Headlight mightmare

GeorgieS3

GeorgieS3

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So had I've had the car about 2 months now just fixing a few little things before I take it any further. I noticed my driver side dipped headlight was very low so after reading a few threads I just manually adjusted it by a few turns,
Now from what i can tell it has stayed there and hasn't dropped when I turned my lights on and off.
Now I think that it may be slightly too high and that my opposite side could come up as wel, anyways. I don't have access to vcds to get it down properly. and when I turn my ignition I can here the leveling motor on the passenger side, although it sounds like it's struggling and I can't here anything on drivers side.

Anybody got any suggestions or would it be worth getting a specialist to look at it.

Cheers
 
Why can't you just manually adjust them so they are in a position your happy with?
 
audi upgrades
My passengers side doesn't seem to move when manually adjusting does it matter if lights are switched on or not? Thanks
 
Pull the connectors, and adjust them manually were you want them and leave them there, I had changed my headlight motors 4-5 times, years ago, and after a few months they were dipping down again, pulled the plug and for the last 12 years no problems.
 
Strato said:
Pull the connectors, and adjust them manually were you want them and leave them there, I had changed my headlight motors 4-5 times, years ago, and after a few months they were dipping down again, pulled the plug and for the last 12 years no problems.
Click to expand...


Nice one mate!
What am I looking for when you say connecters? Could u explain what they look like. Or do you just mean pull out he motors.
I have read lots about different things leading to the lights dipping and thi seems like the most straight forward solution.
Am pretty new to the car so still getting used to everything.

Thanks
 
It has been a long time ago since I did it, but its fairly simple, there are the wires that go to your headlights for the lamps,very easy to see them, and you have the wire loom that goes to the headlight motors it is a different plug, just unplug it and thats it, I remember I unplugged it when my lights were on and at that time they had worked for some reason meaning the light beam was were it should be, so I unplugged them at that time in order not to have to adjust them, If you switch them off and unplug them then you will have to adjust the beam manually. Hope this has helped. Maybe somone has some photo to help u out.
 
Strato said:
It has been a long time ago since I did it, but its fairly simple, there are the wires that go to your headlights for the lamps,very easy to see them, and you have the wire loom that goes to the headlight motors it is a different plug, just unplug it and thats it, I remember I unplugged it when my lights were on and at that time they had worked for some reason meaning the light beam was were it should be, so I unplugged them at that time in order not to have to adjust them, If you switch them off and unplug them then you will have to adjust the beam manually. Hope this has helped. Maybe somone has some photo to help u out.
Click to expand...

Thanks that's given me a better understanding il have a go tonight as I have some 6000k bulbs to go in aswel.
Il let you know how I get on.
 
Strato said:
It has been a long time ago since I did it, but its fairly simple, there are the wires that go to your headlights for the lamps,very easy to see them, and you have the wire loom that goes to the headlight motors it is a different plug, just unplug it and thats it, I remember I unplugged it when my lights were on and at that time they had worked for some reason meaning the light beam was were it should be, so I unplugged them at that time in order not to have to adjust them, If you switch them off and unplug them then you will have to adjust the beam manually. Hope this has helped. Maybe somone has some photo to help u out.
Click to expand...

Ok so got the bulbs in last night no problem, lowered my divers side perfect and sits bang on now.
My passenger side won't adjust at all manually, and it needs to come up to match the other side.
The cog is just spinning I think, can anybody pint me on the right direction of what parts I need? And I am guessing it will be bumper off job and headlight out.

Thanks
 
You first have to check carefully, that below the cog there is a smar plastic arm with a ball end,this holds the headlight stable, if this has come out of its support then you will not be able to adjust the headlight, check if your headlight plays up and down if u move it with your hand, if it does then you have to put this support arm and clip it back in position, you dont need to take the bumper off.
 
