Headlight Aim Out

[NickB73]

I've got a 55plate Octavia with factory fit xenon's, for some reason the lights are aiming to high, they still when turned up appear to level themselves out, just too high. Is it possible to adjust this, or is it a visit to the dealer?

[Grizzle]

Its done on Computer mate either dealer or someone who knows what to do in VCDS

[TsvRS]

Its done on Computer mate either dealer or someone who knows what to do in VCDS

I am not sure about the older model but on the FL you certainly don't need a computer to level the headlights, they are manually adjusted using a 6mm allen key on the adjusters on the headlight units. Not really sure how a computer could be involved but may be wrong.

[Grizzle]

I am not sure about the older model but on the FL you certainly don't need a computer to level the headlights, they are manually adjusted using a 6mm allen key on the adjusters on the headlight units. Not really sure how a computer could be involved but may be wrong.

Hmmmm Newmarket Skoda have been telling me fibs then!!

[Rockatansky]

I am not sure about the older model but on the FL you certainly don't need a computer to level the headlights, they are manually adjusted using a 6mm allen key on the adjusters on the headlight units. Not really sure how a computer could be involved but may be wrong.

without sounding thick whereabouts are the adjusters on the headlight units , cus mine has started blinding cars in front again , when I thought i'd solved it by puttin the lights back in level ? :S

[stringbean]

I am not sure about the older model but on the FL you certainly don't need a computer to level the headlights, they are manually adjusted using a 6mm allen key on the adjusters on the headlight units. Not really sure how a computer could be involved but may be wrong.

I'm not too sure on the details but from what I've read you do need VCDS (or the dealer equivalent) to adjust the alignment with xenon headlights. You need to put the lights into a special 'alignment' mode - if you don't you will end up fighting the self leveling!

Hopefully someone else will be able to be able to point you in the direction of a guide. Note that this only affects the dipped beam and not the main beam.

[TsvRS]

Hopefully someone will actually know. If the headlights themselves were self levelling then any manual adjustment would not work. I know this not to be true so I suspect the lights level with the aid of an external sensor (people talk about one on the rear axle).

[NickB73]

Its done on Computer mate either dealer or someone who knows what to do in VCDS

I thought so, just what I was trying to avoid as my local dealer just screwed up my locking wheel bolts and blamed the tyre company that fitted the tyres -- Claiming the bolts where done up to tight! Ah well time to find a new dealer to use and part with more cash :(

[sworrall]

just to confirm the 55 plate with xenons does need to be plugged in when you adjust the screws (Ihad a 55 plate L&K). Its actually a bit of both for adjustment as mentioned above. THe dealer VAS or your vcds is plugged in and the lights are put in alignment mode. You then manually adjust the screws against a level then tell the car the new level through the computer.

If you dont plug the car in you risk having the lights bounce around as you drive which was reported by several people on here a few years back after their xenons werent properly set at PDI.

more info in this old thread - xenon level

Edited 10 February, 2011 by sworrall

[cheezemonkhai]

I am not sure about the older model but on the FL you certainly don't need a computer to level the headlights, they are manually adjusted using a 6mm allen key on the adjusters on the headlight units. Not really sure how a computer could be involved but may be wrong.

You would still need VCDS to adjust the auto levelling though.

If you move the headlights, the autolevelling will just step the beam higher up until it reaches the top of it's range to try and adjust.

[Wardy]

For factory fitted xenons you NEED VAS or VCDS to do this. Simple as that.

While it's absolutely true that they have an auto-levelling system, the lights need to be adjusted first - to be put to the right tolerances for the auto-levelling to function properly. IMO it's this complacency and mis-understanding that leads to many xenon equipped vehicles blinding oncoming traffic - Range Rover, BMW and so on...

[TsvRS]

You would still need VCDS to adjust the auto levelling though.

If you move the headlights, the autolevelling will just step the beam higher up until it reaches the top of it's range to try and adjust.

Hmmm that is what I had thought having read previous posts but it doesnt pan out in practice, not with mine at any rate. I can move the beams manually and they do not adjust back again ?

[cheezemonkhai]

Hmmm that is what I had thought having read previous posts but it doesnt pan out in practice, not with mine at any rate. I can move the beams manually and they do not adjust back again ?

In that case they are already at the top of the adjusters.

I would strongly suggest getting somebody with VCDS and a beam aligner (eg VW specialist) adjusting those and setting them all correctly.

[TsvRS]

OK thanks for that I will have it checked. Might have been a bit hasty doing it manually but the lights were set ridiculously short when I got the car

[Wardy]

Yep, as said - you'll only have adjusted them manually within the tolerances set and coded previously.

VAS/VCDS plus beam aligner = solution