Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[tport]

Just got back from the MOT station, unfortunately I have a failure on headlamp aim.  Both nearside and offside headlamps have “aim too high”.

When I bought the card a couple of months ago I was getting the message “attention headlamp range”.  I checked and re-greased the level sensors but eventually found that the nearside adjuster motor had rusted up.  Replacing this made the error message disappear.  Also connecting to a cheap diagnostic tool showed that all sensors and motors were showing good voltages.

Whilst at the MOT the tester tried to adjust the beam using the adjuster rods on both sides but to no effect.  We also tried to move the beam by manually adjusting the level height rod on the offside rear suspension but this didn't do anything.  The headlights don't appear to move at all and I have not heard any noise at all from the motors leading me to think that the whole system is stuck.

Apart from taking the car to the dealer's, is there any way in which the system can be diagnosed properly?  I have got 10 working days until my free retest runs out.  The clock is running …

[unlucky alf]

sounds like the adjusters have busted, check to see if there is alot of play in the reflectors, i know its common for them to bust on projectors lights & assume the xenons have the same setup inside :-/

[tport]

I seem to remember the reflector did wobble a bit when I installed the new motor, should they not move at all?  Maybe I am unlucky as both sides appear to be the same with no adjustment at all.

What do you think about the motors, I can't seem to get them to move or make any noise at all?

[feeutfo]

tech 2 can test the motors, they actuate very quickley when told. But have only seen mine move once on their own when turning ignition on with lights already on. But sadly could not replicate this so not definate proof as a test for you.

I would say if you have no error message the motors are ok and that its the adjusters that are not responding as these often brake. You may be able to turn the white nylon toothed disc on the back by hand to get them to move, trouble is the space at the back is limited, so may need to remove battery and air box for access. Hth

[bigdods]

But have only seen mine move once on their own when turning ignition on with lights already on. But sadly could not replicate this so not definate proof as a test for you.

My 3.0 fl elite does this. Park car facing wall or garage door with engine off. Switch headlights on. Start car. if the motors are working the headlights will dip down then back up again. Mine does it every time. I think you will have to start the engine to make them do it though, just turning the ignition on wont make them move. They move as the starter is turning and its very quick so you have to watch for it.

Or as previously stated get it tech2'd as that will exercise the motors and identify any faults.

ETA depending where you are in east mids get in touch with theboy on here through PM he has a tech2 and is in Brackley. WHile you are at it he can do a tech2 work up for the whole car, let you know if anything else is going to jump up and bite you...

[ffcgary1]

Jamies tech2 is busted at the moment so kevin wood [hampshire] is an alternative. Markdtm [nottingham] also has tech2 and both these boys know how to use them.

Also if the garage has gone garrety trying to ajust them with the white ajusters they could well have busted the adjusters which will mean new lamps.

[tport]

Have spent a couple of hours in the garage this evening working on the headlamp units.  It appears that the balls on the end of the headlamp servo motor push rods were pushing against the headlamp reflector rather than being located in the special slot.  You can only see this if the headlamp is removed or by using a small mirror to look inside the headlamp unit.

The headlights now project at a much lower level than before but I suspect that they will need properly adjusting before retesting.  One thing I have still not been able to test conclusively is that the whole auto adjustment system us working correctly.  I did try switching the headlamps on before turning on the ignition as suggested by bigdods but there was no change in the headlamp level.

Can anybody recommend a Vauxhall friendly garage in the Nottingham area that will be able to re-calibrate the headlamps?

[Lee A]

You dont need to recalibrate anything, you just need to use the manual adjusters on the front of the lights to set the beam correct, then the auto adjusters will do their work if theres a big load in the car etc.

As mentioned, the manual adjusters are notorious for breaking, i think the heat makes the plastic brittle. I had my lights apart a few weeks back, just make sure the ball end of the servo motor that adjusts them is firmly in the socket inside the light, there should be no play at all when attached. Then using the manual adjuster move the beam up or down to set the correct point. Any garage that does MOTs should be able to adjust quickly and cheaply.

If you arent getting any error messages from the lighting system i wouldnt worry about it not working

[TheBoy]

Have spent a couple of hours in the garage this evening working on the headlamp units.  It appears that the balls on the end of the headlamp servo motor push rods were pushing against the headlamp reflector rather than being located in the special slot.  You can only see this if the headlamp is removed or by using a small mirror to look inside the headlamp unit.

The headlights now project at a much lower level than before but I suspect that they will need properly adjusting before retesting.  One thing I have still not been able to test conclusively is that the whole auto adjustment system us working correctly.  I did try switching the headlamps on before turning on the ignition as suggested by bigdods but there was no change in the headlamp level.

Can anybody recommend a Vauxhall friendly garage in the Nottingham area that will be able to re-calibrate the headlamps?

Not a garage, but knows more about these cars than any garage or dealer is out very own Marks DTM Calib in south Nottingham, and he has a Tech2.  Drop him a PM

[TheBoy]

You dont need to recalibrate anything, you just need to use the manual adjusters on the front of the lights to set the beam correct, then the auto adjusters will do their work if theres a big load in the car etc.

As mentioned, the manual adjusters are notorious for breaking, i think the heat makes the plastic brittle. I had my lights apart a few weeks back, just make sure the ball end of the servo motor that adjusts them is firmly in the socket inside the light, there should be no play at all when attached. Then using the manual adjuster move the beam up or down to set the correct point. Any garage that does MOTs should be able to adjust quickly and cheaply.

If you arent getting any error messages from the lighting system i wouldnt worry about it not working

Its been messed with by sound of it, so beam will need readjusting.


To test, nobody thought about undoing sensor arm from wishbone (don't pop the balljoint, as these wear enough on their own!), and moving it

[tport]

Once the push rods were installed properly into the back of the lights, it was just a matter of using the manual adjusters to set the height correctly.  Luckily the adjusters worked correctly.  The garage thought at first that they were broken.  The gearing is so fine that much turning was needed before any adjustment become apparent.

Thanks everybody for their help