Headlight leveling motors

ever since i bough the MPV i have & others have been hearing a weird "electronic" sound from the front of the van which we all can only describe the headlights "self levelling" even when the van is switched off & keys in my pocket!
There was a immobiliser fitted but was not a motion one & the noise doesnt come from that... also is now disabled.
even when we were disabling it with my auto electrician he too heard the noise...

none of the other vans did it & kinda stumped to what it is.. if it is the headlights as not "seen" them move as its kinda random when it happens...(when i am in the van)

possessed van?

Hmm, spooky. Dodgy connection to the motors? Or a wee ghostie lookin up yer skirt!!

I am more sure its the headlights "self levelling".
Last night I was driving back in the dark (late) and thought the dip beam was a tad high even though I have set it to lowest a week before..... Couldn't find the switch while driving so left it. No one flashing at me...
Just about to turn in to a tight right hander when all of a sudden the lights self levelled to the lowest setting = an ahhh feck moment!

I finally had time to look up the MOT history of the van... there is a constant "headlight aim" issue that pops up almost every year.

what can i do with this? can i disconnect the motors/switch?

I'd start at the switch, but it could be wires shorting out to operate the motors. I'd isolate the power to the switch and see if that solves it - might just need a replacement one.

FWIW just noticed this if you need motors: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Daihatsu-Hijet-99-Head-Lamp-Motors-Piaggio-Porter-/261216828514?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CommercialVehicleParts_SM&hash=item3cd1bc7c62[/url]

I'd go with the switch first.

Easy to disconnect, but even if its not the switch I think that will stop them from doing it.

Maybe take the switch out, spray loads of WD40 in the back of it, then keep pressing it in all directions, spray more, etc - e.g. wash it out and clean out the contacts.


Looking at the wiring diagrams, both head light levelling motors have a live feed from the head light fuses. Which are permanently live e.g. they don't need the ignition on.

Then the switches, when pressed provide a ground.

The ground is connected in multiple places to the body shell, so I would doubt it's a ground fault - although not impossible, but it would mean over stuff would be glitchy too.

now i have time... a few things on my/vans agenda..
Headlight weirdness
sliding doors/bearings
get that poxy oil spill out of the rear carpet! (cat litter to absorb)
find the most annoying squeak in the back & kill it!
i had to grind off a bolt head from one of the seats to remove it as seized.. the lower half didnt "drop out" as i thought it would.. so now need to pull the sod out!
& got a new front suspension noise after driving in the grassy field for 3 days to investigate & want to grease all the points while i am at it.

" find the most annoying squeak in the back & kill it !"
Make sure its not your Husband in the back secretly having a kip and snoring.

defiantly no way it would be him.. He's parked in my shed along side my Hybrid Honda CBR400/600 project...

Mine doe that too, think its a dodgy connection at the light. haven't got around to fixing it yet.

Way to tell, would be listen to the lights and see if they both do it at the same time.

If they both adjust/buzz at the same time its the switch.

sussed it...i think! the levelling switch is shorting.
unclipped switch from dash, touch the wires at the back & i can hear the motors moving NOT touching the front of the switch its self.
unplugged the block off the switch.. jiggle wires.. nothing.
plug switch back in.. motors moved straight away.
Now off to chat to Mr W for some replacements

Well done, LP. Next problem?

leopard_pagan wrote:sussed it...i think! the levelling switch is shorting.
unclipped switch from dash, touch the wires at the back & i can hear the motors moving NOT touching the front of the switch its self.
unplugged the block off the switch.. jiggle wires.. nothing.
plug switch back in.. motors moved straight away.
Now off to chat to Mr W for some replacements

I could do with a self-levelling switch myself after a couple of small Ciders. Thanks for the little mention --- glad to help. Woody.

Maybe you should have made them larger ciders, Woody - then you'd be self-levelled, flat on your back!

PFM wrote:Maybe you should have made them larger ciders, Woody - then you'd be self-levelled, flat on your back!

[strike]

I like your line of thinking PFM--- you could well have a good idea there -- but Paracetamols in the morning aren't my idea of an English Breakfast.

Although with all the layabouts we have here in Ventnor, Fags another " Hair of the dog " and cannabis seems the "norm " for breakfast , dinner and tea here. Sad lazy Muppetts.

switch arrived today.. thankyeeeeeeeeeeeee Woody..
plugged it in.. jiggled the wires going in to the con block.. NOTHING.. YAAAAY...
see if it stays like that :0)

leopard_pagan wrote:switch arrived today.. thankyeeeeeeeeeeeee Woody..
plugged it in.. jiggled the wires going in to the con block.. NOTHING.. YAAAAY...
see if it stays like that :0)

THAT'S GOOD NEWS LP. GLAD TO HAVE BEEN OF HELP TO YOU. JUST HOPE THAT THE REAR WIPER SWITCH DOES THE TRICK TOO AND THAT IT IS NOT THE WIPER MOTOR OR BROKEN WIRING.