Just had to replace the sensors for the automatic headlight leveling system at a cost of over $1,100. No warranty coverage since it was corrosion. The car has always been garaged and it only has 25,000 miles.

Is this a common problem? Will Lexus offset any of the cost if so? Are there cheaper solutions if it happens again?

 

that's the first time i've seen it posted. so i'd say it's pretty rare. i doubt lexus will pay anything towards it.

 

Dbronw00a - My dealer told me that both of my leveling sensors are bad too, but I have not replaced them yet (2004 with 32,000 miles). I have seen several posts here with regards to the headlight warning light being illuminated (occasionally), so probably a lot more have this problem then what is currently known. I found the sensors for $330.00 each (plus shipping ~ $10.00) compared to $447.30 each at my dealer. How much did they change you for the labor? I wonder if this repair can be a DIY????

 

Welcome to CL, what year is your car, any warranty remaining??

 

Any repair can be DIY. It depends on the complexity of the repair and the skills of the technician.

 

How can you tell if they are bad-where is the warning light? Is that the only reason the light would be on?

 

Here's a few other reports of this problem:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...ing-light.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...ing-light.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...t-working.html

 

I had a headlight levelling system warning light last year. It was fixed by the dealer under CPO warranty with no trouble at all.

 

While I have not experience this problem, this was a very nice write-up on the issue.

 

hey i have that problem now an the dealer wants a arm an a leg to replace can you refer me to where your getting them at that price of $330 pm me please!!!

 

I had a similar problem over the summer with my RX; ended up finding out that it shares the same sensor with other models...the only differences (that I can tell) are the mounting brackets. Basically it's a poorly designed electronic part that lets water and other foreign substances in and corrodes the guts of the sensor - great living in Chicago with the winters full of road salt!

Needless to say I found a used one on eBay for $100 or so from a scrapped ES in Texas, pulled the sensor, popped it into the bracket from the RX and it worked! (I should note, I caulked the hell out of the "new" one to try and preserve it.)

I was thinking of getting under the SC and LS to clean/check and possibly caulk those - basically a maintenance thing - to try and save those from becoming toast. I was lucky the RX only had one sensor, the SC has 2 and the LS has 4...this could get expensive quick!

Hope that helps a little anyway but if anyone has any ideas how keep these sensors clean and dry let me know.