2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

So my 2004 A4 was parked in an outdoor garage for about a week. During
this week it rained a bit. When I came back and drove it home, the
warning light for the xenon headlight leveling sensor kept going on.
(looks like a headlight with an exclamantion point in it) The lights
seem to work fine, but this sensor keeps going off randomly.

Where is this sensor? And is it possibly that heavy rains could
somehow have shorted something out?

I had to go to the dealer to get some new keys anyway, and mentioned
this problem (which started yesterday). He seemed to not be able to
find the problem--I thought that maybe the fixed it but halfway through
the drive home, the warning came on again.

I have to go back to the dealer in a week or so, so I'll bring it up
again. But it's annoying--anyone else have this problem?

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

The indicator on my 2002 allroad came on once, but after I turned off the ignition and restarted the car it went away never to
return (knocking on wood). This is in Oregon, where it rains all the time.

"hmmmmm" <crunchycornbranrules@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1136325629.855680.230500@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
So my 2004 A4 was parked in an outdoor garage for about a week. During
this week it rained a bit. When I came back and drove it home, the
warning light for the xenon headlight leveling sensor kept going on.
(looks like a headlight with an exclamantion point in it) The lights
seem to work fine, but this sensor keeps going off randomly.

I have to go back to the dealer in a week or so, so I'll bring it up
again. But it's annoying--anyone else have this problem?

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

The indicator on my 2002 allroad came on once, but after I turned off the ignition and restarted the car it went away never to
return (knocking on wood). This is in Oregon, where it rains all the time.

"hmmmmm" <crunchycornbranrules@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1136325629.855680.230500@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
So my 2004 A4 was parked in an outdoor garage for about a week. During
this week it rained a bit. When I came back and drove it home, the
warning light for the xenon headlight leveling sensor kept going on.
(looks like a headlight with an exclamantion point in it) The lights
seem to work fine, but this sensor keeps going off randomly.

I have to go back to the dealer in a week or so, so I'll bring it up
again. But it's annoying--anyone else have this problem?

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

The indicator on my 2002 allroad came on once, but after I turned off the ignition and restarted the car it went away never to
return (knocking on wood). This is in Oregon, where it rains all the time.

"hmmmmm" <crunchycornbranrules@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1136325629.855680.230500@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
So my 2004 A4 was parked in an outdoor garage for about a week. During
this week it rained a bit. When I came back and drove it home, the
warning light for the xenon headlight leveling sensor kept going on.
(looks like a headlight with an exclamantion point in it) The lights
seem to work fine, but this sensor keeps going off randomly.

I have to go back to the dealer in a week or so, so I'll bring it up
again. But it's annoying--anyone else have this problem?

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

The indicator on my 2002 allroad came on once, but after I turned off the ignition and restarted the car it went away never to
return (knocking on wood). This is in Oregon, where it rains all the time.

"hmmmmm" <crunchycornbranrules@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1136325629.855680.230500@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
So my 2004 A4 was parked in an outdoor garage for about a week. During
this week it rained a bit. When I came back and drove it home, the
warning light for the xenon headlight leveling sensor kept going on.
(looks like a headlight with an exclamantion point in it) The lights
seem to work fine, but this sensor keeps going off randomly.

I have to go back to the dealer in a week or so, so I'll bring it up
again. But it's annoying--anyone else have this problem?

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

Yeah mine went away--but only when the left headlight totally cleared
up (2 days later). Aren't these Xenon headlights sealed? Should I get
one replaced if it starts to let water/condensation seep in? I'm
assuming the sensor is in the light and it was all fogged up (although
when I suggested that to the dealer they seemed to think that wasn't
the case)

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

Yeah mine went away--but only when the left headlight totally cleared
up (2 days later). Aren't these Xenon headlights sealed? Should I get
one replaced if it starts to let water/condensation seep in? I'm
assuming the sensor is in the light and it was all fogged up (although
when I suggested that to the dealer they seemed to think that wasn't
the case)

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

Yeah mine went away--but only when the left headlight totally cleared
up (2 days later). Aren't these Xenon headlights sealed? Should I get
one replaced if it starts to let water/condensation seep in? I'm
assuming the sensor is in the light and it was all fogged up (although
when I suggested that to the dealer they seemed to think that wasn't
the case)

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

2002 A4, warning light came on after accident. When I picked it up
from the body shop, the light was still on - they said I had to take it
to the dealer as they have a special tool to reset the lights (not just
the sensor, they actually had to mechanically adjust the self-leveling
lights). Took it in, they took care of it in about 20 minutes, and it
hasn't come on since. No way could rain have caused your problem.
Your dealer sounds clueless...

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

2002 A4, warning light came on after accident. When I picked it up
from the body shop, the light was still on - they said I had to take it
to the dealer as they have a special tool to reset the lights (not just
the sensor, they actually had to mechanically adjust the self-leveling
lights). Took it in, they took care of it in about 20 minutes, and it
hasn't come on since. No way could rain have caused your problem.
Your dealer sounds clueless...

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

2002 A4, warning light came on after accident. When I picked it up
from the body shop, the light was still on - they said I had to take it
to the dealer as they have a special tool to reset the lights (not just
the sensor, they actually had to mechanically adjust the self-leveling
lights). Took it in, they took care of it in about 20 minutes, and it
hasn't come on since. No way could rain have caused your problem.
Your dealer sounds clueless...

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

"hmmmmm" <crunchycornbranrules@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1136325629.855680.230500@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> So my 2004 A4 was parked in an outdoor garage for about a week.
> During
> this week it rained a bit. When I came back and drove it home,
> the
> warning light for the xenon headlight leveling sensor kept
> going on.
> (looks like a headlight with an exclamantion point in it) The
> lights
> seem to work fine, but this sensor keeps going off randomly.

