Headlamp Adjuster Not Working

[Guest Dansik]

Hi, I have an 03 1.9TDI.

 

I tried to lower the headlamps with the roller switch on the dash, the one next to the dimmer. But nothing happened at all. I cant see any fuses gone anywhere.

 

Just wondered it this was a known problem or if anyone has suggestions where to start looking.

 

Dansik.

[Guest nimrod]

I take it you had the lights fully turned on? or do you have Xenon lamps? as these I believe are not manually adjustable!

 

 

Just wondered it this was a known problem or if anyone has suggestions where to start looking.

 

 

03 model in that case why are you getting your hands dirty when its still under warrenty?

[Ivor_E_Tower]

The amount by which the lights move when you turn the adjuster is very small. Unless it is dark and you are parked almost touching a wall with dipped beam switched on, it is very hard to see the beams actually lower/raise...and as has been said, if you have Xenons, the adjuster is not linked to them as self-levelling rear suspension will be fitted.

[Guest Dansik]

Well I havent actually tried it in front of a brick wall, I'll do that soon and see if I can detect them moving up or down.

 

Sadly my car is now on 88,000 and so out of warrenty. I dont think I have xenon lights they seem just lights to me and nothing special.

 

The light leveling is no big deal but I'd like it to work if possible.

 

It's a great car and I like driving it.

[Topbloke]

if you don't have a wall that you can get close to ask the wife no if you put the lights on and get someone to roll the switch you should be able to here the motor's whirring <_<

[Denis]

I'm a bit confused by all of this myself. I assumed all facelift models had Xenon headlights, are they an option? The headlights in my car are vastly superior to my last (pre-lift) model so I assumed they were Xenon. How can we tell what we have?

 

I too have the dashboard adjuster and it doesn't seem to do much- but self levelling suspension- wouldn't this be a hugely expensive option fitted to only a few cars?

[Guest nimrod]

Not self leveling suspension but lights, they have to be, under eec regs due to their brightness! there is a sensor linked to the rear suspension that measures the drop under load and adjusts the lights to suit, it will only adjust the lights while under constant load not while it wallows over a few dips in the road!

on standard head lights its down to the driver who sometimes forgets to adjust the lights! on the xenon lights (hids) it done automatically so not blind on comming drivers and save you getting a slap! <_<

[Guest nimrod]

Nearly forgot you also get pop up headlight washers with the xenon lights, the xenons are only available on the Zetec and Ghia as an extra cost option or with the Technology pack option

[Ivor_E_Tower]

...so I assumed they were Xenon. How can we tell what we have?

 

With the headlamps off, look into the headlamp units. If you can see a single-fillament bulb, similar to the fog lamp bulb, then you have halogen. If you have a sort of silver coloured round reflector thingy, and a fairly obvious light-blue tint to the beam when the lights are on, and you have headlamp washers, then chances are that you have xenons! If you open the bonnet and look at the rear of the headlamps, where the wires go into them, you should also be able to tell from that.