Headlight self leveling

markharriers
AE/Manager/Owner

Posts: 34

Last Online: Aug 21, 2024 8:20:45 GMT 1

Likes: 11

Headlight self leveling May 21, 2024 11:23:03 GMT 1 via mobile David likes this

Back to Top Quote

Post by markharriers on May 21, 2024 11:23:03 GMT 1

Hi all, had a car in with the high intensity lights fitted as standard no headlight adjuster in the car so had to be self leveling. Under the car on the drivers side wishbone I spotted the self leveling rod had broken so I failed the car for self leveling not working and advised the rod had broken. My question is that should I have also have failed the rod for being broken under section 5.3.3.B "A suspension component excessively corroded or damaged" as I wasn't sure I advised it and explained to the customer to replace it as would hopefully get the headlight leveling working again.

Interested in you thoughts guys

stealth Ex VOSA/DVSA Posts: 2,078 Last Online: Mar 1, 2018 23:06:10 GMT 1 Likes: 1,716	Headlight self leveling May 21, 2024 11:37:08 GMT 1 via mobile peter likes this Back to Top Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by stealth on May 21, 2024 11:37:08 GMT 1 Most definitely a square peg round hole scenario.🤔 The levelling linkage is part of the headlamp system. Suspension is ...well it's the stuff that suspends the car.😄
	If I was to agree with you, that would make us both wrong !

mercedes VTS Council member Posts: 1,213 Class tested: 4 Last Online: Sept 7, 2024 13:58:34 GMT 1 Likes: 475	Headlight self leveling May 21, 2024 11:55:54 GMT 1 Back to Top Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by mercedes on May 21, 2024 11:55:54 GMT 1 did one off these sometime ago you have too buy the full unit to get the linkage its was a lot of money i hust went to the scrapys and got 3/4 different rods and 1 fitted no problem

markharriers
AE/Manager/Owner

Posts: 34

Last Online: Aug 21, 2024 8:20:45 GMT 1

Likes: 11

Headlight self leveling May 21, 2024 11:56:06 GMT 1 via mobile

Back to Top Quote

Post by markharriers on May 21, 2024 11:56:06 GMT 1

May 21, 2024 11:37:08 GMT 1 stealth said:

Most definitely a square peg round hole scenario.🤔

The levelling linkage is part of the headlamp system.

Suspension is ...well it's the stuff that suspends the car.😄

😂😂 did I do the correct thing in your opinion?

stealth
Ex VOSA/DVSA

Posts: 2,078

Last Online: Mar 1, 2018 23:06:10 GMT 1

Likes: 1,716

Headlight self leveling May 21, 2024 13:43:25 GMT 1 via mobile David and peter like this

Back to Top Quote

Post by stealth on May 21, 2024 13:43:25 GMT 1

May 21, 2024 11:56:06 GMT 1 markharriers said:

😂😂 did I do the correct thing in your opinion?

Absolutely. You have to take each section of the Manual as "stand alone"

Headlamps is headlamps & everything related, including any levelling devices.

Suspension is just that, the two are seperate systems.

Let's put a different spin on things...

You find a corroded ABS ring triggering the MIL lamp.

Both are part of the braking system, covered in the relevant section of the Manual.

Would you also fail the driveshaft that the ABS ring is fitted to ?
🫡

Last Edit: May 21, 2024 13:45:46 GMT 1 by stealth -

If I was to agree with you, that would make us both wrong !

markharriers
AE/Manager/Owner

Posts: 34

Last Online: Aug 21, 2024 8:20:45 GMT 1

Likes: 11

Headlight self leveling May 21, 2024 13:46:03 GMT 1 via mobile

Back to Top Quote

Post by markharriers on May 21, 2024 13:46:03 GMT 1

May 21, 2024 13:43:25 GMT 1 stealth said:

May 21, 2024 11:56:06 GMT 1 markharriers said:

😂😂 did I do the correct thing in your opinion?

Absolutely. You have to take each section of the Manual as "stand alone"

Headlamps is headlamps & everything related, including any levelling devices.

Suspension is just that, the two are seperate systems.

.let's put a different spin on things...

You find a corroded ABS ring causing triggering the MIL lamp.

Would you also fail the driveshaft that the ABS ring is fitted to ?
🫡

That's great thank you so I'm also right in thinking that the rod being broken isn't in its self a rfr?

stealth
Ex VOSA/DVSA

Posts: 2,078

Last Online: Mar 1, 2018 23:06:10 GMT 1

Likes: 1,716

Headlight self leveling May 21, 2024 13:58:55 GMT 1 via mobile peter and Ben (formerly spamgoo) like this

Back to Top Quote

Post by stealth on May 21, 2024 13:58:55 GMT 1

May 21, 2024 13:46:03 GMT 1 markharriers said:

That's great thank you so I'm also right in thinking that the rod being broken isn't in its self a rfr?

