Headlight adjustment warning
#1
07-30-2018, 08:23 AM
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Worthing
Age: 70
Posts: 9
Rep Power: 0 
Headlight adjustment warning
motor plate with thread
overview of headlight inside
part number
replacement motor
I've read quite a lot about this and asked for help in other forums, I'm hoping this forum is more active?
I now know why I have this warning, I've taken the headlights out and looked inside and there are no adjustment motors fitted in either headlamp! The headlamp are US spec, the car is a LHD.
I've no idea why the motors are missing, maybe US spec cars do not have the levelling system.
I can purchase the motors - the wiring and the plates exist.
The motors I've found - see attached - have the actuator on them, my headlamps have a thread - see attached -
Does anyone have any experience of fitting these motors.
I understand that I can get the car programmed to think it has halogen lights and that will stop the error but I'd rather get the motors and fit them if possible
#2
07-31-2018, 12:37 AM
I don’t think the halogen lights had the leveling motors, but the xenon lights do. One way to double check is to look at your control arms to see if there is a lever attached to a small motor with an electrical connector - if you see it then you have the self leveling headlights.
Your may want to check for codes to make sure it is not another issue causing the error. I have seen a bad headlight switch cause this error, but it was on a car equipped with leveling control and xenon lights. If you have had the car for a while and the error just popped up and you have not had the motors in the light, it is probably something else that is causing the error.
If if you need to replace the motors, it is easy. You slide the ball end of the motor into the hole for the adjustment mechanism. Don’t force it straight in, but slide it in from one side. You may have to loosen the height adjustment on the light to give you enough slack. If you have to loosen the adjustment screw, count the number of turns so when you get the motor in, you can turn the screw to get back to the same adjustment - it will save you the hassel of resetting the height by parking next to a wall and making adjustments with the lights on.
Your may want to check for codes to make sure it is not another issue causing the error. I have seen a bad headlight switch cause this error, but it was on a car equipped with leveling control and xenon lights. If you have had the car for a while and the error just popped up and you have not had the motors in the light, it is probably something else that is causing the error.
If if you need to replace the motors, it is easy. You slide the ball end of the motor into the hole for the adjustment mechanism. Don’t force it straight in, but slide it in from one side. You may have to loosen the height adjustment on the light to give you enough slack. If you have to loosen the adjustment screw, count the number of turns so when you get the motor in, you can turn the screw to get back to the same adjustment - it will save you the hassel of resetting the height by parking next to a wall and making adjustments with the lights on.
#3
07-31-2018, 01:41 AM
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Worthing
Age: 70
Posts: 9
Rep Power: 0
Thanks, I definitely don't have the motors in my headlights, I've managed to get one, and still trying to source the other. My headlights do have the plate and the actuator ball already, need to have a close look at the motor I've bought to see how it disassembles.
thanks for the help, the car is new to me and had the warning on when i bought it
thanks for the help, the car is new to me and had the warning on when i bought it
#4
10-12-2018, 07:59 AM
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Worthing
Age: 70
Posts: 9
Rep Power: 0
So just to close off this thread here is a summary of the problems that I solved on my 997.1,
I had the headlamp level warning message.
I had a Porsche specialist diagnose it, they told me the motors in the headlights were defective and the front angle sensor was faulty.
I had them change the angle sensor -no change as expected really.
I took the headlights off and found there were no motors in them, but there were xenon bulbs in there.
I bought the motors but couldn't fit them as the mountings were different.
My headlamp casings were for halogen headlights!
I drilled out the plastic blank mountings and fitted the motors, the wiring was all existing. The headlamps now went up and down when you turn the lights on first and then the ignition.
I still had the headlamp level warning. I used a porsche diagnostic to check the fault codes and it was still showing the front angle sensor, I found this had a broken wire inside the scotchlok connector and there was also a joint in the wiring that had corroded,
I repaired the scotchlok and rewired the joint with crimp connectors and finally the warning has cleared and the headlights work fine.
Next projects TPMS and rear quarter window adjustment!
Thanks all for the advice
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I had the headlamp level warning message.
I had a Porsche specialist diagnose it, they told me the motors in the headlights were defective and the front angle sensor was faulty.
I had them change the angle sensor -no change as expected really.
I took the headlights off and found there were no motors in them, but there were xenon bulbs in there.
I bought the motors but couldn't fit them as the mountings were different.
My headlamp casings were for halogen headlights!
I drilled out the plastic blank mountings and fitted the motors, the wiring was all existing. The headlamps now went up and down when you turn the lights on first and then the ignition.
I still had the headlamp level warning. I used a porsche diagnostic to check the fault codes and it was still showing the front angle sensor, I found this had a broken wire inside the scotchlok connector and there was also a joint in the wiring that had corroded,
I repaired the scotchlok and rewired the joint with crimp connectors and finally the warning has cleared and the headlights work fine.
Next projects TPMS and rear quarter window adjustment!
Thanks all for the advice
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