How To: Fix Headlights After Lowering
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 839
Likes: 711
From: MD
How To: Fix Headlights After Lowering
Recently lowered my car on Swift springs and noticed my headlights seemed to be pointing down. Searched and a few threads mentioned to manually adjust the headlights up manually, but I noticed ride height sensors when working on the rear. Looked into it a bit more and found these cars have an automatic headlight beam control system. Basically the car thinks the trunk is full of dead bodies and automatically aims the headlights lower to avoid blinding on-coming traffic.
So, the simple fix is to just initialize this system and the headlights will return to normal. The dealership can do this using their Techstream tools, but where's the fun in that?
- Perform Headlight Light Control ECU Sub-assembly LH Initialization (set the zero point of the height control sensor in the headlight light control ECU sub-assembly LH) after the vehicle height changes due to replacement of suspension components or after performing operations such as removal and reinstallation or replacement of the rear height control sensor sub-assembly LH.
- Adjust the headlight aim after performing Headlight Light Control ECU Sub-assembly LH Initialization.
-----------------------
Made a quick video:
Relevant FSM procedure attached as well.
So, the simple fix is to just initialize this system and the headlights will return to normal. The dealership can do this using their Techstream tools, but where's the fun in that?
- Perform Headlight Light Control ECU Sub-assembly LH Initialization (set the zero point of the height control sensor in the headlight light control ECU sub-assembly LH) after the vehicle height changes due to replacement of suspension components or after performing operations such as removal and reinstallation or replacement of the rear height control sensor sub-assembly LH.
- Adjust the headlight aim after performing Headlight Light Control ECU Sub-assembly LH Initialization.
-----------------------
Perform initialization (When not using the Techstream)
(1) Turn the engine switch on (don't start engine, just double tab the start button with foot off the brake pedal).
(2) Check the fuel level. The number of times the low beam headlights need to be turned on and off is determined by the present fuel level as shown below.
1 : <E
2 : E - 1/4
3 : 1/4 - 1/2
4 : 1/2 - 3/4
5 : 3/4 - F
(3) Turn the engine switch off.
(4) Turn the engine switch on, with the light control switch OFF.
(5) While holding the light switch in the FLASH position (pull it back), turn the taillights on and off 3 times using the light control switch.
NOTICE: Do this step within 5 seconds of turning on the engine switch. (it took me a few tries to get it right)
HINT: If this has been completed correctly, the headlight leveling warning light and "Check Headlight System" on the multi-information display will blink at 1 Hz.
(6) Using light control switch, turn the low beam headlights on and off the specified number of times within 20 seconds.
(7) You'll hear a ding and the warning light will begin to blink. Verify the number of times that the headlight leveling warning light blinks matches the number of times the low beam headlights were turned on and off.
(8) Turn the engine switch off.
---------------------(1) Turn the engine switch on (don't start engine, just double tab the start button with foot off the brake pedal).
(2) Check the fuel level. The number of times the low beam headlights need to be turned on and off is determined by the present fuel level as shown below.
1 : <E
2 : E - 1/4
3 : 1/4 - 1/2
4 : 1/2 - 3/4
5 : 3/4 - F
(3) Turn the engine switch off.
(4) Turn the engine switch on, with the light control switch OFF.
(5) While holding the light switch in the FLASH position (pull it back), turn the taillights on and off 3 times using the light control switch.
NOTICE: Do this step within 5 seconds of turning on the engine switch. (it took me a few tries to get it right)
HINT: If this has been completed correctly, the headlight leveling warning light and "Check Headlight System" on the multi-information display will blink at 1 Hz.
(6) Using light control switch, turn the low beam headlights on and off the specified number of times within 20 seconds.
(7) You'll hear a ding and the warning light will begin to blink. Verify the number of times that the headlight leveling warning light blinks matches the number of times the low beam headlights were turned on and off.
(8) Turn the engine switch off.
Made a quick video:
Relevant FSM procedure attached as well.
Last edited by LoSt180; Jan 21, 2021 at 03:57 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,634
Likes: 256
From: CA
Thanks for the tip.
Recently lowered my car on Swift springs and noticed my headlights seemed to be pointing down. Searched and a few threads mentioned to manually adjust the headlights up manually, but I noticed ride height sensors when working on the rear. Looked into it a bit more and found these cars have an automatic headlight beam control system. Basically the car thinks the trunk is full of dead bodies and automatically aims the headlights lower to avoid blinding on-coming traffic.
So, the simple fix is to just initialize this system and the headlights will return to normal. The dealership can do this using their Techstream tools, but where's the fun in that?
- Perform Headlight Light Control ECU Sub-assembly LH Initialization (set the zero point of the height control sensor in the headlight light control ECU sub-assembly LH) after the vehicle height changes due to replacement of suspension components or after performing operations such as removal and reinstallation or replacement of the rear height control sensor sub-assembly LH.
