Leon LED headlights wont self level in the cold?
Discussion
I have a mk3 leon with the LED headlights.
I’ve noticed recently that when it’s cold ( under about 5 degrees) that the drivers side headlight does the start up routine but then drops to its lowest level, so projects hardly any light onto the road.
If you turn the lights on and off A few times it works fine, it will also level fine on a cold day if the engine is warm.
At all other times when it’s warmer than about 5 degrees the headlight levels fine?
All the other features work fine and I get no warning issues.
Any ideas?
I’ve noticed recently that when it’s cold ( under about 5 degrees) that the drivers side headlight does the start up routine but then drops to its lowest level, so projects hardly any light onto the road.
If you turn the lights on and off A few times it works fine, it will also level fine on a cold day if the engine is warm.
At all other times when it’s warmer than about 5 degrees the headlight levels fine?
All the other features work fine and I get no warning issues.
Any ideas?
if its still under warranty you could try the dealer - however my experience of them is they are hopeless. It being an intermittent issue I'd expect them to try and wriggle out of it.
I've got a Leon with said headlights and mine have done it once or twice in the past year. A switch off and back on allowing them to re level fixed it for me.
I did a bit of googling and at this time it's a full headlight replacement to fix. The leveling motor is not currently available as a separate part.
I've got a Leon with said headlights and mine have done it once or twice in the past year. A switch off and back on allowing them to re level fixed it for me.
I did a bit of googling and at this time it's a full headlight replacement to fix. The leveling motor is not currently available as a separate part.
IGxToxicology said:
Sorry I just came across this thread. I have a 2015 Cupra which only has 9000 miles on the clock. About 6 months ago my front o/s led unit wouldn’t self level correctly. In that it would lower and not raise back up to the correct height.
Took it back to my local seat dealer who hadn’t come across this before.
The vehicle had a new running program loaded for the lights. No fix.
They replaced the light Motor. No fix.
In the end Seat uk watched the videos of the fault. Spoke to their technical team. As the car is still in warranty. They fitted two brand new units free of charge saving me around two grand.
If the led light doesn’t self level. No program will fix it, nor will replacing the motor. The whole unit needs replacing. I was without my car for nearly 3 weeks in total. But they got there in the end and since then sorted.
But I must say, my local dealer are pretty epic!!!!
Good result for you, but two grand for a pair of headlights, wow! Took it back to my local seat dealer who hadn’t come across this before.
The vehicle had a new running program loaded for the lights. No fix.
They replaced the light Motor. No fix.
In the end Seat uk watched the videos of the fault. Spoke to their technical team. As the car is still in warranty. They fitted two brand new units free of charge saving me around two grand.
If the led light doesn’t self level. No program will fix it, nor will replacing the motor. The whole unit needs replacing. I was without my car for nearly 3 weeks in total. But they got there in the end and since then sorted.
But I must say, my local dealer are pretty epic!!!!
Hi, new to the forum and found this thread as I was having the same issue. I realise this threads a bit old now but thought I’d ad my pennies worth. I’ve got a 2014 Leon FR ST and about 6 months ago had a warning come up on the dash for ‘auto headlight range error’ or something to that effect. I turned it off and on again and it stayed away for a few days. Anyway, over time it kept coming back until it reached the stage where it comes on everytime a start the car.
What I noticed was occasionally the drivers side LED headlight done the range sweep up and down but didn’t always finish in the right place. Also, when going to full beam the same headlight didn’t rise up slight like it should. I was convinced it wasn’t the motor as the sweep happens every time I start the car.
Took the car to an auto electrician and he narrowed it down to a sensor within the headlight itself. I was hoping it was the one on the rear axle but he assured me it wasn’t. He tried, unsuccessfully to open the headlight into to see if the sensor inside the headlight could be replaced but decided it wasn’t an option. (According to him there’s a sensor in each headlight and one on the rear axle).
He said the only real option was to replace the headlight unit entirely. So after saving my penny’s I’ve bought a genuine Valeo unit online in the Cyber Monday sales. £440 delivered.
I’ll let you all know how it goes when it arrives and is installed.
What I noticed was occasionally the drivers side LED headlight done the range sweep up and down but didn’t always finish in the right place. Also, when going to full beam the same headlight didn’t rise up slight like it should. I was convinced it wasn’t the motor as the sweep happens every time I start the car.
Took the car to an auto electrician and he narrowed it down to a sensor within the headlight itself. I was hoping it was the one on the rear axle but he assured me it wasn’t. He tried, unsuccessfully to open the headlight into to see if the sensor inside the headlight could be replaced but decided it wasn’t an option. (According to him there’s a sensor in each headlight and one on the rear axle).
He said the only real option was to replace the headlight unit entirely. So after saving my penny’s I’ve bought a genuine Valeo unit online in the Cyber Monday sales. £440 delivered.
I’ll let you all know how it goes when it arrives and is installed.
I had forgotten about this, but it was cold on Sunday and low and behold it’s hsppened again, It’s very odd that it only happens when it’s cold, once you drive a bit and the engines warm again you can turn the engine off and on again and they will self level fine.
Must be a batch fault or something as yours is a 2014 too
Must be a batch fault or something as yours is a 2014 too
Hi by any chance is this issue resolved by now? I have mk3 2014 leon fr with said headlamps the same issue here auto level starts up but drivers side fails to raise to correct position. Happened first time. Its cold today thats the reason for it from what i could dig around.
Engine off on doesnt solve it it fails again and again. No error on dash.
Engine off on doesnt solve it it fails again and again. No error on dash.
Have you driven the car for a while before you turn it off again? I would have to drive mine for about 10 mins till the engine became warm on the dash.
As others have said seems to be the motor, but I think that’s all inside the headlight, you might be able to get a headlamp from a damaged car to replace it but I doubt that will be cheap even 2nd hand
As others have said seems to be the motor, but I think that’s all inside the headlight, you might be able to get a headlamp from a damaged car to replace it but I doubt that will be cheap even 2nd hand
I have this problem on the o/s in that it's slow to move and sometimes doesn't come up properly in the cold. Seems like the motor seizes in the headlight or something. My lights don't do the sweep if I turn off the lights and engine, I have to open the door then shut it again for it to perform a sweep after starting the engine.
Mines a 2017 FR with 18k miles on the clock
Mines a 2017 FR with 18k miles on the clock
Must be a well known issue then, I would take a video and show the dealer it and ask to replace the motor or headlight, you can guarantee if you don’t show them the video they won’t find a fault as it only happens in the cold and when the engine is cold which it wouldn’t be after going to a dealer.
Is it a facelift if it’s a 17 plate?
Funny enough my sister has a Ibiza with LED headlights and she gets a lot of condensation in the units too
Is it a facelift if it’s a 17 plate?
Funny enough my sister has a Ibiza with LED headlights and she gets a lot of condensation in the units too
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff