I have a Mk2 Facelift VRS with the active headlights. Up until yesterday they both did the normal left / right and down / settle to level jig upon starting up. Now the drivers headlight still does the left / right part part but stays pointing down! Is this likely to be a simple ( although expensive ) motor failure for that function or are the front and rear sensors wired so that the 2 headlights are split left and right within the loom that plugs into the sensors?

 

Has anyone had a similar failure and if so what was the cause / remedy? The F & R sensors are in their correct positions, no damage to either and as mentioned the N/S headlight works fine.

 

No warning lights have illuminated on the dash and I'm reluctant to go spending out on a good used unit or new until I have a better idea of whats happened! is there any test that I can do? Easiest way I suppose would be to borrow a headlight to plug in - anyone local to Basingstoke able to help me with that?

 

For the time being I have manually adjusted to headlight up, but I really want to get it all working correctly again.

 

Cheers...

 

 

How did the mechanism feel when you adjusted it. Was it stiff?

 

Can you get someone to start the car and switch the lights on when you've got the unit pulled out a bit and open so you can see if it is trying to move and failing or if nothing is happening at all?

 

Do you have or know anyone who has VCDS so you can see if there are any fault codes being logged that aren't severe enough to put a warning light on? I would offer to help with that but my car just got written off so I can't really get to you.

Hi,

 

Thanks for your reply. 

 

If rain permits will have a proper look later. Whereabouts in Hants are you? As I could always look to coming to you.

 

Thanks again,

 

Mark. 

7 hours ago, Papfox said:

How did the mechanism feel when you adjusted it. Was it stiff?

 

Can you get someone to start the car and switch the lights on when you've got the unit pulled out a bit and open so you can see if it is trying to move and failing or if nothing is happening at all?

 

Do you have or know anyone who has VCDS so you can see if there are any fault codes being logged that aren't severe enough to put a warning light on? I would offer to help with that but my car just got written off so I can't really get to you.

 

I'm surprised you haven't got a warning light or message on the dashboard. Typically speaking, the AFS system is pretty good at notifying the driver of any issues and will then enter safe mode to avoid glare to other drivers.

 

At a guess, it's going to be a mechanical failure so the headlight carrier is no longer properly attached inside the headlight housing.

11 hours ago, MAW said:

I have a Mk2 Facelift VRS with the active headlights. Up until yesterday they both did the normal left / right and down / settle to level jig upon starting up. Now the drivers headlight still does the left / right part part but stays pointing down! Is this likely to be a simple ( although expensive ) motor failure for that function or are the front and rear sensors wired so that the 2 headlights are split left and right within the loom that plugs into the sensors?

 

Has anyone had a similar failure and if so what was the cause / remedy? The F & R sensors are in their correct positions, no damage to either and as mentioned the N/S headlight works fine.

 

 

 

 

 

I had an issue with my front AFS sensor when I had my Oct 2, water got into the plug - When this happened both lights self tested at start up but then both pointed down.  If it was a motor failure I'd kind of expect that lamp not to self test and if it was an AFS issue you should get a dash error (as I used to).

Diagnosis complete and its the motor for the up / down level function that has packed up...

 

Although the headlights are handed ( I know, stating the obvious ), the wiring loom connectors and the socket in the back of the headlights is not handed. So, I removed both headlights swapped them round and sat them on a couple of 'hop ups' plugged them back in and this is the result. The left HL now plugged in to the O/S now does the full check and the right HL now plugged in to the N/S still only performs the side sweep.

 

Have had a good look inside of the O/S unit as best as I can and all seems intact and nothing rattles around if you give it a shake. The adjusters work fine and I have pulled all the connectors and given them a good waggle in case of a dirty connection - still nothing, so that just leaves the motor as being the cause. What I did discover when this happened and I first removed the light was that the black square cover plate for dipped beam had not been clipped back in place properly and it was part open at the bottom! so I think this failure is most likely down to moisture ingress.

 

Now to track down a good used H/L for a sensible price...

 

 

Couple on eBay for not too much money assuming they are good condition:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183520551841

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273530550823

Cheers,

 

Have already been in touch with both sellers to see if I can try before I buy...

I picked up a pair of xenon headlamps for £250 from eBay last week so think you should be able to get them for less than £200, both of those have been on there for weeks.

Still waiting to hear back. As soon as you ask if they are in good working order and the level motors etc work as they should things go very quiet!

Now sorted :-)

 

2nd hand headlight sourced via ebay - drove to London first thing this morning to collect. Fitted and checked it whilst there and all is back to normal - minimal bit of adjustment need's doing just to get it back in line with the N/S...

How much did it cost you?

Good that is our got it sorted quickly. Can the original one be repaired.

Edited 10 November, 20187 yr by Nuclear_Jules
Added

£150.00 and it's v/good condition! so happy with that.

 

I'm tempted to pull the old unit apart, remove the motor so that I can get the part number off of it and go from there. Have spoken to Skoda parts and the motors are not listed as a separate item apparently.