Xenon Problems
- Thread starter Marf83
- Start date
There you go - really helpful illustrations.
Check carefully the link from suspension to car is connected and wiring connected too.
As to what they do - In simple terms once the beam angle is set up statically they send a signal to the stepper motors to adjust the beam height to keep it at that level to compensate for increased load (fuel, passengers, luggage, etc.) It's a requirement on xenon that would otherwise dazzle if allowed to aim too high.
Check carefully the link from suspension to car is connected and wiring connected too.
As to what they do - In simple terms once the beam angle is set up statically they send a signal to the stepper motors to adjust the beam height to keep it at that level to compensate for increased load (fuel, passengers, luggage, etc.) It's a requirement on xenon that would otherwise dazzle if allowed to aim too high.
Right then, sorry about the thread resurrection, but does anyone know where I can find the pics that were linked above, as I can't find them. Noticed yesterday that my lights were only lighting up 5m of road in front of me, and when I switched the car on this morning the lights (set to auto, so they always come on when I start the car in the garage) just jiggled about. Link to a video below :
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums...3-0D16-49FE-86FB-70E75EE6364F_zpsncgnji2m.mp4
Weird thing is, the garage is perfectly level, but when I start the car on my sloped drive, facing up the slope, the lights just level as normal, one cycle. But they end up pointing down too much.
So I guess it is 99% likely it's a sensor, but I don't know where to look... Can anyone help ? And any ideas which one given the symptoms ?
Also, I've looked but I can't find any idea of price because none of the threads end with a confirmed resolution
... Does anyone know how much they cost, and are they an easy DIY fit ?
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums...3-0D16-49FE-86FB-70E75EE6364F_zpsncgnji2m.mp4
Weird thing is, the garage is perfectly level, but when I start the car on my sloped drive, facing up the slope, the lights just level as normal, one cycle. But they end up pointing down too much.
So I guess it is 99% likely it's a sensor, but I don't know where to look... Can anyone help ? And any ideas which one given the symptoms ?
Also, I've looked but I can't find any idea of price because none of the threads end with a confirmed resolution
... Does anyone know how much they cost, and are they an easy DIY fit ?
Thanks Jan, might take you up on that. I'll email Sopers for a price on each of them, just in case. Fine right now as it's light either end of the day, but a run to Scotland at the end of August and it'll be getting darker faster after that so needs fixed...
By the seaside...
I have a solution... PVR acts like the car still belongs to him, make him pay the bill...Bing said:Quick update, though I've not checked the sensors yet... Prices from Sopers, including discount and VAT are :
37146784696 – front - £64.61
37146784697 – rear - £71.83
Hope it's just a loose connection
Seriously though, I hope it's a quick fix...
Yeah right, like Paul is ALWAYS giving stuff away :roll: :lol:
Anyway, jacked the car up briefly this evening and squirmed underneath for a quick poke without taking the wheels off. Both sensors look undamaged, all attached in the right places and wires connected and undamaged as far as I can see. Though the rear connecting arm seemed to move more from side to side than the front... When I put the car back down I switched all the aircon & radio off and I can hear both motors cycling so I think that means the motors are ok.
For future users' reference, I found this great thread that shows exactly where the sensors are - http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8672
I need to take the wheels off and have a proper look, but it would seem it's a sensor failure
Does anyone have any idea how I tell which one has failed, assuming that's the issue ? I'd rather only shell out for the one that's buggered. Or is my best option to take it in to my indie and let them work it out ?
Anyway, jacked the car up briefly this evening and squirmed underneath for a quick poke without taking the wheels off. Both sensors look undamaged, all attached in the right places and wires connected and undamaged as far as I can see. Though the rear connecting arm seemed to move more from side to side than the front... When I put the car back down I switched all the aircon & radio off and I can hear both motors cycling so I think that means the motors are ok.
