After start up, my headlights will often not adjust to level - one, or both, of them will randomly remain aimed downward at varying angles. Sometime a very steep angle with beam cutoff just 15 or 20 ft in front of the car. I can turn the lights off, even shut off the car completely and the situation will not change. But just as randomly, they may both adjust to perfectly level after startup when the car has been shut off for a longer period of time. Very frustrating, unpredictable and very dangerous for nightime driving. This occurs whether parked on perfectly level or incline conditions. The Dynamic headlight dimmer control warning has NOTcome on and there are no fault codes. Dealer has checked and adjusted the headlights (or at least claimed to) at regular 10K service intervals and they say they could find nothing wrong with the system. Seems as if the auto adjustment mechanism randomly gets "stuck" in a downward position. Anyone else experience a similar problem?? Can anyone tell me how this sytem works? Is there any maintenance that needs to be done for them to work properly? I'm taking the car in for service next week and hoping to resolve this without major $$$$!
_____________________________
2003 A6 (C5) 2.7T quattro sedan 5-spd auto-Tip, light silver/black, sport susp, 19" Hartmann Concept Nuvolari, Prem Pkg, Cold Wx Pkg, Bose, Nav, APR
I heard of this and experienced it...I took my lights out and put then back in and it seems to work just fine "knock on wood"...I have no idea, but I heard that after a while the motors inside get a mind of their own and do what they please.
_____________________________
Marcin P.
1998 Audi A6 1973 Morris Mini 1300 Super 1957 and 1978 Vespa
There are two level sensors on the suspension. One front and one rear that determine the inclination of the vehicle. That information is used by the headlight range control module to determine whether the headlamps should be aimed higher or lower. In each headlamp assembly there is a motor that raises and lowers the beams. There is also a sensor in the headlamp motor that tells the module what position the motor is in. Usually if the level sensors are bad they throw faults, but in any case if one of the level sensors is bad both lights should raise and lower togeher. I highly doubt both motors or sensors would fail in similar fashion at the same time. I would suspect the headlight range control module.
I have an 04 A6 that does this as well. I took it to the dealership and they claimed they cleaned and oiled the mechanism. It's been much better since but still once in a great while I can barely see in front of me. I too wasn't getting any error codes etc. The lights were aimed differently each time I drove the car... Can be very frustrating!
I have the same problem. Anyone know how to get to the mechanism and how to clean and lubricate it? If I disconnect the lights from the car and then put them back, will I then get some error messages? I do not have VAG-COM.
_____________________________
A6 Avant Quattro Proline II 2003, manual 5 gears, gasoline, NO computer. Rear viper converted to 2008-style.
Printable Version
Xenon headlight auto adjust problem - 
