Qashqai auto level headlights

purpleparrotuk

Picked up a 2010 qashqai Tekna 3 weeks ago.

Went out for the first time in the dark one night last week. Left the headlights on auto. When we started the engine and the lights came on the did nothing and remained very low to the ground. Put the main beam on and didnt adjust.

Then about 10 minutes into the journey the lights suddenly came to life and went to the correct height level.
One thing the salesman told us about the car when we picked it up was some numpty in the workshop had left the ignition in the wrong setting and drained the battery. Could this have caused it and it needs to be resynced or is a more serious problem?

Hubby is sure it happened again tonight but it was dusk and couldn't really tell. Just tried them on the drive and they are high up and not pointing to the ground so seem ok at the moment.

alleycat`

Assuming you have bi-xenons?

They are supposed to do their little "dance" on engine start up if it is already dark and you have the "auto" lights.

They should go side to side, up and down then level off at the correct setting.

If they come on whilst you are driving they don't "dance" but they should "self level" as you drive along over undulating roads, hills, bumps, etc.

If it is doing the "dance" or "raising up to proper level" whilst you are driving along then it isn't right.

I could imagine a scenario where they might have lost their settings but they should not be deciding to mess about half way through the journey if that is the case.
I'd be more inclined to believe something is sticking or has a dry joint.

If they are not working properly it is likely to land you in legal schtum if the plod see it.

It'll also be an MOT failure.

Get it back to the dealers and don't let them fob you off.

anotherbaldrick

Seriously they need sorting, bi-xenons not self adjusting correctly could be fatal , if not to you then to an oncoming driver

Strider590

ste4321 wrote: »

The Qashqai Tekna has xenon headlights with a seperate high beam, not bi-xenons. On my Qashqai Tekna the lights come on level straight away with no visible adjustment going on, so if yours keep adjusting up and down there is something wrong. Hope this helps.

I wonder if they adjust like crazy when fat people drive over speed bumps?:rotfl:

Beachview_2

My neighbour has a Quasqui and the headlamps and front fogs come on every time they start the engine. Its not DRLs.

purpleparrotuk

Thsnks for the replies.
If I leave them on the auto setting they don't level until about 20 mins into a journey. They point quite low until then. Weird thing is if I turn on the headlights before I start the engine I can see and hear them levelling fine. You can turn the headlights on without the ignition being on in a qashai which is quite cool. But if I switch from auto to manual after I start it doesn't adjust because the levelling has already happened when I started the engine. I can't afford a garage to take a look yet but know the levelling mechanism is not broken because it works before I turn the engine on. The rear sensor arm drivers dude has the point of the v pointing up. Is this right?

Can someone please help?

OddballJamie

Beachview wrote: »

My neighbour has a Quasqui and the headlamps and front fogs come on every time they start the engine. Its not DRLs.

Do they only go out at night?

purpleparrotuk

I am wondering if the computer just needs resetting due to the battery dying and the auto headlights forgetting to level.

Ratboy

It sounds to me they did what they were meant to do automatically?

They dipped, when it was going dark, as per, then turned on fully when dark, as per; so what is the issue that I'm missing?

Most, if not all new cars do that??? And secondary sidelights on always, regardless.

What point are you making? A new vehicle does this, it's a feature, not a fault!

purpleparrotuk

Ratboy wrote: »

It sounds to me they did what they were meant to do automatically?

They dipped, when it was going dark, as per, then turned on fully when dark, as per; so what is the issue that I'm missing?

Most, if not all new cars do that??? And secondary sidelights on always, regardless.

What point are you making? A new vehicle does this, it's a feature, not a fault!

Sorry I didn't make it very clear. This is in pitch blackness. I will drive off with the light on auto and yes they turn on straight away with the engine but don't level for 20 minutes so can't see ahead. They are really bad when they are too low. Can only see 2 feet in front of the car.

Ratboy

Do they work on manual? Is it only the Auto setting that doesn't work?

That would indicate either a mechanical fault, or electrical?

Nothing worse than badly adjusted headlights; but Xenon headlights should auto adjust regardless. So do they work manual?