Starting in 2006, the SC had adaptive headlights where the headlight swings left or right during cornering to better illuminate the road.

My driver's side headlight swings MUCH more than my passenger's side. Is this normal? I'm interested because I just had the passenger's side replaced.

 

you should ask your mechanic to check and adjust the headlight alignment if you think it is off.
There are two adjusting screws, one for the horizontal, the other for the vertical.

 

I appreciate the reply, but I am not talking about headlight alignment. Going straight = no issue.

On 2006 and newer, the headlight swings to the left or the right, based on which way you are turning. In other words, turn the car to the right and the headlights swing and point to the right; when you resume going straight, the lights point straight again.

I have noticed that the left light has a greater swing arc (points more toward the direction turning) then the right light.

This may be normal, given that we drive on the right side of the road, but I was wondering whether anyone else noticed this.

 

I know what AFS is.
Only the 06+ has the horizontal alignment.

Even with AFS, your car should light up more to the passenger side since the HID cutoff line will prevent you from blinding the oncoming traffic.

 

Yes perfectly normal, that is what it suppose to do by design:



http://www.lexus.com/models/SC/featu..._lighting.html

 

I see what Johnny was talking about now.

He is not talking about this.

 

Correct. His concern was horizonal AFS, not vertical level.

 

Exactly what I needed to know. THANKS!! Glad it wasn't a problem with the new light.

 

You are welcome

 

A picture is worth a thousand words, thanks for sharing.

 

Hi everyone! I just had to have my driver side headlight assembly replaced in my 2009 SC430. For the first time, the AFS was unmistakable. When turning left, I saw the light beams turn left and then back to center. This made me think it had probably not been working before I got the whole light replaced. Now, I'm aware that I don't see any movement on the passenger side.

My question is this: have people had the AFS cease to work and was the dealership able to fix this?

The new headlight assembly was $1700 (plus new bulbs). I'd prefer that they just fix the passenger AFS, rather than replace the assembly.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

I can tell you that I know my AFS is working and it is very difficult to see the movement of the right hand side. In my opinion, it is next to worthless. 5 degrees is just not enough to do anything. I'm not sure Lexus had much luck with this feature. I know that it was on the early third generation RXs and then removed. I have a 2015 RX with all the options and it does not have it. I have a friend with a 2010 with limited options and it has AFS. I think Lexus decided it was not worth the effort.

 

Thanks iolmaster. It probably is worthless in the big picture. I can say that for me, it makes me enjoy the specialness of my SC430 just a bit more on a dark night when I can see the headlights tracking the direction I'm steering. It's a like a feature "Q" might have added to a vehicle he was giving James Bond for his next assignment. LOL

 

So for the folks with the 2002 - 2005 who replaced their headlights with a 2006+ headlight, did they also gain AFS?

 

I doubt it. The angle of arc of the headlight is determined by the angle of the turn and is not initiated until a certain speed is attained. That would require a sensor of sorts in the steering system.