Strato said:
You first have to check carefully, that below the cog there is a smar plastic arm with a ball end,this holds the headlight stable, if this has come out of its support then you will not be able to adjust the headlight, check if your headlight plays up and down if u move it with your hand, if it does then you have to put this support arm and clip it back in position, you dont need to take the bumper off.
Click to expand...
Strato said:
You first have to check carefully, that below the cog there is a smar plastic arm with a ball end,this holds the headlight stable, if this has come out of its support then you will not be able to adjust the headlight, check if your headlight plays up and down if u move it with your hand, if it does then you have to put this support arm and clip it back in position, you dont need to take the bumper off.
Click to expand...


Ye there is a lot of play when I gentle try and move it with my arm. Yesturday I had a feel and could feel am arm moving at the top of the housing but couldn't feel the end of it.
Probably because I am not sure what I am supposed to be feeling lol
Will this arm and ball still be there and just need putting back in the right position?
Or will I need new parts?
I will have a look at it in the morning.

Thanks for your help mate.
 
I had to replace the headlights on mine due to the plastic cogs slipping in the metal spindle. The metal had rusted and not gripping the plastic.

Whatever you do, do NOT buy from ebay, the cheapo DEPO lights are not worth the money
 
I suppose it will still be there, its right below the adjustment cog thing, put your hand just under there and move the headlight you will feel it also moving up and down, now all you have to do is push it back gently in the clip. Hope you fix it.
 
I found attaching a Allen driver to a drill made adjusting the lights easier. Has the cog detached itself from the metal rod? That's what happened to mine. The cog just spins around the metal rod due to corrosion.
 
Mine has done the same on one side, I'm sure i used something to grip it and adjust.. Will pliers not work to twist that spindle?
 
I have the same issue with my passenger side light. Xenon just points at the floor and the plastic cog has come off due to the metal being corroded. Will watch this thread for a fix, other than a new headlamp (hopefully)
 
jaykay8L said:
I have the same issue with my passenger side light. Xenon just points at the floor and the plastic cog has come off due to the metal being corroded. Will watch this thread for a fix, other than a new headlamp (hopefully)
Click to expand...

Yesterday I sorted mine. I split the lens from my headlights (very easy with a heat gun) to check the sub structure was all moving freely and fixed correctly to the adjusting spindle, like you my plastic cog had way too much play and was doing nothing so I drilled a hole through the head of a m8 bolt and slid the bolt over the spindle using two part resin to mate the two things together. Now I can adjust my lights by spinning the bolt using my hand.

Now I can see at night. Cheap fix until I can source a new set.
 
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Been out and done headlight restoration this morning. Looks spot on very happy with it!
Now from what I can feel (and see)
All of my moving parts move!
The Alan bolt, cog and rod underneath all spin. But I can't see what the rod connects onto.

After fitting new 6000k bulbs and restoring mine I should think my vision at night will be loads better.

My passenger side isn't pointing all the way down just doesn't match my drivers side, I will see what it's like in how dark and see how much it's improved.
 
S3HGV said:
Yesterday I sorted mine. I split the lens from my headlights (very easy with a heat gun) to check the sub structure was all moving freely and fixed correctly to the adjusting spindle, like you my plastic cog had way too much play and was doing nothing so I drilled a hole through the head of a m8 bolt and slid the bolt over the spindle using two part resin to mate the two things together. Now I can adjust my lights by spinning the bolt using my hand.

Now I can see at night. Cheap fix until I can source a new set.
Click to expand...

Ta for that, will look to do something similar :)
 
Pretty sure the plastic cog holds the spindle from moving in or out. Mine failed the MOT as there was too much movement without the cog connected.
 
today as I can home from work I put the lights on and only one came on and the bulb warning light came on the dash.
Got home and swapped the bulbs over to see if it was the bulb and both bulbs work on one side.
So in the side that no bulbs worked I placed the old factory bulb. And now it works.
Could this be the ballest? I am not sure why it would power up the old bulb but not the new one as it has done for 2days up until now.
 
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