Car failed mot as headlights not leveling automatically (xenons). Checked workshop manual and had a look behind the panel on passenger a pillar but the sodding thing isn't there! No unit or connector or wires.

Has passed its MOTs for the past 4 years I've had it and I've not touched it.

Any ideas where it could disappear to?

Its a 2004 v8 UK car.

Chances are no headlight leveling ecu is fitted to your car according to RAVE as follows.

If it isn't fitted, it can't be tested at MOT therefore not a testable item so pretty sure it can't be failed.

Click image to enlarge

Thank you!

That'll teach me to RTFM!

Chassis no ends 34A175866 so wont have one. Yippee

I'm guessing then that its the Light Control module which is causing issues then. BOO.

There are headlamp leveling motors fitted, I can see them and as they are xenon, MOT man says they have to work.

Might be worth reading this as well before you go back. From the MOT inspection manual.

Somewhat related.... My levelling unit got wet and corroded and killed the k-bus. My Indy has replaced it with a used one from a td6 and can't reprogram it to petrol with his auto logic system.
He said it logs mileage but I thought that was just the lcm in the drivers side.
Any advice on this? He said he is lost.

AFAIK the mileage is logged in three different ECUs and if you replace any of them, the black dot will appear on your odometer to indicate a discrepancy between the 3 ECUs in mileage. The systems should still work since ECUs can fail and need to be replaced without "stopping the entire vehicle from working". Hope that helps.

The headlights should have a self levelling mechanism built in. If the mechanism is not there, then obviously it wasn't fitted. No ECU will make it work without the mechanics. So pull out the headlight and have a look is my suggestion. Open the covers on the back and you should see the system or not. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Am I missing something here ? Unless your car has adaptive headlights there is no levelling unit to fail, the suspension levelling fulfils that function and you shouldn't have failed the MOT in the first place . 2008 MY Supercharged
Rimini Red / Jet
four zone climate
remote park heater
and no ugly kid windows.
magnus satis quod turpis satis

Plus one for Axle  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

On the earlier cars, in addition to the air suspension self leveling, there was a self leveling system on each xenon headlight which operated thro a small motors and screw-drives controlled by an ecu. This leveling system operated continuously when the car was driven, small adjustments being made as the car drove along.
The system appears to have been discontinued at the VIN indicated above but I have a suspicion that a lot of cars about 2004 have the wiring and self leveling motors fitted although not operative.
As far as an mot is concerned I would be interested to know how a tester could possibly test such a system given the headlight movement is miniscule and continuous. It's worth noting the extract from the Mot inspection manual appears to indicate this and suggests such systems should be given the "benefit of doubt" as to correct operation.
Personally I think the OP just happened to get an ar.e of a tester who was trying too hard. Imo his car shouldn't have been failed for such a reason.

Last edited by nicedayforit on 12th Sep 2014 4:41pm. Edited 1 time in total

I totally agree... In 2004 the system was binned and a system that worked was not introduced until 2005/06 on the facelift

Thanks Craig.

Mine is giving me trouble. My indy has put in a secondhand one in after mine got wet and screwed up the k-bus. This stopped the side lights working and also when the headlights are on, selecting reverse puts the main beam on! He says he can't recode it to my car with his autologic system.

I have just spoken to another indy who says you can just disconnect it and leave it out which makes sense if the system was binned. Is this really the case? Do I need to change any settings or adjust the lights when doing this?

I really appreciate any help with this because it is doing my head in a bit now.

Gav

Edit: just re-read the thread and it's clearer to me now. I will bin mine and get the indy to set the car to 'non adaptive headlamps'

Thanks again chaps!