Xenons aiming at the ground

[st4]

Today driving back I hit a real nasty pot hole.

I noticed there after the beam of my headlights was odd. On dipped beam long range (range) of the beam had decreased and the lights were aimed at the ground. On full beam normal (for full beam) illumination seemed as normal, but the dipped beam aims straight for the ground.

I suspect the balast for the self levelling of the beam is cuput. Whats the likely cost for me as its off to the dealer (sadly not Glasgow as they'd just nick someone elses lights and give them to me) on Monday. Its perfectly safe to drive at night, but its very annoying.

 

[christopherwk]

The dealer will probably just replace the whole unit (at a cost of around £600 each), like they did to my last car, they'll say that part is not available on its' own and a whole unit will be required.

If you're going to get them replaced, make you get the old ones back! The bulbs alone are worth something and you may be able to sell the units as scrap on eBay.

Speaking of which, also worth looking on eBay for second hands ones, too.

 

[star]

Check that the xenon leveling sensor rod hasn't broken/become disconnected on the rear.

 

[whitenemesis]

As star above first check the level sensors are still attached and then that they are still adjusted correctly, you'll need to go on STAR for the second bit.

As each light has it's own leveling motor it's unlikely that both would have suffered from hitting the pothole.

 

[Alex Crow]

#3 for a detatched sensor rod or similar.

 

[Wirral_guy]

#4 for the sensor - happened to my Alfa exactly like that, hit a pot-hole and the xenons pointed skywards! The sensor bracket on the axle had snapped.

Good news is it's a lot cheaper than most things to fix.

Dave

 

[dieselman]

+100 for the sensor link having snapped.

 

[Naraic]

I don't think it'll be the sensor link.

 

[st4]

Weird thing, used them yesterday and the beam was fine and aiming where it should?

Is this the onset of something more serious, or would a one off bump unbalance the levelling and when I started the car and used them last night all was ok.

 

[dieselman]

It just needed a Key Off reset.

All that money saved should buy a lot of Beer..

 

[Naraic]

..so it wasn't a broken sensor link? :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[dieselman]

He didn't tell us it was only on the same journey. Talk about panic..:lol:

 

[television]

Could be just a SAM Steve going down, only £500 so not too bad, it make it much easier when both go down to the ground.

Could you have had too much air in the rear tyres

 

[Naraic]

He didn't tell us it was only on the same journey. Talk about panic..:lol:

The reason I didn't think it was a rod was that in my experience when a rod breaks the lamps light up the sky not the road.

 

[whitenemesis]

The reason I didn't think it was a rod was that in my experience when a rod breaks the lamps light up the sky not the road.

I think it's a random result. In my experience, when MB neglected to reattach the sensor rod, my headlamps pointed at the ground ..

I thought I read somewhere (WIS possibly) that if the control module reads an OOS value from a sensor it lowers the lights to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic

 

[television]

I think it's a random result. In my experience, when MB neglected to reattach the sensor rod, my headlamps pointed at the ground ..

I thought I read somewhere (WIS possibly) that if the control module reads an OOS value from a sensor it lowers the lights to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic

Most point to the ground as a safety feature, never seen one where they go up

 

[whitenemesis]

Most point to the ground as a safety feature, never seen one where they go up

renault12ts has!

 

[Naraic]

renault12ts has!

Indeed, it was the rear rod that was broken.

 

[television]

renault12ts has!

OK so we have one now, was it an MB

 

[AMck]

Mine went to the ground when the adjusting bar ended up out of position after having my lower suspension arms replaced.