Hawkeye Headlight Levelling
#1
Hawkeye Headlight Levelling
My headlight beams are currently coming closer to the car as i drive. They end up shining immediately in front of the front bumper which aint any good on the dark roads around Scotland.
I checked the linkages, cleaned the connecting plugs and rotated the sensor shafts, but its still happening.
There is no fault indicated on dash.
My suspicion is that there is water in one of the sensors, that is moving when i drive the car and causing the problem.I guess it is a resistive bridge set up with two potentiometers?
The car will go in for service beginning of April, what can i do in the meantime?
The headlights align properly on first start, if i then unplug the sensors will this keep them from dropping? is one sensor enough to work the system? as i believe rear sensor recently replaced. I could unplug front and see what happens? The cars load is only driver and so is constant, apart from fuel.
Any advice gratefully received Thanks
I checked the linkages, cleaned the connecting plugs and rotated the sensor shafts, but its still happening.
There is no fault indicated on dash.
My suspicion is that there is water in one of the sensors, that is moving when i drive the car and causing the problem.I guess it is a resistive bridge set up with two potentiometers?
The car will go in for service beginning of April, what can i do in the meantime?
The headlights align properly on first start, if i then unplug the sensors will this keep them from dropping? is one sensor enough to work the system? as i believe rear sensor recently replaced. I could unplug front and see what happens? The cars load is only driver and so is constant, apart from fuel.
Any advice gratefully received Thanks
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Dearham, Cumbria
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Mines started doing the same but my headlight warning light came on but went back off and hasn't been back on since. My lights still shine at the floor though. So if anyone has a clue without going to the dealer would be very helpful. Cheers
#6
Mine started to the same this week too. I am waiting till the weekend to get a look at the sensors, so intrested in the out come of this thread.
Mine are also ok on start up but they rise about 2 inches on back of garage wall, but by the time I drive a few miles they have dropped. The car is not long serviced 50k cambelt, tensioner so not looking to spend any more this month.
Mine are also ok on start up but they rise about 2 inches on back of garage wall, but by the time I drive a few miles they have dropped. The car is not long serviced 50k cambelt, tensioner so not looking to spend any more this month.
#7
Ok we have to assume that this is a sensor fault. For those with the light on i would suggest that this could be a bad connection at one of the connectors.I think this or a sensor failure is the only thing that will activate the warning light.
Basically what the two sensors do, is the same as the headlight adjustment scroll switch normally in the cabin.Only difference is it uses the suspension position for control.
Today i switched on the lights and they aligned in normal position. I then have pulled the plug on the front sensor. I believe that this should disable the whole system and the lights will remain constantly in the position they are now. The warning light has come on as a consequence of this. I will test tonight and see if any control on the lights from the rear sensor but as i think they will be linked through a circuit i am not expecting any.
Basically what the two sensors do, is the same as the headlight adjustment scroll switch normally in the cabin.Only difference is it uses the suspension position for control.
Today i switched on the lights and they aligned in normal position. I then have pulled the plug on the front sensor. I believe that this should disable the whole system and the lights will remain constantly in the position they are now. The warning light has come on as a consequence of this. I will test tonight and see if any control on the lights from the rear sensor but as i think they will be linked through a circuit i am not expecting any.
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#9
So disconnected the front sensor. The headlights no longer self levelled and the warning light was on the dash. This seemed succesful and the system seemed disabled.
I say seemed, as about 2 days later the headlights again dropped to just below front bumper. I would say that there may be a possible short circuit type fault, whether this is in the rear sensor or the wiring is unknown.
The car will now be booked in to get this fixed, once i find out i will post result. It certainly cannot be used at night the way it is.
I say seemed, as about 2 days later the headlights again dropped to just below front bumper. I would say that there may be a possible short circuit type fault, whether this is in the rear sensor or the wiring is unknown.
The car will now be booked in to get this fixed, once i find out i will post result. It certainly cannot be used at night the way it is.
