2000 A6 2.7T headlights wandering....
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2000 A6 2.7T headlights wandering....
I replaced my headlights in 2007 (the originals were hazy and the driver side HID became intermittent) with Hellas that I bought new from Shokan Coachworks and have had persistent problems with them wandering up and down. When I start the car, the driver side light moves within a minute to full down, pointing at the road about 20 feet ahead on the car; the passenger side light may do the same intermittently, but usually remains stationary. Turning the lights or the car off then back on causes the light(s) to move up one detent at a time; there appear to be five (5) separate detent levels from lowest to highest. I was not aware that the 2000 A6 was equipped with adjustable headlights, and my original light switch was not equipped with the adjustment **** next to the interior lighting level ****. Anyone know what my problem is, or have any input?
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Okay - extensive perusal of post related to my issue reveal that I may have gotten motorized headlights and they're now installed in my A6 which did not originally have them. How do I go about disabling the leveling function so that they will remain in fixed position? Thanks!
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ALL xenon cars have level sensors and moving lenses. It's a sensor issue, either front or rear driver side. $85 sensor from ECS tuning. Part # works for both front/rear. I had the issue and just unplugged it inside the driver headlight housing until I fixed it after installing ecodes. It was my rear sensor.
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From: Warwickshire
Agreed, all Xenon cars have self levelling with no manual control. This is a dynamic system which sets itself up each time either the car is started or the lights are turned on, then it adjusts as you drive with the aim of never dazzling oncoming drivers.
There is a suspension deflection sensor attached to the front and rear suspension. I believe they are on the driver's side and are fairly easily accessible although the fault would have most likely been there before you changed the lights as they should be compatable.
There may be some calibration they need, possibly via VAG-COM?
There is a suspension deflection sensor attached to the front and rear suspension. I believe they are on the driver's side and are fairly easily accessible although the fault would have most likely been there before you changed the lights as they should be compatable.
There may be some calibration they need, possibly via VAG-COM?
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Basically the tech just used vag-com while jumping up and down on the back of the car to read voltages. Not scientific but oh well. Vag can only do so much and when level testing the headlights moved VERY slowly, not quick up/down like they did when malfunctioning at first start. Best way to relevel them is turn car off and turn on headlights then shut them off quickly before it moves down again, then unplug inside the housing until you fix the sensor.
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Yes, but how can you compare infinite / minute adjustments with 3-5 manual settings with a switch? That's why the German govt has done away with letting people adjust them manually. I have one in my US car just haven't hooked it up and doubt I will.
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While these things DID run through the range motion quickly when the sensor malfunctioned, it doesn't anymore after fixing, which is strange. Now I only see it make minute adjustments when I lightem up.
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From: Warwickshire
Sorry, I stand corrected, I must be an idiot for thinking in 2009 the motor industry could produce a system which actually worked in the way it should.
The only way a fully dynamic system could be produced is if it were to utilise some type of reflective system to deflect the beam - such as used in a DLP projector, but used to deflect the light rather than refract it. You would also need some form of laser or monitoring to detect the road surface just in front of each wheel - probably a bit over the top really I suppose?
The only way a fully dynamic system could be produced is if it were to utilise some type of reflective system to deflect the beam - such as used in a DLP projector, but used to deflect the light rather than refract it. You would also need some form of laser or monitoring to detect the road surface just in front of each wheel - probably a bit over the top really I suppose?
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Thanks for the responses, gentlemen! Admiral - do you have any photos of what I need to unplug inside the headlight housing? I own a Bentley on DVD; unfortunately, the hard drive in my computer crashed a couple of months ago after my ThinkPad fell off the dash of my motorhome while we were underway. I had considered disabling the system until I could correct the issue, but I don't want to irreparably damage anything by just going in a yanking wires!
Thanks again, fellas!
Thanks again, fellas!