Our soon to be three year old Yeti has been displaying a couple of intermittent headlight issues recently:

 

- The O/S headlight doesn’t always do the full sideways sweep when turned on, probably failing 1 in 20 times

- The N/S headlight dip is lazy, dipping a noticeable but short fraction of a second later than the O/S headlight.

 

Has anyone else experienced either of these? Am I likely to get much joy from Skoda getting these issues remedied? Car has 5 year extended warranty, FDSH and was bought by us from new.

 

Thanks,

 

James

Edited 22 January, 20197 yr by jmcc500

1 hour ago, jmcc500 said:

Our soon to be three year old Yeti has been displaying a couple of intermittent headlight issues recently:

 

- The O/S headlight doesn’t always do the full sideways sweep when turned on, probably failing 1 in 20 times

- The N/S headlight dip is lazy, dipping a noticeable but short fraction of a second later than the O/S headlight.

 

Has anyone else experienced either of these? Am I likely to get much joy from Skoda getting these issues remedied? Car has 5 year extended warranty, FDSH and was bought by us from new.

 

Thanks,

 

James

As it's less than 3 years old it is covered by Skoda warranty. Get your dealer to sort it now 

Why do you think you will have a problem?

You are doubly covered; the car is still under warranty PLUS you have an extended warranty.
Just take it in and get them to sort it out.

Could it be cold weather related eg parked out on the road?.

16 hours ago, Llanigraham said:

Why do you think you will have a problem?

You are doubly covered; the car is still under warranty PLUS you have an extended warranty.
Just take it in and get them to sort it out.

 

Because it is an intermittent issue - this morning it seemed fine dipping, and the sweep worked as expected.

 

When I have had other issues (a relay flutter noise which kicks in sometimes and requires a lift of the accelerator pedal to stop) the dealers have "not been able recreate the fault" so not done anything.

7 hours ago, Ryeman said:

Could it be cold weather related eg parked out on the road?.

 

I thought that might be it - was noticeable on cold damp mornings heading to work, not a problem in the evenings heading home. However, last night was colder and all working normally.

 

I will contact the dealer and get it looked at.

Residual dampness and then sub zero temps might form some sort of icing slowing mechanisms.

7 hours ago, Ryeman said:

Could it be cold weather related eg parked out on the road?.

 

Weather station read, Minus 6 today. Started the Yeti, Bi-Xenon two step happened as it always does. Not affected by the cold. Not surprising really as these cars are designed to operate at far lower temperatures.

Vidoe the issue as you turn on the lights. Then you have evidence of a fault even though intermittent and working correctly at dealers.

1 hour ago, WFM said:

 

Weather station read, Minus 6 today. Started the Yeti, Bi-Xenon two step happened as it always does. Not affected by the cold. Not surprising really as these cars are designed to operate at far lower temperatures.

 

Yes, I have seen the headlight dance not work at much more normal ambient temperatures so I don't think that is the problem there.

 

I have only noticed the sluggish dip this week, first in mist/fog conditions on Monday morning, then again on Tuesday morning in cold conditions. It's only a heartbeat slower, but there is definitely a two-stage dipping, whereas normally they both slam down pretty much instantly.

Will try to record both issues, good idea.

Car now at the dealer. MoT passed no issue, but they could not replicate the headlight problem (probably because their workshop is not at or close to 0degC), and no fault code recorded. They were going to leave it at that but I have insisted they sort it out, particularly as I have supplied video of the issue and explained when it happens.

 

They are now keeping the car to try to replicate and diagnose. I’m pretty sure it will be a sticky solenoid in the headlight, but they are worried it might be wiring or something else. Will update once resolved!

I can understand the sideways sweep problem but not the dipping one? I thought the dip beam was Bi-Xenon and the main beam Halogen with the Bi-Xenon only moving vertically to comply with the self-levelling requirement not to dip? 

On 14/02/2019 at 20:15, VAGCF said:

I can understand the sideways sweep problem but not the dipping one? I thought the dip beam was Bi-Xenon and the main beam Halogen with the Bi-Xenon only moving vertically to comply with the self-levelling requirement not to dip? 

 

No - bi-xenon means xenon for both dip and main, the dip achieved by masking some of the lens to give the required cut off. The mask is activated by a solenoid, moving out of the way for main beam.

 

Interestingly, there is also a halogen bulb for flashing when the xenon is not lit - xenons take too long to fire up for a flash.

 

My Mini has xenon dip and halogen main and works as you describe. And is a bit rubbish compared to the Yeti bi-xenon system.

Oh, and still no word from the dealer. Might chase them tomorrow to see if Skoda UK tech people have come back with a strategy to resolve the issue.

9 hours ago, jmcc500 said:

 

No - bi-xenon means xenon for both dip and main, the dip achieved by masking some of the lens to give the required cut off. The mask is activated by a solenoid, moving out of the way for main beam.

 

Interestingly, there is also a halogen bulb for flashing when the xenon is not lit - xenons take too long to fire up for a flash.

 

My Mini has xenon dip and halogen main and works as you describe. And is a bit rubbish compared to the Yeti bi-xenon system.

 

The "normal" bulb for high beam is not just because they take a long time to fire, it is to stop the strain on the xenon bulbs and the ballast which are both expensive pieces of kit that require high voltages to fire up. Flashing xenons from off would likely waste the bulbs and ballasts in a very short time.

 

The H7s do the flash when the lights are off and the H7s and xenons flash when the lights are on.

I think I was getting confused because of earlier threads we've had on the matter of lights and thought that the Xenons were only for dip.

 

Whatever, as said, they are some of the best I've had on any car. Those on my wife's Mini Cooper S are pretty good though, don't know what they are. Guessing just Bi-Xenon? 

 

Edit: Yes, checked the handbook and they are Bi-Xenon. Never had a failure with them, 9 years old from new, or with any of my previous cars with them, so they are reliable even if used for flashing though that can reduce their life if used frequently or the lights turned on and off often. 

Edited 20 February, 20197 yr by VAGCF

I've gotten used to mine but without fail, when I'm out in the dark with passenger/s they remark on how good my lights are. I love the way they shine into the bend on winding lanes.

On 20/02/2019 at 12:56, longedge said:

I've gotten used to mine but without fail, when I'm out in the dark with passenger/s they remark on how good my lights are. I love the way they shine into the bend on winding lanes.

They are fantastic lights. I work for JLR and it is only the latest LED matrix lights that outperform the Yeti lights for consistency of beam and general use ability. I have yet to try one with the Laser LED lights - suspect they may make even the Yeti seem under-illuminated!

 

Update on fix: Skoda UK technical on the case but wanted a video from outside to understand if it’s the xenon shutter or the Halogen bulb staying on. Took that yesterday but not sure if it adds any clarity to the problem! I guess I could unplug the Halogen next time it’s frosty and see if it still happens, but not sure if that would throw an error?

Latest update: Skoda UK have refused to do anything as the problem did not present when the dealer had the car (probably because it as 8°C and the problem only occurs when it's frosty). Have spoken to Skoda UK customer services and have asked it be escalated.

Dealer claimed not to be able to see any issue in the video I provided, which is odd as everyone else I have shown can see the staggered dip. Skoda UK said they did not have the video so not sure what the dealer did with it when I sent it to them 3 weeks ago.

 

Car now booked in to a different dealer for a service and a second opinion, though I hold out little hope of making progress whilst Skoda UK are refusing to accept an issue exists when it cannot be demonstrated in a nice warm workshop.