#11
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (11)
AFAIK, self-levelling systems typically consist of 1x sensor at each corner of the car which are all connected to some kind of central brain, and this in turn has connections going out to each headlamp unit. If any one of the sensors or the brain go wrong, it's anyone's guess exactly how the overall system will behave.
#12
AFAIK, self-levelling systems typically consist of 1x sensor at each corner of the car which are all connected to some kind of central brain, and this in turn has connections going out to each headlamp unit. If any one of the sensors or the brain go wrong, it's anyone's guess exactly how the overall system will behave.
Its going in on 20th so we should know about 1 day later.
#13
Ok, as expected this is a known fault.
[7:11:27 AM] Wife: yes derek said that the leveling unit mulfuctioning
[7:11:35 AM] Me: ah
[7:11:40 AM] Wife: ordered new one
[7:11:51 AM] Wife: he didnt say anything about sensor
[7:11:56 AM] Me: is that the brain?
[7:12:19 AM] Wife: i suppose so and its in the back of the car
[7:12:26 AM] Me: oh
[7:12:44 AM] Me: underneath?
[7:12:49 AM] Wife: it shouldnt take long apparently, we will see
[7:12:54 AM] Me: ok
[7:12:59 AM] Wife: i think so
[7:13:29 AM] Me: ok that will be good
[7:13:30 AM] Wife: it thinks there are kids sitting at the back
[7:13:49 AM] Me: oh?
[7:14:23 AM] Wife: thats why it lowers the headlights
[7:14:51 AM] Wife: (nerd)
[7:14:55 AM] Me: its a bit excessive though
[7:15:12 AM] Me: doesnt it like kids
[7:15:19 AM] Me: wants to kill them
Like my "style"
[7:11:27 AM] Wife: yes derek said that the leveling unit mulfuctioning
[7:11:35 AM] Me: ah
[7:11:40 AM] Wife: ordered new one
[7:11:51 AM] Wife: he didnt say anything about sensor
[7:11:56 AM] Me: is that the brain?
[7:12:19 AM] Wife: i suppose so and its in the back of the car
[7:12:26 AM] Me: oh
[7:12:44 AM] Me: underneath?
[7:12:49 AM] Wife: it shouldnt take long apparently, we will see
[7:12:54 AM] Me: ok
[7:12:59 AM] Wife: i think so
[7:13:29 AM] Me: ok that will be good
[7:13:30 AM] Wife: it thinks there are kids sitting at the back
[7:13:49 AM] Me: oh?
[7:14:23 AM] Wife: thats why it lowers the headlights
[7:14:51 AM] Wife: (nerd)
[7:14:55 AM] Me: its a bit excessive though
[7:15:12 AM] Me: doesnt it like kids
[7:15:19 AM] Me: wants to kill them
Like my "style"
#16
Well chaps i hope you are sitting down:
It turned out that both level sensors had water in them. This required their replacement. The units are vulnerable where they are situated under the car and eventually they will get water in them.
Now my car has only done 24000 miles and sits in the garage most of the time.
Now the sitting down bit:
The sensors are 240 GBP each. We got 86 GBP discount , not sure why, but total price for the two sensors and fitting including vat was 540 GBP.
That is what a set of snow tyres cost, i am totally stunned.
Anyway there it is.
It turned out that both level sensors had water in them. This required their replacement. The units are vulnerable where they are situated under the car and eventually they will get water in them.
Now my car has only done 24000 miles and sits in the garage most of the time.
Now the sitting down bit:
The sensors are 240 GBP each. We got 86 GBP discount , not sure why, but total price for the two sensors and fitting including vat was 540 GBP.
That is what a set of snow tyres cost, i am totally stunned.
Anyway there it is.
#18
The garage put vaseline on as a cure. Where exactly i dont know. However, either the water would get in at the plug or at the shaft.
#21
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
It would seem that the design of the snsors has not changed. Unfortunately my wife didnt get one of the old ones as i could have maybe sourced an alternative.
The garage put vaseline on as a cure. Where exactly i dont know. However, either the water would get in at the plug or at the shaft.
