Factoid

I have a 2005 RX330 and it's got a blinking AFS OFF light on the dash. I've searched the forum and I see a lot of posts about this, but very little actual info about how to fix it.

I understand this is related to the automatic headlight aiming system.

My headlights most of the time point down toward the ground far too close to my car. For the first few minutes they seem to be aimed appropriately, even though the light is blinking.

But then they will suddenly just automatically point down at the road, killing my forward visibility to less than 50 feet. This has to be the stupidest behavior I've ever seen in a car. Why would you EVER want your lights to point that far down? Ever. It shouldn't even be possible to point them like that.

But that aside, I'd like to get this fixed. It seems the motors are ok, just maybe a problem with the sensor working intermittently? I see people talking about a sensor in the rear passenger wheel well but I see nothing but wheel and suspension.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

I tried manually adjusting the aim of the beam with a screwdriver but it seems to do nothing at all.

lexus114

Yes the headlight sensor is behind the passenger rear wheel. Take the r/r wheel off, take the sensor off its mount, take it apart and make sure it`s all clean. I used a fine steel wool to clean the contacts in there. Put it back together, lube the, linkage real good, clear the ecm, and see if that fixes the problem. Also make sure the electrical connection is good. If this does not solve the problem, you may need a new sensor. And I totally agree with you on the default setting being way to low. It should be a normal setting when it goes bad, But then you wouldn't be forced into fixing them. That`s how that works.

RXPhil

I actually had the exact same thing happen to me a week or so ago and wanted to make the exact same type of thread. I am lucky tho, as my lights point upward as high as they can go. So I can see VERY well now, but probably not the people in front of me.

Looks like it is pretty common with these cars although nobody has done a proper DIY write up for it. I will tackle this soon maybe I will take some pics and put a DIY together for everyone.

And on that thread we should even have the part number and cheap alternatives. As these cars age I bet they will all have the exact problem.