that's the dealer's responsibility. ) and go from there.

It was pretty neat to see VAG - COM in motion, I'm gonna have to get that so I can do this stuff at home.

[amd is the best]

The rear level sensor went bad on my car and the headlights pointed right at the ground.

[Austonwerner4]

^ how'd you fix it?

[crumbta]

The rear level sensor went bad on my car and the headlights pointed right at the ground.

And it leveled out, once you replaced the sensor?

[amd is the best]

^ how'd you fix it?

Sorry, I should have elaborated. I replaced it with a new part: 4B0907503. It's not cheap, so I would verify with VAG-COM prior to buying one. The car uses the same sensor for the front and rear depending on which one you need. If either sensor goes bad it will cause this.

And it leveled out, once you replaced the sensor?

Went right back to how it should be. I would recommend using a VAG-COM to re-level the lights because the OP tried adjusting them without knowing that the xenon system needed to be in a learning mode.

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/car...alignment.html

[crumbta]

Sorry, I should have elaborated. I replaced it with a new part: 4B0907503. It's not cheap, so I would verify with VAG-COM prior to buying one. The car uses the same sensor for the front and rear depending on which one you need. If either sensor goes bad it will cause this.

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/car...alignment.html

Would it actually say the sensor is bad, or just that the headlights needed to be adjusted, with the 01539 code?

[amd is the best]

Would it actually say the sensor is bad, or just that the headlights needed to be adjusted, with the 01539 code?

I can't remember to be honest. This happened on my car four years ago. I know the Xenon module threw a code for a sensor and my headlights pointed at the ground. Replaced the sensor that was reported as bad and I was back in action. Haven't had a problem since.

[crumbta]

I can't remember to be honest. This happened on my car four years ago. I know the Xenon module threw a code for a sensor and my headlights pointed at the ground. Replaced the sensor that was reported as bad and I was back in action. Haven't had a problem since.

Cool, thanks for the info!