The Manual tells us...

(Self levelling)

"If these systems have been fitted, they must work.

Sometimes it is not easy to determine if the self-levelling systems work. In such cases you should give the benefit of the doubt"

Normally the headlamps will be seen to "cycle" as they self level. If I observed this wasn't happening & was familiar with the marque I would consider this as reason enough. Otherwise I would check the headlamp aim first & perhaps advise if the alignment was OK.

If I was to agree with you, that would make us both wrong !

dwain VTS Council member Posts: 1,217 Class tested: 4 Last Online: Sept 7, 2024 22:12:32 GMT 1 Likes: 726	Headlight self leveling May 21, 2024 20:58:44 GMT 1 via mobile peter likes this Back to Top Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by dwain on May 21, 2024 20:58:44 GMT 1 There are also occasions where giving the disconnected/broken rod a wiggle makes the beam jump around, also a fail. There’s a video I posted on here a while back that demonstrates this.

markharriers
AE/Manager/Owner

Posts: 34

Last Online: Aug 21, 2024 8:20:45 GMT 1

Likes: 11

Headlight self leveling May 22, 2024 13:41:13 GMT 1 via mobile stealth likes this

Back to Top Quote

Post by markharriers on May 22, 2024 13:41:13 GMT 1

May 21, 2024 13:58:55 GMT 1 stealth said:

May 21, 2024 13:46:03 GMT 1 markharriers said:

That's great thank you so I'm also right in thinking that the rod being broken isn't in its self a rfr?

The Manual tells us...

(Self levelling)

"If these systems have been fitted, they must work.

Sometimes it is not easy to determine if the self-levelling systems work. In such cases you should give the benefit of the doubt"

Normally the headlamps will be seen to "cycle" as they self level. If I observed this wasn't happening & was familiar with the marque I would consider this as reason enough. Otherwise I would check the headlamp aim first & perhaps advise if the alignment was OK.

Thank much appreciated 👍

markharriers
AE/Manager/Owner

Posts: 34

Last Online: Aug 21, 2024 8:20:45 GMT 1

Likes: 11

Headlight self leveling Jun 3, 2024 7:18:28 GMT 1 via mobile

Back to Top Quote

Post by markharriers on Jun 3, 2024 7:18:28 GMT 1

May 22, 2024 13:41:13 GMT 1 markharriers said:

May 21, 2024 13:58:55 GMT 1 stealth said:

The Manual tells us...

(Self levelling)

"If these systems have been fitted, they must work.

Sometimes it is not easy to determine if the self-levelling systems work. In such cases you should give the benefit of the doubt"

Normally the headlamps will be seen to "cycle" as they self level. If I observed this wasn't happening & was familiar with the marque I would consider this as reason enough. Otherwise I would check the headlamp aim first & perhaps advise if the alignment was OK.

Thank much appreciated 👍

Just to update we fitted the broken part and it was still impossible to see any difference to the headlight self leveling even though the diagnostic computer was saying it was working so in future if I see one of these sensors broken I won't fail as it seems to open a can of worms as customers won't see any difference to there lights when part is replaced.

nitros44
MOT tester

Posts: 3,892
Class tested: 4, 7

Last Online: Mar 6, 2013 1:09:15 GMT 1

Likes: 2,039

Headlight self leveling Jun 4, 2024 3:41:14 GMT 1 mike617 likes this

Back to Top Quote

Post by nitros44 on Jun 4, 2024 3:41:14 GMT 1

Even if the rod was broke ,the arm is still sending a signal to the device in the headlamp ,is it not ? What controls the headlamp aim is the device in side the headlamp ,you do a visual to ensure the aims move up and down ,the best a tester can do is to issue an advisory on the broken arm ,but others may not

I might not be the best,but i was always in the top one

MOT Comp 2

General Links

DVSA/VOSA Links

Partners

Post by markharriers on May 21, 2024 11:23:03 GMT 1

Post by stealth on May 21, 2024 11:37:08 GMT 1

Post by mercedes on May 21, 2024 11:55:54 GMT 1

Post by markharriers on May 21, 2024 11:56:06 GMT 1

Post by stealth on May 21, 2024 13:43:25 GMT 1

Post by markharriers on May 21, 2024 13:46:03 GMT 1

Post by stealth on May 21, 2024 13:58:55 GMT 1

Post by dwain on May 21, 2024 20:58:44 GMT 1

Post by markharriers on May 22, 2024 13:41:13 GMT 1

Post by markharriers on Jun 3, 2024 7:18:28 GMT 1

Post by nitros44 on Jun 4, 2024 3:41:14 GMT 1