Xenon headlight issues

[PMAZ7]

Ok, so when I start it up the lights aim perfect, they adjust just a bit to level. Then while driving they slowly drop right down. What do you guys think could be happening? Any and all help is appreciated.

[scot_w]

Xenons have a leveling mechanism. If they are not aimed correctly, there is a VAG-Com adjustment.

[PMAZ7]

I totally understand that, but I haven't changed the aim on them at all anytime recently. I bought a Palm VAg-com, but I can't figure the darn thing out yet. I can't even find the application on the Palm... Ahhgg!!!

Any other ideas?

[PMAZ7]

This hasn't happened to anyone else? Please help!

[02alltoad]

its most likely the adjustment motors are they both doing it or just one?

[PMAZ7]

It looks like it's just driver's side. I bought these lights about 9 months ago from Shokan too. I know they're good lights, hope it's not the motors. Anyway to check? They still level properly when I start the car up.

[02alltoad]

the way i check it is i park the car facing a wall start the car turn on the head lights and mark on the wall where the beam is and let it run and check to see if the beam is moving down. If thats the case then you need a motor i might have one pm me after you find out

[Stampy]

I would try to relearn its position with Vagcom. Even though its leveling, it might be an ecu thing. If not its probably the motor. That is an easy fix though if it is. You might want to check the sensor on the suspension and make sure that is cool too.

EDIT...I just reread your original post. Since it is leveling I don't think its the motors. I would really put my money on it just needs to learn its position again via vagcom.

[doobiesdaddy]

any faults show up when you vag-com scan the Xenon's?

[RAUDIS6]

Check the teeth on the gears of the motors...I had one break on my old A6, and my passenger side one would drop a little.

[PMAZ7]

any faults show up when you vag-com scan the Xenon's?

Just got the Vag-com in the mail, so I have to figure that part out first. I'm extremely thankful for everyone's help. I will update in a day or so, but please keep the ideas coming!

[scot_w]

Just got the Vag-com in the mail, so I have to figure that part out first.

Xenon Headlamp Adjustment with the VAG-COM

[PMAZ7]

Xenon Headlamp Adjustment with the VAG-COM

Man, you can't beat this place for helpful Audi folks! I'm going to give it a try as soon as I figure out this Palm deal.

[02alltoad]

I would try to relearn its position with Vagcom. Even though its leveling, it might be an ecu thing. If not its probably the motor. That is an easy fix though if it is. You might want to check the sensor on the suspension and make sure that is cool too.

EDIT...I just reread your original post. Since it is leveling I don't think its the motors. I would really put my money on it just needs to learn its position again via vagcom.

but the motors are not controlled independently so if only one light is dropping its generally that motor but there are always the few odd cases. i would aggree with stampy try to relearn the control position and see if that works first off. oh the lights do a self leveling check every time you start the car thats how they find the control level. Anyway if it does end up that you need a motor ive got 4 extra and ill make you a deal on one.

[Stampy]

Let us know whats up. It should really only be one of a few things. Good luck.

Where did you get the palm Vag, and how much?

[PMAZ7]

Let us know whats up. It should really only be one of a few things. Good luck.

Where did you get the palm Vag, and how much?

Bought it off the classifieds here at AZ. $160 shipped, a good deal?

[02alltoad]

Bought it off the classifieds here at AZ. $160 shipped, a good deal?

is it shadetree?

[PMAZ7]

is it shadetree?

I don't know what shadetree means, but that wasn't the member's name that sold it to me.

[Coors]

Pull the covers off the back of the lamps. Disconnect the wire harness that powers the motors, add some dielectric grease or another non-conductive grease of your choice, reassemble and try that. That worked for me. I also manually turned the motor back and forth by hand. Strictly do not recommend doing this I was just furious at them and figured if I broke them well then I would just get new ones and the problem would be solved.

[PMAZ7]

Pull the covers off the back of the lamps. Disconnect the wire harness that powers the motors, add some dielectric grease or another non-conductive grease of your choice, reassemble and try that. That worked for me. I also manually turned the motor back and forth by hand. Strictly do not recommend doing this I was just furious at them and figured if I broke them well then I would just get new ones and the problem would be solved.

