E46 Auto Headlight adjuster thingymabob

[andrewbuch]

Went for a drive tonight for the first time after fitting Osram night breakers & Adjusting lights better.. What a difference :thumbsup:

Then stopped & when I got back into car & started up again the headlights normally go up & down but this time the left one just stayed down..

What could cause the auto adjuster to not function?


Unplugged the wire & plugged in again & its working now, But I feel it has happened before..

 

[Coisman]

imp:
Maybe you got one lazy eye coming on? :dunno:

 

[msm]

My ex Mini did this from time to time. I cleaned the contacts where it plugs into the motor (as one pin was a bit corroded) and this seemed to help reduce the occurance but did not have the car for too long afterward :bawling: ... not sure if it will be the same issue for the E46 :dunno:

 

[andrewbuch]

MSM I have cleaned the plug connections last time & sprayed with Q20, they still nice & shiney.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway. Maybe inside where it connects up somethings loose or maybe in the wireing. Will watch & see if it happens again.


Cheers

Andrew

 

[msm]

Also check to see if it is a mechanical problem (with the gears on the little motor) or electrical. If it stops working again, have someone sit in the car and move the switch up and down, while you go and listen to the motor - if u can hear it spinning and no movement then the electrics are fine and it could be slipping at the gears. Also, the plastic gears could have jammed/seized up and is causing the motor to jam.

I think you can also remove just the motor from the housing to check if it is working on its own. On the E39 it used to screw out from the back - maybe check with Sankeur on the assembly as he recently stripped his ....

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Or alternately, maybe your car is telling you that it's time for an OEM Xenon upgrade

 

[andrewbuch]

When it stopped working, I Unplugged the right one & moved the adjuster dial in the car & heard nothing.. So I am guessing its electrical. But will have a look @ removing the motor & checking it out when I get a chance.

Cheers

 

[msm]

When it stopped working, I Unplugged the right one & moved the adjuster dial in the car & heard nothing.. So I am guessing its electrical. But will have a look @ removing the motor & checking it out when I get a chance.

Cheers

The gears could be jamming the motor - hence u need to pull it out of the housing to eliminate that possibility.

 

[Hellas]

I'm surprized at Andrew. Very few people actuall know the correct mechanical term for that part. He knew it was a 'thingymabob'

I got a spare motor from a E46 headlight at home if that is the problem. :thumbsup:

 

[andrewbuch]

@Hellas at first I was calling it a thingymajig but did not know how to spell it properly, then realized its actually a thingymabob.. :thumbsup:

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Or alternately, maybe your car is telling you that it's time for an OEM Xenon upgrade

But alas my bank balance is not saying the same story

 

[Sankekur]

I did not know the adjuster motor had gears in it, then again I didn't really take it apart (only took the cover off) so I wouldn't know.
I have a couple of the motors laying around at home (as might be expected )

 

[andrewbuch]

Cool, Will see over the next week if it does it again, Hardly drive @ night...

 

[andrewbuch]

tested last night, seems like its working

 

[Bossman]

MSM I have cleaned the plug connections last time & sprayed with Q20, they still nice & shiney.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway. Maybe inside where it connects up somethings loose or maybe in the wireing. Will watch & see if it happens again.


Cheers

Andrew

Don't use Q20, it's got oil in it, will make things worse, rather use Spanjaard switch cleaner, that is made for cleaning electrical contacts.