Are you sure the lights work fine? When the HID Xenon lights are
first switched on (and working correctly), they will
automatically lower and then reset the level (park car a few
metres away from, facing a wall - with engine and ignition OFF,
turn on ignition, then turn on lights and watch!). This
calibration check, nor the auto leveling won't work if the
warning message is displayed in the DIS.

> Where is this sensor? And is it possibly that heavy rains
> could
> somehow have shorted something out?

There are two sensors, one front and one rear, located between
the lower suspension arms and the chassis, I think on the left
side only. They are prone to road spray/snow/gravel/general
crap, and are well-known to seize and fail.

> I had to go to the dealer to get some new keys anyway, and
> mentioned
> this problem (which started yesterday). He seemed to not be
> able to
> find the problem--I thought that maybe the fixed it but halfway
> through
> the drive home, the warning came on again.

I'd change your dealer - see below.

It will re-set itself each time you switch off the ignition, but
if the fault isn't sorted, will re-illuminate the warning.

> I have to go back to the dealer in a week or so, so I'll bring
> it up
> again. But it's annoying--anyone else have this problem?


Yup - one rear sensor changed under warranty. Problem persisted,
and dealer found a TSB regarding an "A" pillar connection which
works loose when going over bumps. If you have the base or SE
models with the soft suspension, then this particular fault might
not be as obvious with the Sport / S-line / S4 models. Now
sorted <fx: touches wood>

Sean - 2003 B6 S4 v8

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

"hmmmmm" <crunchycornbranrules@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1136325629.855680.230500@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> So my 2004 A4 was parked in an outdoor garage for about a week.
> During
> this week it rained a bit. When I came back and drove it home,
> the
> warning light for the xenon headlight leveling sensor kept
> going on.
> (looks like a headlight with an exclamantion point in it) The
> lights
> seem to work fine, but this sensor keeps going off randomly.

Are you sure the lights work fine? When the HID Xenon lights are
first switched on (and working correctly), they will
automatically lower and then reset the level (park car a few
metres away from, facing a wall - with engine and ignition OFF,
turn on ignition, then turn on lights and watch!). This
calibration check, nor the auto leveling won't work if the
warning message is displayed in the DIS.

> Where is this sensor? And is it possibly that heavy rains
> could
> somehow have shorted something out?

There are two sensors, one front and one rear, located between
the lower suspension arms and the chassis, I think on the left
side only. They are prone to road spray/snow/gravel/general
crap, and are well-known to seize and fail.

> I had to go to the dealer to get some new keys anyway, and
> mentioned
> this problem (which started yesterday). He seemed to not be
> able to
> find the problem--I thought that maybe the fixed it but halfway
> through
> the drive home, the warning came on again.

I'd change your dealer - see below.

It will re-set itself each time you switch off the ignition, but
if the fault isn't sorted, will re-illuminate the warning.

> I have to go back to the dealer in a week or so, so I'll bring
> it up
> again. But it's annoying--anyone else have this problem?


Yup - one rear sensor changed under warranty. Problem persisted,
and dealer found a TSB regarding an "A" pillar connection which
works loose when going over bumps. If you have the base or SE
models with the soft suspension, then this particular fault might
not be as obvious with the Sport / S-line / S4 models. Now
sorted <fx: touches wood>

Sean - 2003 B6 S4 v8

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

"hmmmmm" <crunchycornbranrules@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1136325629.855680.230500@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> So my 2004 A4 was parked in an outdoor garage for about a week.
> During
> this week it rained a bit. When I came back and drove it home,
> the
> warning light for the xenon headlight leveling sensor kept
> going on.
> (looks like a headlight with an exclamantion point in it) The
> lights
> seem to work fine, but this sensor keeps going off randomly.

Are you sure the lights work fine? When the HID Xenon lights are
first switched on (and working correctly), they will
automatically lower and then reset the level (park car a few
metres away from, facing a wall - with engine and ignition OFF,
turn on ignition, then turn on lights and watch!). This
calibration check, nor the auto leveling won't work if the
warning message is displayed in the DIS.

> Where is this sensor? And is it possibly that heavy rains
> could
> somehow have shorted something out?

There are two sensors, one front and one rear, located between
the lower suspension arms and the chassis, I think on the left
side only. They are prone to road spray/snow/gravel/general
crap, and are well-known to seize and fail.

> I had to go to the dealer to get some new keys anyway, and
> mentioned
> this problem (which started yesterday). He seemed to not be
> able to
> find the problem--I thought that maybe the fixed it but halfway
> through
> the drive home, the warning came on again.

I'd change your dealer - see below.

It will re-set itself each time you switch off the ignition, but
if the fault isn't sorted, will re-illuminate the warning.

> I have to go back to the dealer in a week or so, so I'll bring
> it up
> again. But it's annoying--anyone else have this problem?


Yup - one rear sensor changed under warranty. Problem persisted,
and dealer found a TSB regarding an "A" pillar connection which
works loose when going over bumps. If you have the base or SE
models with the soft suspension, then this particular fault might
not be as obvious with the Sport / S-line / S4 models. Now
sorted <fx: touches wood>

Sean - 2003 B6 S4 v8

Re: 2004 A4 Xenon headight leveling sensor warning
 

mine came on a few times a couple of months back, but hasn't since then... i didn't think there was a problem, but now i've noticed my right headlight points higher than my left one and appears less blue than the left one... i guess i'm going to have to take it in :S