Heading to my shop now to give it a shot. Thanks again, you guys are great.

[PMAZ7]

is it shadetree?

I'm guessing it WAS, but there is NOTHING on the Palm!!! I'm also assuming that shadetree is not a good thing... Hopefully osofast comes through with some support because I could very well be missing something on the Palm.

Also, the headlight situation is totally intermittent!!! Fell down on the way, worked perfect on the way home... I like those problems the best because they drive me closer and closer to full blown NUTS with each one!

[Stampy]

Do you have a cheap Vag USB cable? You can do the xenon thing with the shareware version of VAG from their website.

If you were local I would hook you up man. Zona is too far of a drive tonight.

[02alltoad]

I'm guessing it WAS, but there is NOTHING on the Palm!!! I'm also assuming that shadetree is not a good thing... Hopefully osofast comes through with some support because I could very well be missing something on the Palm.

Also, the headlight situation is totally intermittent!!! Fell down on the way, worked perfect on the way home... I like those problems the best because they drive me closer and closer to full blown NUTS with each one!

shadetree software is a good program for palm i have a copy of it and i think i paid 200 bucks for it, i know the guy that devoped it. it works just like vag com and the factory 5052b the only thing it cant do is the online stuff there should be an icon on the palm that says shadetree if not you will need to reload the software. and like stampy if only you lived closer i have vag com as well its alot better for reading mvb's and recording logs, anyway back to your palm, ive noticed that if i let my battery go dead the program gets deleted and i have to reload it did the guy you got it from give you the cd and activation code as well? if not i might be able to get it for you idk for sure but ill try.

[autophiles]

The same exact thing is happening to my Avant.. they will align every once and a while and then for some reason the drivers side will dip down. Just like your car the problem is intermittent... sometimes it works great.. others it drops. Let me know if you figure out the issue.. I'd love to fix mine too!

[Daft]

Like the others said VAG-COM is really important here to run the adpatation process on the motors. You can also recode the leveling setting to see if they move up/down from their first position.

Here's a chart of the codes for the headlight settings: Click.

You will need to run the healight adaptation each time you change the settings.

If that doesn't help, take not is one side is not reponding like the other. At that point you either have: a faulty motor, loose harness or a faulty/loose leveling sensor on the front lower control arm.

If you can get the part number off one of your motors, I might have a compatible spare I can give you for testing.

ETKA lists the 2001 to use a 3B0 941 295B.

2002+ used a 4E0 941 293.

Let me know.

[PMAZ7]

shadetree software is a good program for palm i have a copy of it and i think i paid 200 bucks for it, i know the guy that devoped it. it works just like vag com and the factory 5052b the only thing it cant do is the online stuff there should be an icon on the palm that says shadetree if not you will need to reload the software. and like stampy if only you lived closer i have vag com as well its alot better for reading mvb's and recording logs, anyway back to your palm, ive noticed that if i let my battery go dead the program gets deleted and i have to reload it did the guy you got it from give you the cd and activation code as well? if not i might be able to get it for you idk for sure but ill try.

That's exactly what I was thinking. It was completely dead when I got it. There are none of the logs that he said would be in the memos icon, NOTHING! And no, he didn't send me the CD, software, or activation code... This is an uphill battle! If you could hook me up, that would be great.

[PMAZ7]

Like the others said VAG-COM is really important here to run the adpatation process on the motors. You can also recode the leveling setting to see if they move up/down from their first position.

Here's a chart of the codes for the headlight settings: Click.

You will need to run the healight adaptation each time you change the settings.

If that doesn't help, take not is one side is not reponding like the other. At that point you either have: a faulty motor, loose harness or a faulty/loose leveling sensor on the front lower control arm.

If you can get the part number off one of your motors, I might have a compatible spare I can give you for testing.

ETKA lists the 2001 to use a 3B0 941 295B.

2002+ used a 4E0 941 293.

Let me know.

