Auto-levelling headlights

Pique

Hi guys,

I had the awful experience of my headlights move to their lowest setting 30 mins into a 3h journey at night on N-Roads.

The warning light came on briefly during the summer but not in months so I thought it was just an intermittent thing. No warning light on, no problem, right? Wrong!

It eventually kinda returned to normal but over the last few days has been completely aimed at the 3 metres immediately in front of the bumper. There is no manual dial to raise/lower the lights. The car has factory fitted HIDs so it's fully automatic.

So where do I start to diagnose/fix this? It's a 2012 Subaru Outback. No Subaru dealer near me (and the last time I went to the nearest I swore 'never again').

I think it's a suspension load sensor as both lights do it, so if there was a motor on each side of which one failed it would be askew. But what is the sensor called, and where the hell is it? Is this a possible DIY job for a normal bloke without a lift or is it indeed a huge pita to fix?

Thanks for any info.

tossy

It’s almost certainly the ride height sensor most cars just have one at the rear.

I’ve replaced one on pretty much every car I’ve owned.

Get under it and see if you can locate it and see if it’s broken. Vw/Audi usually put them on the rear passenger side not sure about Subaru. They usually physically break but the last one I needed to replace wasn’t physically broken but had failed.

Pique

Yep, spot on.

I got a guy to stick it up on the lift and he spotted it immediately. Broken.

Balls of a yoke to find online too. €265 new from Subaru.

tossy

Pique wrote: »

Yep, spot on.

I got a guy to stick it up on the lift and he spotted it immediately. Broken.

Balls of a yoke to find online too. €265 new from Subaru.

If you move the broken arm on the potentiometer to the position it would be in if it wasn’t broken you’ll get your headlight range back to what it should be - at least you can drive safely at night.

Pique

Yeah did that alright but haven't checked it in the dark yet.

Actually found the little bar online for £40. Might take a gamble on it rather than the €265

tossy

Pique wrote: »

Yeah did that alright but haven't checked it in the dark yet.

Actually found the little bar online for £40. Might take a gamble on it rather than the €265

Worth a try, 265 is a haevy price, average Audi, VW price was 100e, latest one i bought was for a MK7 golf that was 180 ish i think (can't remember)

73bc61lyohr0mu

I had the same issue on a Saab 9-5 Aero I had. Replaced both sensors for €100. Worked flawlessly afterwards.