For future users' reference, I found this great thread that shows exactly where the sensors are - http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8672
I need to take the wheels off and have a proper look, but it would seem it's a sensor failure
Does anyone have any idea how I tell which one has failed, assuming that's the issue ? I'd rather only shell out for the one that's buggered. Or is my best option to take it in to my indie and let them work it out ?
Bing - did you get this problem fixed? Noticed the other night that I'm illuminating motorway gantries from miles away but the beam on the road is very poor. Checked the levelling function and nada, zip, nothing on either side, with no obvious motor noise, so assuming the sensors have gone u/s. I'll run it to the local indy, but forearmed is forewarned...
I had this problem after fitting new shocks. As said i broke the little plastic arm on the mechanism. I fixed mine with a little steel plate either side and some nuts and bolts. Meccano style works a treat now.
Hopfully its as simple as that. There is one front an back on the drivers side. They are on the control arms.
Hopfully its as simple as that. There is one front an back on the drivers side. They are on the control arms.
I've been so busy I've not had a chance to whip the wheels off and have a look properly yet. Was planning on doing it tonight, but it looks like work is going to scupper that idea
Mine is however booked into my local indie tomorrow morning so I'll update when I get it back.
That said, if you can't hear any motors then that's weird - that would normally suggest the motors have gone. Which I am worried about, as they seem to spend a long time trying to cycle before settling at whatever level suits them. Figured that overwork might just kill the motors too. Which would be... Disappointing.
Mine is however booked into my local indie tomorrow morning so I'll update when I get it back.
That said, if you can't hear any motors then that's weird - that would normally suggest the motors have gone. Which I am worried about, as they seem to spend a long time trying to cycle before settling at whatever level suits them. Figured that overwork might just kill the motors too. Which would be... Disappointing.
Seems odd that both motors would go at the same time and I've only just noticed that I'm lighting the heavens more than the road... That being said, I can't honestly say I've definitely noticed them ever cycling either. A trip to the indy is required methinks. Are the stepper motors on a fuse do you know?
Bit of an update - I got my car back earlier today, not fixed... What they said was :
The sensors are both fine - not broken, no split or missing wires and all plugged in
The stepper motors both seem to be working, and it would be very, very unusual for them both to go at once, but...
The fault codes they are seeing are inconsistent - sometimes it throws up the sensors, sometimes the motors, sometimes a fault indicating water, and sometimes everything.
They also said that the fault is intermittent - even plugged into their diagnosis machine that can re-set the LCM immediately, sometimes the lights level and sometimes they don't. Conclusion - LCM most likely buggered. Which isn't ace, because it's a £4-500 part
However, they're a sensible bunch and before they go ordering a new LCM they want to check everything else, meaning bumper off and lights out etc., which they didn't have time to do today as I needed the car back mid-afternoon. So, it's booked in the day we get back from holiday so they can have it overnight as I need it fixed for the following week and our trip to Scotland. Which means that after 2+ weeks without using it, the first place I will drive is straight to the garage, which I think sucks as much as (if not more than) the potential bill. Shite :x
The sensors are both fine - not broken, no split or missing wires and all plugged in
The stepper motors both seem to be working, and it would be very, very unusual for them both to go at once, but...
The fault codes they are seeing are inconsistent - sometimes it throws up the sensors, sometimes the motors, sometimes a fault indicating water, and sometimes everything.
They also said that the fault is intermittent - even plugged into their diagnosis machine that can re-set the LCM immediately, sometimes the lights level and sometimes they don't. Conclusion - LCM most likely buggered. Which isn't ace, because it's a £4-500 part
However, they're a sensible bunch and before they go ordering a new LCM they want to check everything else, meaning bumper off and lights out etc., which they didn't have time to do today as I needed the car back mid-afternoon. So, it's booked in the day we get back from holiday so they can have it overnight as I need it fixed for the following week and our trip to Scotland. Which means that after 2+ weeks without using it, the first place I will drive is straight to the garage, which I think sucks as much as (if not more than) the potential bill. Shite :x