DukeDesmo Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 Just noticed that my LH side Xenon headlight is not 'self-levelling' in fact it seems to be shining downwards. Normally when switched on they both do a levelling 'dance' and then periodically adjust as I'm driving to keep the range more or less the same but the Left side is just shining very low and not moving, have checked fuses etc, presumably the motors gone awol but just wondered if anyone could shed some light on the issue....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3geezer Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 My 00 S3 has just startred doing this. I turn them on, they ajust about half way out and then decide, nah I'll go back to the lowest setting! My full beam lights up the tarmac an inch or so from my bumper! Stupid automatic malarki. Perhaps we have something gone wrong with thing that makes the car think it's heavy...?? As for your one winking - who knows! Has anyone else got broken xenons?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob_S3 Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 One of mine has been like this for a couple of years. Manually adjust it to the correct level and your problem is fixed / bodged! As long as you don't carry a lot of weight in the back then you'll neve really notice that it doesn't auto level. Except when you turn it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpadam Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Mine doing the same!! Been told that the head light adjustment motor at the rear of the headlight is faulty which needs changing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam_S3 Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 I had this problem... Basically it is an entire headlight unit job. You can't just change the motor. Mine always auto levelled down, so I just waited till they were at the right level then disconnected the motors. Not the most elegent of fixes but it was certainly the most cost effective! FYI it is the connector on the back of the headlight nearest the grill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Its not a entire headlight job, the motors are replaceable, and regularly are on the early S3's. The are usually a ball and socket connection, and come apart easily if disconnected as intended. Early S3 ones were prone to failing. I havent had any issues with me 02 or 03 S3's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam_S3 Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Woops! I stand corrected! Mine are still unplugged! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeDesmo Posted September 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Well thanks for the info guys, as my car is still in warranty I'll definitely be getting it done right but just wondered if it was an easy (fuse or similar) fix to save me a trip, (and most likely two trips with long waits), to the dealer. Incidentally I think it's been broke since the last trip to the dealer when they fixed my A/C - they had disconnected the battery (I assume anyway, as everything was reset) and I wondered if that might have affected something? Unless I get Audi assist to look/analyse then dealer to fix? But I've had a worrying amount of 'minor' electrical problems with this car, as I have with my wife's Galaxy which (although a Ford) also has VW/Audi electrics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Galaxys aare VW Sharans are they not? or is it the other way round? I would certainly get Audi to look at it, they should be able to replace the motors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeDesmo Posted September 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Galaxys aare VW Sharans are they not? or is it the other way round? I would certainly get Audi to look at it, they should be able to replace the motors. [/ QUOTE ] Yes a Galaxy is basically a Sharan with a Ford Engine, all the electrical, bodywork & plastics have the 'VW OOOO' logos on them. But strangely I've just been out in the A3 to the off-licence and the headlight was shining on the floor all the way there but when I started the car up to return it started working again so I'll have to see how it goes for a while but I have had a few odd electricl 'gremlins' that have come and gone - most common one is central locking not working but when I use the key it somehow resets itself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3geezer Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Not meaning to hijack so just want to clarify something quickly - as my headlights always auto level down, are the motors broken? They move half way up and then come back down (both of them!). How expensive for new motors? I would try to disconnect them but they haven't gone to the right level for about a week now! d'oh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeDesmo Posted September 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 The 'levelling dance' that mine do when switched on always seems to be up and then down a bit (but not as low as they were when off), assumed it was Normal, although I do feel that the actual setting is too low..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob_S3 Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 When mine were pointing to ground they didnt come up at all first, just pointed straight to ground...I've manually levelled them, but I still think the Xenons on the car aren't that bright anyway. Was in a Cooper S the other day and then a 330, the Xenons were far brighter than the S3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 light output is largely down to headlight design. I know the S3 uses the brighter D2S bulbs. All xenons are 35 watt lamps. D2S and D1S types nominally produce 3200 lumens of light and the D2R and D1R types nominally produce 2800 lumens of light. So the S3 already has the brighter bulbs. Some people change the bulbs for a different colour range, but the bluer you get the less light you get. standard is about 4500 degrees kelvin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeDesmo Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Stopped levelling again, so I'll get to the Dealer asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS3 Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 Mine drivers side has been playing up since i've had the car. Its now decided to point downwards after 5 mins of driving and stay there. I've just ordered the motor today from Audi (£50 inc VAT) so will look to fit it this weekend. Pretty sure it should be a straight forward job, fingers crossed ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 your be lucky if its just plug and play. there is a procedure in vag-com for resetting the levels and adjusting the headlights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS3 Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 Balls, why is everything soooo complicated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeDesmo Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 Well I'm taking mine to the dealers on Fri to see what's wrong, I'll let you know how it goes..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS3 Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Just replaced the motor...easy 5 min job. Trouble is, it now seems to be a bit high compared to the nearside...... Looks like it may need to be reset with Vag-Com as per paulS3 comment. Homw much of a job is this, and does it have to be Audi that does it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS3 Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Is it this procedure I need to get someone to do with VAG.com ? http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kevin.yeoman/AudiS3XenonHeadlightAdjustment.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeDesmo Posted September 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Well I went to the dealer today, who diagnosed a faulty motor which they tell me is a 1.5 hr job as they have to remove the bumper! (mind you it took them about that long to diagnose ) so it's booked in for next Thursday. But at least they've raised the light to the same height as the other so I can see where I'm going, even if it doesn't level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 never done it, but here is the procedure. http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/xenonalignment.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3geezer Posted September 24, 2006 Report Share Posted September 24, 2006 On Friday Audi reset mine using their "diagnostic equipment" and charged me £39.80 - made no difference whatsoever, so going back monday morning to hurl abuse and get my money back (or let them fix it properly with £40 off the bill)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob_S3 Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Matt, did your new motor solve your problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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