Auto levelling headlight issue

[Btassinari_Bullitt]

Hi Rilot, I will do some tests.
I ordered an used headlight (to take the motor) and a "headlight control unit or light module LCM" (Ford JR3B-13C148-AB)
There is this website in Lithuania (rrr.lt) with some reasonable prices on used parts.
I'll first try to replace the controller and then the motor.
I keep you updated on the results...

By the way, do happen you know how to find the location (inside the car) for this light module?
Google says "behind the headlight" but nope, nothing there...

Cheers

Bruno

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[Rilot]

I honestly have no idea where it is. Looking at the lamp it has quite a lot of wires going to it. Could it be inside the unit?
Thanks for working on this. It sounds like this is going to be an issue for a lot of European owners so having a fix or a guide is going to be good.

 

[Nutkin]

JR3B-13C148-AB is behind the wheel arch lining on a bracket on the passenger side I believe

 

[Johnnybee]

“The more they over think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain”. Lt. Comm. Montgomery Scott

These are the things which have me considering getting rid of my ‘18 and buying a vintage Mustang. Headlight sealed beams for $18.

 

[Btassinari_Bullitt]

JR3B-13C148-AB is behind the wheel arch lining on a bracket on the passenger side I believe

Forgive the stupid question, but when you say "passenger side", this means your "left hand side"?
...assuming you are in GB...

I am located in Germany, so my passenger side is on the "right hand side"! ;-)
This would help me to not dismantle the whole car and get to the right spot in the first try!

Thanks

Bruno

 

[Nutkin]

This is a conundrum , it might change with handed side … I can only say have a peak behind the lining if you can manage it with the wheel fully turned

 

[Rilot]

To be honest, I’m just going to run without the fuse. It doesn’t throw a warning or anything and it’s not like I tow with the Mustang and thus need to have the lights level.
My lights are a little low anyway so I’ll adjust them up slightly and be done with it.
The function of self levelling isn’t part of the MoT test in the UK so I’m unlikely to have any issues.

 

[Nutkin]

Unfortunately self levels by is checked at MOT by visually confirming the down and up start up routine.

however quoted from the MOT Regs

Sometimes it is not easy to determine if the self-levelling systems work. In such cases you should give the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Rilot]

The auto-level on my S2000 hasn't worked for about 10 years and I've never had any issues at MoT time.

 

[Btassinari_Bullitt]

Hey guys, short update.
Last week I´ve got the "used parts" but I couldn't find where the HCM module is located in the car. I opened both wheel arch sides and nothing. Removed the air filter and also nothing behind it. :-(
I also tried to remove the leveling motor from the headlight, but it is too tight. Better not to force it (the ball joint).
... but I could detach the motor from the housing (baionet).

What I did then was:

1. A drop of silicon oil over the actuator screw and between the adjustment point and the motor housing (pics fromthe used parts for reference)

2. I sprayed contact cleaner in every connector + harness ground screws (there are 3 of them close to the right side headlamp) + the connectors from the level sensor (left side front and rear)

Well, I drove now for 3 days (+- 15km each day)and the auto leveling seems to work fine so far.

I am not convinced yet that the problem is / was bad contact or grounding and / or actuator lubrication (making the stepper motor to lose steps), but it is working.
Also NO error codes on the OBD2 reader...

Maybe you guys could also give a try?!

Any other ideas?

Cheers

Bruno

 

[egres_svk]

I will eagerly await your report in a week or so. I have the EXACT same issue. 2019 EU GT, bought 1y ago with under 40000km on it.

Within few weeks i brought the car back since we have the 1y warranty on hidden problems in used cars here. It had two issues - vibrating drivetrain around 105-120km/h and a dipping right headlight.

The dealer changed driveshaft and driveshaft bearing and changed right headlight. Problems solved.

Now since last week I have the same issue (and to add insult to injury, the driveshaft noise is also back, FFS), right headlight is dipping, especially when driving on country roads where lights have to dance a lot based on acceleration/braking.

I have also noticed the left one can end up a bit lower than it should after 50km on country roads, but right one is a disaster. Currently only fix is to stop and restart the car.

Do you also have the occasional vibration in headlight height? By which i mean that both of them will dip a little and immediately go back within a fraction of a second.

I think maybe the sensors are sending an unstable signal, which causes the lights to constantly adjust and eventually that causes the steppers to lose steps.

 

[egres_svk]

Huh actually it seems last time it was the left that went much lower than right.

 

[Rilot]

I'm trying to figure out where this is. Did you take the arch liners out or something?
I'm keen to try the lube but with it being rubbish weather now I'd prefer not to have to strip the wheel arch out to do it. Do you think the stepper can be removed from the top of the engine bay?

 

[Btassinari_Bullitt]

I'm trying to figure out where this is. Did you take the arch liners out or something?
I'm keen to try the lube but with it being rubbish weather now I'd prefer not to have to strip the wheel arch out to do it. Do you think the stepper can be removed from the top of the engine bay?

Sorry for the confusing pic. I removed the arch liners, see next pics.
And yes, You can do from the top of the engine bay.

Let me know if this is clear now...

 

[Btassinari_Bullitt]

I will eagerly await your report in a week or so. I have the EXACT same issue. 2019 EU GT, bought 1y ago with under 40000km on it.

Within few weeks i brought the car back since we have the 1y warranty on hidden problems in used cars here. It had two issues - vibrating drivetrain around 105-120km/h and a dipping right headlight.

The dealer changed driveshaft and driveshaft bearing and changed right headlight. Problems solved.

Now since last week I have the same issue (and to add insult to injury, the driveshaft noise is also back, FFS), right headlight is dipping, especially when driving on country roads where lights have to dance a lot based on acceleration/braking.

I have also noticed the left one can end up a bit lower than it should after 50km on country roads, but right one is a disaster. Currently only fix is to stop and restart the car.

Do you also have the occasional vibration in headlight height? By which i mean that both of them will dip a little and immediately go back within a fraction of a second.

I think maybe the sensors are sending an unstable signal, which causes the lights to constantly adjust and eventually that causes the steppers to lose steps.

After a week, I could see only once the right side headlight a bit deeper than the left one.
Maybe the lubrication helped but didn´t solve the problem.

What is curious is that you replaced the headlight and some time later the problem was back.
So, the problem is not the headligh?! or only a dry actuator?!

Unfortunately my pony is licensed from April to October (not fun to take the pony into "salty" and sleepery roads in winter).
So I will continue the testing next year.
What I will still do is to find where is the location of the HCM module and test replace it.
Let's see...


"Do you also have the occasional vibration in headlight height? By which i mean that both of them will dip a little and immediately go back within a fraction of a second."

YES, but this is normal... for me, at least ;-)! as long as both lights work together this is fine. the lights adjust themselves constantly

"I think maybe the sensors are sending an unstable signal, which causes the lights to constantly adjust and eventually that causes the steppers to lose steps."

The sensors just send signals, but I would agree if both light steppers would lose steps (not my case).... honestly, my impression is that Ford did a Sh... job to adapt the US Mustang (no auto leveling) to the european norms, and didn't test enough the self leveling lights before releasing to the EU market...
So sensors, HCM, headlight steppers,... who knows...

If I may suggest, try to put a drop of oil on the actuator screw and see if gets better.
BUT really one drop!!! it wouldn't be fun to have oil dirt inside the headlights!!! ;-)

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