- Adjust the headlight aim after performing Headlight Light Control ECU Sub-assembly LH Initialization.
-----------------------
So, the simple fix is to just initialize this system and the headlights will return to normal. The dealership can do this using their Techstream tools, but where's the fun in that?
- Perform Headlight Light Control ECU Sub-assembly LH Initialization (set the zero point of the height control sensor in the headlight light control ECU sub-assembly LH) after the vehicle height changes due to replacement of suspension components or after performing operations such as removal and reinstallation or replacement of the rear height control sensor sub-assembly LH.
- Adjust the headlight aim after performing Headlight Light Control ECU Sub-assembly LH Initialization.
-----------------------
Perform initialization (When not using the Techstream)
(1) Turn the engine switch on (don't start engine, just double tab the start button with foot off the brake pedal).
(2) Check the fuel level. The number of times the low beam headlights need to be turned on and off is determined by the present fuel level as shown below.
1 : <E
2 : E - 1/4
3 : 1/4 - 1/2
4 : 1/2 - 3/4
5 : 3/4 - F
(3) Turn the engine switch off.
(4) Turn the engine switch on, with the light control switch OFF.
(5) While holding the light switch in the FLASH position (pull it back), turn the taillights on and off 3 times using the light control switch.
NOTICE: Do this step within 5 seconds of turning on the engine switch. (it took me a few tries to get it right)
HINT: If this has been completed correctly, the headlight leveling warning light and "Check Headlight System" on the multi-information display will blink at 1 Hz.
(6) Using light control switch, turn the low beam headlights on and off the specified number of times within 20 seconds.
(7) You'll hear a ding and the warning light will begin to blink. Verify the number of times that the headlight leveling warning light blinks matches the number of times the low beam headlights were turned on and off.
(8) Turn the engine switch off.
(1) Turn the engine switch on (don't start engine, just double tab the start button with foot off the brake pedal).
(2) Check the fuel level. The number of times the low beam headlights need to be turned on and off is determined by the present fuel level as shown below.
1 : <E
2 : E - 1/4
3 : 1/4 - 1/2
4 : 1/2 - 3/4
5 : 3/4 - F
(3) Turn the engine switch off.
(4) Turn the engine switch on, with the light control switch OFF.
(5) While holding the light switch in the FLASH position (pull it back), turn the taillights on and off 3 times using the light control switch.
NOTICE: Do this step within 5 seconds of turning on the engine switch. (it took me a few tries to get it right)
HINT: If this has been completed correctly, the headlight leveling warning light and "Check Headlight System" on the multi-information display will blink at 1 Hz.
(6) Using light control switch, turn the low beam headlights on and off the specified number of times within 20 seconds.
(7) You'll hear a ding and the warning light will begin to blink. Verify the number of times that the headlight leveling warning light blinks matches the number of times the low beam headlights were turned on and off.
(8) Turn the engine switch off.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 211
Likes: 19
From: Fairfield
Does the step 2 mean you dont actually have to do anything, just learn the count?
Holding the light stalk position back to FLASH, does that mean pull back away from the driver, or towards the driver? and turning tail lights on/off means you are going from the lowest (1) setting to the third one (3) right under the low beam on setting?
Holding the light stalk position back to FLASH, does that mean pull back away from the driver, or towards the driver? and turning tail lights on/off means you are going from the lowest (1) setting to the third one (3) right under the low beam on setting?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 839
Likes: 711
From: MD
Does the step 2 mean you dont actually have to do anything, just learn the count?
Holding the light stalk position back to FLASH, does that mean pull back away from the driver, or towards the driver? and turning tail lights on/off means you are going from the lowest (1) setting to the third one (3) right under the low beam on setting?
Holding the light stalk position back to FLASH, does that mean pull back away from the driver, or towards the driver? and turning tail lights on/off means you are going from the lowest (1) setting to the third one (3) right under the low beam on setting?
Pull means pull, not push. Pull flashes highbeams, push turns on highbeams. You're pulling here.
OFF means off. (DRL OFF)
Taillights is the same as parking lights. You're going from off to parking (yes, you will go past the AUTO setting doing this). Your 1 to 4 clicks example makes sense, go 1 to 3 three times. Then you'll go 1 to 4 the number of times needed based on fuel level.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 211
Likes: 19
From: Fairfield
Thanks I only ask because I question the methods I've been trying. None of them seem to get the warning for the headlights to pop up. Tried doing on and off slower, fast, more than 3x, etc and can't seem to get a response from the car.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 839
Likes: 711
From: MD
The instructions I have provided were a copy/paste directly from the Toyota TIS website, with my notes/tips in parentheses, I paid for a 2 day pass over the weekend. Was hoping to download the full manual, but the website isn't set up for easy downloads.
just lowered mine and now the check headlight system warning light is on.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,369
Likes: 2,769
From: Calgary, AB
High beam adjustment?? | Lexus IS Forum (my.is)