Thanks Daft. Man you guys know a lot! I have a set of headlights that work great but they faded in the Arizona sun, in my garage. I could salvage the motors out of those but I really do appreciate the offer. My biggest issue is going to be figuring out this Vag-com deal. I thought it would have been as easy as buying this Palm deal, but that isn't going so well for me!!!

[Daft]

Were you able to get VAG-COM to talk to the cable yet?

[TWINTURBOA6]

The same exact thing is happening to my Avant.. they will align every once and a while and then for some reason the drivers side will dip down. Just like your car the problem is intermittent... sometimes it works great.. others it drops. Let me know if you figure out the issue.. I'd love to fix mine too!

YO AMAZING PICS MAN! NICE PORTFOLIO...You got to meet lady dj tribe!? is she sexy in real life? ahaha Again man pics are godly! great job

[PMAZ7]

Were you able to get VAG-COM to talk to the cable yet?

Negative on that. I don't have any access to the application on the Palm. I'm waiting to hear back from osofast so maybe he can help. He's the one that sold me the Palm.

[PMAZ7]

Does anyone have the Palm version of Vag-Com with 'prodiag' icon on it? That's what I'm missing. Any tricks to getting it back? I don't have access to the software because I just bought this off someone secondhand. I really need help...

[mcaanda]

Ok, so when I start it up the lights aim perfect, they adjust just a bit to level. Then while driving they slowly drop right down. What do you guys think could be happening? Any and all help is appreciated.

Ugh, I hear ya man. Its hit and miss with this damn thing. Sometimes I can turn the car off and they will re-set, and sometimes it just continues to look like this here:

This is about 1o-12 feet from the garage door on a level surface.

[Stampy]

Ugh, I hear ya man. Its hit and miss with this damn thing. Sometimes I can turn the car off and they will re-set, and sometimes it just continues to look like this here:

This is about 1o-12 feet from the garage door on a level surface.

Dude you need to adjust those with the white knobs on the back of the headlights. VagCom sets it to a certain range. The white adjustment knobs let you fine tune them. Looks to me that you are blinding all oncoming traffic with the drivers side.

[mcaanda]

Dude you need to adjust those with the white knobs on the back of the headlights. VagCom sets it to a certain range. The white adjustment knobs let you fine tune them. Looks to me that you are blinding all oncoming traffic with the drivers side.

The one on the left is where its supposed to be, the one on the right is the one that will sometimes match the left.

This was one of the times where it would not go back to where it was supposed to be, so I took a shot of it so that I could show the dealer.

It's really hit or miss with it but it seems that it's been doing it alot lately more so than not.

[Stampy]

ahh, my bad man. I read it wrong. So you already tried the relearn with Vag and it still does this?

[mcaanda]

Naw, I have not had a chance to get to my buddies place who has the VAG cable. I think that he's got the ( non-OEM ) type that does not have full access?

To be honest I dont know how / what he's got so its a possibility. If not, Im sure that I can post on NW Quattro and catch the first round to help out for a bit.

[Stampy]

Yeah the ebay cable should do it fine. The free version of Vagcom allows you to do the Xenon adjustment.

[PMAZ7]

As for myself, I'm not having much luck with the person that I bought my Vag-Com off of. So no codes or things to report as of yet... Be wary of purchases like this (although I usually am, and I'm sure you are!).

[osofast10]

there is no need to be wary... i told you to talk to ADAM @SPP as he is the one i bought it from... i never got a cd with the palm, so i gave you everything that i got from adam when i bought it on the groupbuy, so talk to him as i have told you over PM please...because when i sold it to you it had all the sofware on it. here is the pic to show you



last one on the left hand side

[PMAZ7]

there is no need to be wary... i told you to talk to ADAM @SPP as he is the one i bought it from... i never got a cd with the palm, so i gave you everything that i got from adam when i bought it on the groupbuy, so talk to him as i have told you over PM please...because when i sold it to you it had all the sofware on it. here is the pic to show you



last one on the left hand side

Unfortunately when I took it out of the package it didn't. You might want to keep this in PM mode, for your sake.