Hi all,

wondering if anyone has any ideas/advice

 

now the dark mornings are almost here Iv noticed that when driving, my xenon’s are both moving up and down in sync. The self level test when switching them on works fine but after about 10 miles of driving they start playing up. 
 

iv checked the level sensor at the rear passenger side, it’s still in one piece (not snapped) and my pal has run diagnostic on the xenon system and there are no faults. I bounced the back of car up and down and the sensor is reading the changes in movement.  I have a replacement level sensor ready to go on but can’t get it replaced for a few days. Noticed the bracket holding sensor on is made entirely of rust so there is some movement In it where it’s mounted. Could it be that even though the sensor is giving readings that it could still be faulty ? Or would the fact the that the sensor bracket is so rusty be contributing to the fault as there could be some movement in it when driving?

Very confused ! 

 

Any help is much appreciated 

 

thanks
 

 

 

I'd recommend a diagnostic check to see if any fault codes flag up. 

Could it be an issue with ballasts? 

22 hours ago, Daz_gsxr said:

Hi all,

wondering if anyone has any ideas/advice

 

now the dark mornings are almost here Iv noticed that when driving, my xenon’s are both moving up and down in sync. The self level test when switching them on works fine but after about 10 miles of driving they start playing up. 
 

iv checked the level sensor at the rear passenger side, it’s still in one piece (not snapped) and my pal has run diagnostic on the xenon system and there are no faults. I bounced the back of car up and down and the sensor is reading the changes in movement.  I have a replacement level sensor ready to go on but can’t get it replaced for a few days. Noticed the bracket holding sensor on is made entirely of rust so there is some movement In it where it’s mounted. Could it be that even though the sensor is giving readings that it could still be faulty ? Or would the fact the that the sensor bracket is so rusty be contributing to the fault as there could be some movement in it when driving?

Very confused ! 

 

Any help is much appreciated 

 

thanks
 

 

 

Hi it is probably the bracket driving the range control module nuts as it wont hold a steady reading, replace the sensor and bracket go in to the light range module and do a manual reset then log that as the new setting.

Steve.

5 hours ago, Steve Q said:

I'd recommend a diagnostic check to see if any fault codes flag up. 

Could it be an issue with ballasts? 

That did cross my mind but then was thinking probably not as both beams do it simultaneously , like a levelling problem. Lights don’t flicker on and off just up and down. if one ballast was to be faulty it would only happen to that specific side? 

27 minutes ago, Stevey Y said:

Hi it is probably the bracket driving the range control module nuts as it wont hold a steady reading, replace the sensor and bracket go in to the light range module and do a manual reset then log that as the new setting.

Steve.

That is a very plausible possibility…..The sensor is still working so that could be the reason there are no faults coming up at all on diagnostic or on my dash but it’s sending erratic data to the control module?

once new sensor is put on, will the lights go “out of range”?

and in order to reset them to basic / home settings is it only VCDS / Audi that can do that or can any decent garage diagnostic machine do it? 
 

And then once in the home position would be a case of tweaking the beam with the adjusters under the bonnet ? 

A good quality machine can do it. But should show up with vcds or similar 

21 hours ago, Daz_gsxr said:

That is a very plausible possibility…..The sensor is still working so that could be the reason there are no faults coming up at all on diagnostic or on my dash but it’s sending erratic data to the control module?

once new sensor is put on, will the lights go “out of range”?

and in order to reset them to basic / home settings is it only VCDS / Audi that can do that or can any decent garage diagnostic machine do it? 
 

And then once in the home position would be a case of tweaking the beam with the adjusters under the bonnet ? 

Hi the new sensor should not throw it out in theory, but I only suggested the reset in the event of it running out of true once fitted, the Audi light range module is a strange creature that is very easily disturbed, I had it on my a6 where the n/s light was settling in the gutter, turned out it was the levelling motor gear getting stuck but the control module had accepted that as normal so I hosed the adjuster screw down with silicon spray then adjusted it with the lights on engine running, if you mark the adjuster with Tipex and count the turns you stand a chance of getting it back in the right ball park, I do hope yours is as case of plug in and play once the offending bracket has been replaced, please let us know the outcome.

Steve.

Does the facelift only have a rear sensor?

My 3.2 has front and rear on the passenger side.

3 hours ago, Rybrook said:

Does the facelift only have a rear sensor?

My 3.2 has front and rear on the passenger side.

Highly likely only one sensor on later models as they opted to fit light range modules which work off one sensor at the back.

Steve.

 

Quick update 

 

Replaced headlamp levelling sensor on nsr arm, 

No difference. 

 

Just been thinking in the last 5k miles Iv had an esp fault come on along with headlamp range control fault 2 times, when I turn engine off and on it clears its self. but when I plugged in to diagnostic the other day there’s a fault showing with nsr abs sensor. 

(Same corner as levelling sensor) 

 

He says that even though it’s not showing as a constant fault on the dash, its logging its self on the diagnostic as faulty so thinks that this could be possibly causing my headlights to go crazy due to abs misreading data, it’s obviously linked into the headlamp system somehow as when the fault shows on dash , the range control fault always comes on too. 

 

Going to throw a new hub and sensor on

 

Opinions on whether this could be the cause?

 

 

 

A broken abs sensor causes faults on the level sensor, I think it's all on the same circuit. I had the same when my rear wheel bearing broke the abs sensor.

2 hours ago, Rybrook said:

A broken abs sensor causes faults on the level sensor, I think it's all on the same circuit. I had the same when my rear wheel bearing broke the abs sensor.

Thanks for the reply that’s reassuring !

hoping to get it replaced later today. 

It’s driving me insane ! 
 

Update 

Diagnostic revealed nsr abs intermittent fault

replaced rear hub and abs sensor

Abs ring on the hub was very corroded and abs sensor was in awful condition could see where it’s been intermittently touching the ring

cleared Fault codes and my headlight issue appear to be fixed ! 

who would have thought an abs fault could cause headlights to go haywire  🤯 

thanks to all for their input and advice 

 

 

 

Glad to hear it's sorted.

17 hours ago, Daz_gsxr said:

who would have thought an abs fault could cause headlights to go haywire  

The electronics on modern cars are very sensitive and can lead to bizarre problems like yours when one system inferferes with another. That's one reason why errors shown on code readers have to be interpreted carefully rather than always taken at face value.