The garage put vaseline on as a cure. Where exactly i dont know. However, either the water would get in at the plug or at the shaft.
Then get them home and see if a) there was any way YOU could have waterproofed them, and b) if anyone else has them.
I VERY much doubt they are made by Subaru.
Bosch, Nismo, Denso, yes, but NOT Subaru
#23
Mine are doing the same thing but after I skoosh the little arms attached to the suspension with WD40 they start working again - for a while. I reckon all the salt/grit on the roads is seizing up the little arms so the sensor thinks the car is squatting with the rear suspension lower than the front and the lights point down, or else it just decides there is no changing information and defaults to putting the lights at the lowest position.
I would have thought that if it can be temporarily cured with WD40 then it's not the sensors at fault but the arms need stripping and lubricating properly, at least that should be checked first before assuming that the sensors need replaced!
Stuart
I would have thought that if it can be temporarily cured with WD40 then it's not the sensors at fault but the arms need stripping and lubricating properly, at least that should be checked first before assuming that the sensors need replaced!
Stuart
#25
Mine are doing the same thing but after I skoosh the little arms attached to the suspension with WD40 they start working again - for a while. I reckon all the salt/grit on the roads is seizing up the little arms so the sensor thinks the car is squatting with the rear suspension lower than the front and the lights point down, or else it just decides there is no changing information and defaults to putting the lights at the lowest position.
I would have thought that if it can be temporarily cured with WD40 then it's not the sensors at fault but the arms need stripping and lubricating properly, at least that should be checked first before assuming that the sensors need replaced!
Stuart
I would have thought that if it can be temporarily cured with WD40 then it's not the sensors at fault but the arms need stripping and lubricating properly, at least that should be checked first before assuming that the sensors need replaced!
Stuart
The vaseline mentioned is to waterproof the sensor not to lubricate it.
#26
Yeh I was really meaning my own symptoms and others who have posted in earlier threads, to check the arms before settling on the sensors themselves. I can't get the arms to move at the moment. I suppose I will try and properly loosen the arms but knowing me I'll either break something or not know how to put it back together!
The price for a couple of simple components is outrageous, I remember when I started driving that you could find exchange engines for that!
Stuart
The price for a couple of simple components is outrageous, I remember when I started driving that you could find exchange engines for that!
Stuart
#27
Yeh I was really meaning my own symptoms and others who have posted in earlier threads, to check the arms before settling on the sensors themselves. I can't get the arms to move at the moment. I suppose I will try and properly loosen the arms but knowing me I'll either break something or not know how to put it back together!
The price for a couple of simple components is outrageous, I remember when I started driving that you could find exchange engines for that!
Stuart
The price for a couple of simple components is outrageous, I remember when I started driving that you could find exchange engines for that!
Stuart
#29
Scooby Regular
feel physically sick after reading this!
My levelling light comes on for ages before dissapearing and there is no way i can afford that! got a 50k service to fork out as it is! that price is mental. luckily my lights seem to be pointing ok although i have no idea how it should look but will soon find out in november when its MOT time
My levelling light comes on for ages before dissapearing and there is no way i can afford that! got a 50k service to fork out as it is! that price is mental. luckily my lights seem to be pointing ok although i have no idea how it should look but will soon find out in november when its MOT time
#30
feel physically sick after reading this!
My levelling light comes on for ages before dissapearing and there is no way i can afford that! got a 50k service to fork out as it is! that price is mental. luckily my lights seem to be pointing ok although i have no idea how it should look but will soon find out in november when its MOT time
My levelling light comes on for ages before dissapearing and there is no way i can afford that! got a 50k service to fork out as it is! that price is mental. luckily my lights seem to be pointing ok although i have no idea how it should look but will soon find out in november when its MOT time
I have had a reply from Subaru UK but havent read it yet. My wife says that they say the cost was due to the fact the brackets were renewed as well. I am hoping we may get to the point we have a part number for the sensor part only which may make it a cheaper repair.