Vantage dipped beam 'range'
Discussion
After being away from my new car for ten days, I couldn't resist a drive after I got back last night and found that the dipped beam range seems to be quite short. I've looked in the hefty owner's manual but can't find a way of 'winding' the lights up a bit in order to give me more range on dipped. Is there a way of doing this myself or will this require a quick dealer visit please chaps?
BingoBob said:
Do you have a Vantage with the HID lights?
I don't find the range of the dipped beam to be praticularly spectacular either.
No user adjustment possible and you don't want to be messing with the aim or you'll be blinding other driver and setting yourself up for MOT failure.
Hi Bob, yes I have HIDs. I'm fairly sure they can be wound up a bit though so if it's inadvisable for me to do it i'll take the car to Harwoods to see what they can do.I don't find the range of the dipped beam to be praticularly spectacular either.
No user adjustment possible and you don't want to be messing with the aim or you'll be blinding other driver and setting yourself up for MOT failure.
I guess I could use a local back street garage but i'm loathe to do so even though the issue is fairly minor.
Highrisedrifter said:
After being away from my new car for ten days, I couldn't resist a drive after I got back last night and found that the dipped beam range seems to be quite short. I've looked in the hefty owner's manual but can't find a way of 'winding' the lights up a bit in order to give me more range on dipped. Is there a way of doing this myself or will this require a quick dealer visit please chaps?
From the workshop manual 
Headlamp Alignment-Adjust
1. Top up all fluids to correct level.
2. Ensure fuel tank is ‘FULL’.
3. Position 37.5 kg in each seat.
4. Remove the access panel from wheel arch liner.
5. Position beam setting equipment to vehicle.
6. Switch ignition to position 2 and back to 0 (to set
headlights).
7. Check headlamp alignment.
8. Switch ignition to position 2 and back to 0 (to set
headlights).
9. Check headlamp alignment.
10. Adjust headlights
11. Check headlamp alignment.
12. Remove beam setting equipment from vehicle.
13. Install the access panel to wheel arch liner.
14. Remove 37.5kg weights
There is also an adjuster is under the bonnet
On the cover plate is a picture of a light
adjusters are through the adjacentlights
CatalystV8V said:
Had a similar problem too. It turned out to be loose connection to the self levelling system. The default when this happens is for the lights to dip down to their max extent with resulting lack of illumination.
Interesting. I'll check mine for this. I presume that when you start the engine with the lights on the lights cycle dip to max then come back up like other cars? I cannot understand why you have to remove the inner wheelarch liner, the headlamp is permanantly fixed to the wing, the automatic adjusters are just based on horizontal position of car to road based on laden weight.
The ‘Automatic Dynamic Headlamp Levelling System’ consists of:
• An Automatic Dynamic Headlamp Levelling System ECU
• A level sensor for the front suspension
• A level sensor for the rear suspension
• A bi-polar stepper motor mounted in the housing of each headlamp
The Automatic Dynamic Headlamp Levelling System prevents the dipped beam dazzling oncoming road traffic by varying the angular position of the dipped (and main beam) headlamp units relative to the position of the vehicles suspension.
Static condition - Compensates for boot or occupant load condition.
Dynamic condition - Compensates for suspension movements due to acceleration and deceleration. The sensitivity of the system is dependent on vehicle speed and the rate of change of the vehicle speed.
High amplitude low frequency inputs such as those caused by potholes are filtered out to desensitise the system in constant speed situations.
Is it not just the case of using the adjusters that you can see under the bonnet to lift the light beam up/down, irrespective of levelling system.
The ‘Automatic Dynamic Headlamp Levelling System’ consists of:
• An Automatic Dynamic Headlamp Levelling System ECU
• A level sensor for the front suspension
• A level sensor for the rear suspension
• A bi-polar stepper motor mounted in the housing of each headlamp
The Automatic Dynamic Headlamp Levelling System prevents the dipped beam dazzling oncoming road traffic by varying the angular position of the dipped (and main beam) headlamp units relative to the position of the vehicles suspension.
Static condition - Compensates for boot or occupant load condition.
Dynamic condition - Compensates for suspension movements due to acceleration and deceleration. The sensitivity of the system is dependent on vehicle speed and the rate of change of the vehicle speed.
High amplitude low frequency inputs such as those caused by potholes are filtered out to desensitise the system in constant speed situations.
Is it not just the case of using the adjusters that you can see under the bonnet to lift the light beam up/down, irrespective of levelling system.
Edited by SHIFTY on Wednesday 25th January 11:02
SHIFTY said:
I cannot understand why you have to remove the inner wheelarch liner, the headlamp is permanantly fixed to the wing, the automatic adjusters are just based on horizontal position of car to road based on laden weight.
Is it not just the case of using the adjusters that you can see under the bonnet to lift the light beam up/down, irrespective of levelling system.
My beam was also very short so I took it to a dealer - he went under under the wheel arches, made the adjustments and the beam is now perfectly ok. It was a ten min job.Is it not just the case of using the adjusters that you can see under the bonnet to lift the light beam up/down, irrespective of levelling system.
Edited by SHIFTY on Wednesday 25th January 11:02
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