MX6_2_RX8

I posted this in another headlight thread but the title wasn’t quite right and I didn’t get any responses. I figure that most of the headlight threads get ignored because people confuse the Z pattern with a problem. No flames please, really, I tried not to start a new thread, I'm just trying to make the subject match the title. Anyway, here is my problem.

My auto leveling system seems to be very random. Some times the light on the dash will come on and stay on for 10 min. This doesn’t happen very often. Some times (rarely) the system seems to work, I can see it make corrections and I can actually see down the road when I am using the low beams. Seeing down the road is very helpful at night, I might add. Most of the time the system does not indicate a malfunction but I can only see about 30-50 feet in front of the car. So at 65mph or about 95 ft/sec I can see about 0.5 seconds ahead of the car assuming the best. Good thing it has good breaks & handling!

Has anybody else had this problem and did you get it corrected? I don’t think it is a simple question of aim because sometimes it seems to work. I have a service appointment scheduled for Friday and I want to go in with my guns loaded because I’m sure that they will come back with “No Problem Found”. That’s nice until the deer comes through the windshield very unexpectedly. I know, you never expect a deer to come through the windshield but if you at least saw it in the road before you hit it you might guess the next step. If I needed to flip on the low beams for on coming traffic I don’t think I would see anything except maybe white feet.

Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

(At this point they might keep my group 1 car if they get their hands on it!)

Go48

Have you installed any suspension mods on the car or otherwise messed with the area behind any of the wheels on the drivers side of the car? If so, you may have
damaged the leveling sensors or the wiring associated with them. A 10-minute light doesn't seem reasonable, as I'm sure you are aware, so there IS some sort of problem.

MX6_2_RX8

I forgot to mention, the car is 100% stock.

It hasn't given me the light on the dash in a while. I think it gave up.

Go48

You might check the sensors and wiring anyway to make sure they were not damaged by someone else. You will find them on the suspension components on the driver side. See the image below.

MX6_2_RX8

Thanks for the images.

I've got an appointment already to have that checked as well as my free replacement brake pads, oil change & tire rotation. If they come back with the dreaded NPF then I'll take a look at it myself.

beachdog

MX, there's another thread on this in the discussion section. There's a warning that when aiming the headlights that the adjusters have to be loosened first and then tightened. If the are adjusted by loosening they will continue to loosen on their own. Maybe this is what's going on.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/hid-cutoff-66372/

MX6_2_RX8

Thanks beachdog, I hadn't seen that one. That thread has a great headlight adjustment procedure. My autolevel malfunction indicator was on for the entire drive in today after being off for weeks now so I must have a sensor or a wire problem. If the light will just stay on I'm sure they will find it. The car goes in tomorrow. For what it is worth, the autolevel malfunction light will come on even if the headlights are off.

rxeightr

Here is a tad more info -- see links.

MX6_2_RX8

Is there a troubleshooting guide for the auto-leveling headlight circuit? Mine is at the shop and they keep telling me that it is fine even though the headlights either point at the ground or the “Headlight Auto Leveling Malfunction Indicator Light” goes on and then the aim is OK. Presumable because they go to a fail safe position if a malfunction is actually sensed. I think in my case the sensor is probably close to the limit so it looks like the trunk is loaded and the control module adjusts the headlights down. Their must be some guide that says something like if the car is unloaded you should get between X and Y volts out of the sensor…..

They aimed the headlights and told me it was all set. No real explination of why the light might have stayed on for 2 weeks.

Thanks for any more info!

juanjux

Hi MX6. I've exactly the same problem, did you get yours fixed? My malfunction light comes and goes from day to day, sometimes it stays off for weeks, it has been two months since it last lighted up. It's pretty evil because it *ALWAYS* goes off, even if it has been on for weeks, when I take it to the dealer.

They've checked all the circuit, they say it's hard to find the failure because the computer doesn't register any specific diagnostic code, next thing they'll do will be to replace the sensor... when my light came on again. The only time they checked it with the light on, they said that the leveler motor really doesn't work when the light is on (but it does when doesnt!.)

I have a MazdaSpeed suspension installed but luckily the garage knew of the problem before the suspension (and they installed it.)

MX6_2_RX8

The funny thing is that it just started coming on again just about a week ago. I have had it at the dealer 4 times for this problem and they
1- Told me it was fine
2- Adjusted the headlight level position
3- Decided to replace the autoleveling control module.
4- Replaced the autoleveling control module (when it came in)
It seemd to work for 6 months or so but it just started acting up again. The newest trick is that there is a constant clicking noise that is in the area of the leveling motor - sometimes.

I haven't brought it back to the dealer because like you said, it NEVER happens when it is there even if it has been on for the hour long drive to get there - it shuts off when I make the turn into the parking lot. My guess is some kind of wi-fi link that it picks up in the dealer lot and shuts off any indicators on the dash.

juanjux

Heheh, it also happens to me with a external sound like a "creek creek creek creek" that I have when I'm moving slowly. It only does it outside a 5 kms radius from my dealer.

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

Take the service rep on a drive 6km then

juanjux

Good idea! And I can get him dressed like my girl, so the car doesn't suspect anything!

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

Ask the lady service rep to come along for a ride. Make sure and wink and then play innocent.

portero23

Ugh, I just started having this problem too. Any TSBs out for this issue? It comes on for weeks at a time, and then goes away for a day or two. The second I take it in to the dealer, I bet it'll go back to normal...

So were there any final resolutions?

-P23

MX6_2_RX8

Mine still does it too but not as often any more. It did it for a month straight about 4 months ago and then it was gone. Mine's been in 4 times for it now. I think of it as the free rental car for an oil change program.

juanjux

Mine did it intermittently (I suspect it did it mostly on cold/wet climate). My garage changed (on warranty) the leveling sensors and the light is off... for now...

mysql101

while we're on the subject - does anyone know for sure if the two headlights will combine and create a single Z shape image on the wall, or are there two Z shaped images that overlap each other?