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adjusting headlights?

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:38 am
by Tim_GTi
mine are sitting way too low, and with plans to get it lowered i need to be looking at altering them! i read the manual it says theres a dial for it by the brightness gauge for the displays, but its not there? anyone know anything i don't about it?

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:44 am
by womble68
They should be auto adjusting unlike the lights on lower models, its part of them being Xenons. They can be adjusted I think within a range though, but I'm not sure quite how.

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:18 am
by alexperkins
It needs to be set to config mode to allow you to adjust them. Its a VAG COM setting and is googleable. When they are in this mode, you then adjust the beams manually, and then the ECU learns this as its reference position.

They are only auto adjusting depending on the tilt of the car as it has a position sensor to do so!

The dial by the light sensor is only to move the beams down, and not up when you have more weight in the car, but as I said above, the GTIs dont have this as its all automatic.

Hope this helps!

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:24 am
by Tim_GTi
so how do i Actually adjust them? what is it that i have to do to get it into 'config mode'?

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:26 am
by alexperkins
To actually adjust them there are little adjusters on the headlights themselves.

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/x ... nment.html
This procedure details how to perform a Xenon Headlamp Adjustment on many VW/Audi vehicles equipped with Xenons (HID's). This procedure cycles the motorized headlamp adjusters to their center position so that the beams can be adjusted. This does NOT align the headlamps by itself. You still need to manually adjust the headlamps via the adjusting screws as referenced against a suitable aiming target.

If this procedure is only partially performed, there may be a DTC stored in the Xenon Range memory indicating "Headlights not adjusted". To clear this, you need to complete the entire procedure.

There are certain test conditions that must be met before doing this procedure:

Vehicle must be parked on level ground and "settled" on its suspension

Parking brake should be OFF

Ignition should be in the "On" position

Headlamps should be "Off"

Procedure for Aligning Xenon Headlamps:

[Select]
[55 - Xenon Range] (For some newer vehicles, use [29 - Left Light] instead )
[Basic Settings - 04]
Group 001
[Go!]

Wait at least 20 seconds for the headlamp motors to move. The headlamps are now in their adjustment position. Turn on headlights. Adjust them via their manual adjusting screws as referenced against a suitable aiming target.

Scroll up to Group 002. The Xenon Range controller has now learned this position as its Home position.

Click the [Done, Go Back] button and you're all set.

Note: There have been reports of lowered vehicles displaying an error message in either Basic Settings group 001 or 002. If the vehicle height sensor(s) are bottomed out, it may be necessary to bend the sensor bracket to allow normal adjustment to occur.

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:53 am
by Tim_GTi
brilliant thanks alex, what do they refer to when talking about things like

'Scroll up to Group 002. The Xenon Range controller has now learned this position as its Home position',

scroll up on what? its like their talking about a computer or something!

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:10 pm
by alexperkins
its in VAG COM under comfort module i beleive

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:14 pm
by Tim_GTi
alexperkins wrote:its in VAG COM under comfort module i beleive

cheers, i'll check it out!

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:03 pm
by Bryony84
If you don't have Vag Com take it to a Stealers and they'll do it for you in about 10 minutes!

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:51 pm
by bristolgeezer
i adjusted mine yesterday but i didnt plug it into a computer or anythin!

i just parked it infront of a vertical wall next to a mates car and adjusted the screws until my beams were the same height as my mates,

whoops.

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:02 pm
by alexperkins
and charge you £25.50 to do it :P They are so scheming :D

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:19 pm
by ModifiedMadness
alexperkins wrote:and charge you £25.50 to do it :P They are so scheming :D
Didnt cost me anything at my dealers, a few others have got it done for free as well.

There doesn't seem to be a set pattern.

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:10 pm
by Tim_GTi
bristolgeezer wrote:i adjusted mine yesterday but i didnt plug it into a computer or anythin!

i just parked it infront of a vertical wall next to a mates car and adjusted the screws until my beams were the same height as my mates,

whoops.
and did that work ok?
you just adjusted them by a switch on the bulb cases?

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:12 pm
by alexperkins
bristolgeezer wrote:i adjusted mine yesterday but i didnt plug it into a computer or anythin!

i just parked it infront of a vertical wall next to a mates car and adjusted the screws until my beams were the same height as my mates,

whoops.
is yours a gti or a non gti?

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:20 pm
by Tim_GTi
alexperkins wrote:
bristolgeezer wrote:i adjusted mine yesterday but i didnt plug it into a computer or anythin!

i just parked it infront of a vertical wall next to a mates car and adjusted the screws until my beams were the same height as my mates,

whoops.
is yours a gti or a non gti?
he's got a GTi