SRSport

Just had that horrible sinking feeling of "oh no I didnt just...did I"?

Ive been getting a bad knock that was finally traced down to be the HID self levelling sensor linking arm. The small arm at the top had somehow come away a little and was banging against the beam. I tried to tighten it but just ended up shearing the bolt off .

Is there anyway of retrieving and fitting a new bolt as I would be gutted to have to buy a whole new sensor at £300+ just for a bolt.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

What pics?

TBH, the unit was probably put together by a 12 year old girl working for pennies.
If she can do it, you can: remove it and see how it dismantles?

SRSport

Sorry, I forgot to put the links in. Just uploaded now.

IainIainWRX

Hi, sorry don't know much about the bolt, but funnily enough my 2006 WRX just had its 50,000 mile service today and I was informed that the rear HID auto-leveller arm had 'seized'. Sensor was OK but it would cost over £200 to have the arm replaced. So, I am not replacing the arm at this point and just leaving it alone. I don't carry many heavy things in the back so it shouldn't be a problem.

Do you really need to replace it?

SRSport

I hope not. I very rarely need it, well twice a year. Im not going to rush in to spend £300 on a new one as I just dont need it for many months. I didnt want to sell it on to an unsuspecting buyer when I do eventually sell it on, so if I was to replace it eventually I may as well do it now and enjoy the use of it while I own it as well.

Is it really much of a problem to on going traffic if it doesnt self level when fully loaded? Is it a legal requirement to have a self levelling device fitted to HID lights?

SRSport

Just a thought. My car has done 24,009 miles, if I cant get the sheered bolt sorted and need a new system (and actually go ahead with it) I would have a second hand arm up for sale.

Also do you have standard springs or lowered springs such as Prodrive? I was just thinking that if you had stiffer lowering springs the self levelling would be pretty much obsolete wouldnt it?

IainIainWRX

Hi, I'm afraid I don't know much about the legality or otherwise, but I would imagine that the only legal requirement is that you don't blind other road users and this will be tested during an MOT (but not with a fully loaded car).

You don't need to stump up for a new arm when selling the car - just tell the buyer about it and they can make up their own mind.

I might be interested in buying a second-hand arm if it proves to be an MOT requirement and you need a whole new setup. I'll give the Subaru dealer a call tomorrow and ask specifically about MOT requirements/legality tomorrow.

Back to your bolt - would a Subaru dealer not be able to help out with such a small item?

Tomwrx

iTrader: (54)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUBARU-IMPREZA...item4aa913228a

this guys breaking a hawkeye on the bay

SRSport

Thanks, worth a shout.

yorvik

iTrader: (4)

Legally I believe HID lights require both self levelling and headlight washers.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

In my pedant mode, I'd have to say, that's NOT a bolt, it's a nut with PART of a bolt stuck in it.

Where is the REST of the bolt?
Does the nut fasten in any way to the arm with the square hole?
Can you not, therefore, remove and replace the old bolt and fit a new nut?

SRSport

I cant really see where the rest of the bolt goes, or rather starts as it disappears into the sensor. See below





Here is the reverse side where the back of the bolt is. Im sure I could take it off, open it up and see whats what but after my last experience am quite reluctant.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Stop being a wuss. If someone put it together, (remember that 12 year old girl???), YOU can take it apart!

SRSport

Lol, I snapped a bolt didnt I? Id rather be a better off wuss than poorer/stupid but brave.
generally curiosity means that Ill give it a go...and make things even worse.

IainIainWRX

Subaru dealer said that my car (seized arm) will be fine for MOT as I thought. They did mention though that if the arm actually broke then the headlights might not settle and that could cause an MOT fail.

Cheers, Iain.

SRSport

Ive had a look tonight and I dont think that will be the case as the arm is linked to that nut that needs reasonable force to change it. If it isnt attached to anything I think it will just stay put. You could also adjust the headlight manually if you are prepared to crawl under the car every time.

SRSport

Can you try lubricating them? I tried lubing mine everywhere when I located the source of the knocking, Im sure you could get some grease in there.

IainIainWRX

Fair enough. If I was regularly carrying heavy loads then I would get it fixed, and I would certainly be going down the lubrication route in the first instance rather than a replacement arm.

Cheers, Iain.

SRSport

I wonder in reality whether it is even going to be a problem? They are still angled to the nearside. I guess time will tell.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Stop looking for excuses and get it in bits. Be a man!

Then post pics

SRSport

Whos to say Im not a woman?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

LOL, my bad.

DT-SPD

iTrader: (7)

you could just drill and tap the sheared bolt in the sensor. You can then fit a bit of studding ( or a sawn off bolt etc. ) and problem sorted.

SRSport

How does that work? Im not sure whether the actual bolt is part of the sensor unit. Im sure there must be some way of sorting this out for much less than £300 but this is not something Im clued up about. What does drilling and tapping involve and fitting studding for that matter?

DT-SPD

iTrader: (7)

You can drill a small hole in the sheared off bolt stuck in the sensor. Then use a tap to cut a new thread. You can then screw in some studding ( effectively a bolt with its head cut off ). You can then refit the arm and fit a nut onto the studding.

If you want you can send me the sensor and arm I could give it a go for a reasonable fee

SRSport

Thanks but at the moment I cant get the part off. I will see how it goes over the next few days but I suspect it will end up being a job for my Subaru specialist.

mentolo

Hi, in my impreza the headlight is actually at the right angle (checked numerous times that it doesn't blind other drivers. But with incoming MOT I'm actually worrying about this since my dashboard displays the warning light for headlight...

I'll take a look this weekend and clean/ lube the arms before doing anything else...