Headlight leveling system failure light is on in my 2001 RX300 w/ HID. Fixed it once before about five years ago by opening and cleaning sensor (mounted on rear right axle). This time the sensor inside was clean but the main pivot arm bolt on the sensor was corroded and very hard to turn. Bought a (non OEM - $60) replacement Toyota/Lexus sensor off EBay. The Ebay sensor did not list compatibility with RX300 but did list same year ES300. It looked identical in the listing pics and part that arrived fit perfectly and appears identical.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Headlight-Le...-/131269411120

Unfortunately the light is still on. When I start the car both headlights raise to what I understand is the “default” level (true before and after replacing the sensor).

I’m thinking the problem is either: 1) wiring problem somewhere between sensor and sensor, or 2) new sensor is bad or not compatible.

Advice appreciated.

 

You can check the ohmage of the new part as you tilt it and as a ref your old sensor or another sensor. If the links were bad then most likely your old sensor would still be good. Service manual usually has information and test procedure for continuity and ohmage.

Salim

For copyrights reason we can not post the service manual here in CL.

 

Finally getting back to this after a year of driving around with the dash light on. Took the sensor out and tested it using the service manual procedure which involves putting 4.5 volts across two terminals and measuring voltage at the third terminal as you move the arm. I could not get any voltage reading at all from this test. Either my new (one year old) sensor is bad. Or I bought the wrong part - its a Dorman 924-755. Looks identical to the original but maybe it's different.