headlight leveling system
I would prolly check the connections, and fuses first to see whats going on. Its really easy to take out the assembly (im guessing you already have taken it out to change the wedge bulb).
Do all the connections line up? might want to look for a busted headlight on ebay and grab the leveling motor.
Edit: Do both of them not work? or both of them work but the message still shows up?
if its the ladder, i would check the leveling sensors.
Do all the connections line up? might want to look for a busted headlight on ebay and grab the leveling motor.
Edit: Do both of them not work? or both of them work but the message still shows up?
if its the ladder, i would check the leveling sensors.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Pure, does the car need to be on the ground then? Right now car has no wheels and is on jackstands due to coilover conversion and brake upgrade.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
I would prolly check the connections, and fuses first to see whats going on. Its really easy to take out the assembly (im guessing you already have taken it out to change the wedge bulb).
Do all the connections line up? might want to look for a busted headlight on ebay and grab the leveling motor.
Edit: Do both of them not work? or both of them work but the message still shows up?
if its the ladder, i would check the leveling sensors.
Do all the connections line up? might want to look for a busted headlight on ebay and grab the leveling motor.
Edit: Do both of them not work? or both of them work but the message still shows up?
if its the ladder, i would check the leveling sensors.
I only saw right side move had hood up didnt notice drivers. Passenger side had wedge bulb out.
Ok, first of all, congrats on the 98, just found out. Power to the 2.5gen crew 
Second, try this. Turn on your headlights, then start your car, and see if they headlights move up and down. check both of them. If they both go up and down, its most likely the leveling sensors.
Second, try this. Turn on your headlights, then start your car, and see if they headlights move up and down. check both of them. If they both go up and down, its most likely the leveling sensors.
Last edited by GRAND_LS 4; Sep 5, 2006 at 10:52 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Ok, first of all, congrats on the 98, just found. Power to the 2.5gen crew.
Second, try this. Turn on your headlights, then start your car, and see if they headlights move up and down. check both of them. If they both go up and down, its most likely the leveling sensors.
Second, try this. Turn on your headlights, then start your car, and see if they headlights move up and down. check both of them. If they both go up and down, its most likely the leveling sensors.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
In case this can help someone.
The Lexus manuals are useless for this problem.
There are 2 motors which consist of each headlight adjustment.
There are only 2 sensors which are located on both right front and rear lower control arms. They have a large "n"looking hoop to allow the sensor to be adjusted up and down.
The arms usually bend and need to be straightened out every so often to work properly. The front sensor never needs adjusting so leave it alone.
When the car is started it turns the system to do a check and raises the lights to max up and down position before leveling out. If you get a "headlight malfunction on your readout after driving for a few meters and have an ABS light it is because the ABS light is on and disrupting the system. Fix the sensor and it will disappear. If you disconnected the arm and left it hanging it still would not trigger a fault on the ecu for having no change in output.
How do i know these things?
I bought my car and noticed the rear sensor was hanging. No issues with it not working except blinding oncoming traffic. Fixed it 3 times by welding it ,but it kept snapping off for some reason of torsional pressures.
Had my car worked on by the dealer and they broke a ABS sensor which threw my headlight sensor on also. Could not figure it out for weeks as i waited for the sensor to be installed. Realigned the arm and no change. As soon as the sensor was fixed the light disappeared .
I am now a sane man again with no dash lights.
The Lexus manuals are useless for this problem.
There are 2 motors which consist of each headlight adjustment.
There are only 2 sensors which are located on both right front and rear lower control arms. They have a large "n"looking hoop to allow the sensor to be adjusted up and down.
The arms usually bend and need to be straightened out every so often to work properly. The front sensor never needs adjusting so leave it alone.
When the car is started it turns the system to do a check and raises the lights to max up and down position before leveling out. If you get a "headlight malfunction on your readout after driving for a few meters and have an ABS light it is because the ABS light is on and disrupting the system. Fix the sensor and it will disappear. If you disconnected the arm and left it hanging it still would not trigger a fault on the ecu for having no change in output.
How do i know these things?
I bought my car and noticed the rear sensor was hanging. No issues with it not working except blinding oncoming traffic. Fixed it 3 times by welding it ,but it kept snapping off for some reason of torsional pressures.
Had my car worked on by the dealer and they broke a ABS sensor which threw my headlight sensor on also. Could not figure it out for weeks as i waited for the sensor to be installed. Realigned the arm and no change. As soon as the sensor was fixed the light disappeared .
I am now a sane man again with no dash lights.
completely off topic but SK-have u had a problem with a loose tail light? have one on our 00 LS and the dash light is driving me insane. i can like touch the bulb socket, dash light will go off and all will be well for all of 20-30mins before it stops working and dash light pops up again 
In case this can help someone.
The Lexus manuals are useless for this problem.
There are 2 motors which consist of each headlight adjustment.
There are only 2 sensors which are located on both right front and rear lower control arms. They have a large "n"looking hoop to allow the sensor to be adjusted up and down.
The arms usually bend and need to be straightened out every so often to work properly. The front sensor never needs adjusting so leave it alone.
When the car is started it turns the system to do a check and raises the lights to max up and down position before leveling out. If you get a "headlight malfunction on your readout after driving for a few meters and have an ABS light it is because the ABS light is on and disrupting the system. Fix the sensor and it will disappear. If you disconnected the arm and left it hanging it still would not trigger a fault on the ecu for having no change in output.
How do i know these things?
I bought my car and noticed the rear sensor was hanging. No issues with it not working except blinding oncoming traffic. Fixed it 3 times by welding it ,but it kept snapping off for some reason of torsional pressures.
Had my car worked on by the dealer and they broke a ABS sensor which threw my headlight sensor on also. Could not figure it out for weeks as i waited for the sensor to be installed. Realigned the arm and no change. As soon as the sensor was fixed the light disappeared .
I am now a sane man again with no dash lights.
The Lexus manuals are useless for this problem.
There are 2 motors which consist of each headlight adjustment.
There are only 2 sensors which are located on both right front and rear lower control arms. They have a large "n"looking hoop to allow the sensor to be adjusted up and down.
The arms usually bend and need to be straightened out every so often to work properly. The front sensor never needs adjusting so leave it alone.
When the car is started it turns the system to do a check and raises the lights to max up and down position before leveling out. If you get a "headlight malfunction on your readout after driving for a few meters and have an ABS light it is because the ABS light is on and disrupting the system. Fix the sensor and it will disappear. If you disconnected the arm and left it hanging it still would not trigger a fault on the ecu for having no change in output.
How do i know these things?
I bought my car and noticed the rear sensor was hanging. No issues with it not working except blinding oncoming traffic. Fixed it 3 times by welding it ,but it kept snapping off for some reason of torsional pressures.
Had my car worked on by the dealer and they broke a ABS sensor which threw my headlight sensor on also. Could not figure it out for weeks as i waited for the sensor to be installed. Realigned the arm and no change. As soon as the sensor was fixed the light disappeared .
I am now a sane man again with no dash lights.
