Auto headlights/wipers issue

James Carr

James Carr

hi people,

I know this has been previously covered but my issue varies slightly.

I picked up my ultra red 197 at the weekend, it has the xenons with turning lights and the auto lights and wipers function.

All was well to begin with, auto wipers seemed to work fine on the way home (5 hour journey mostly in the rain!)

The fault started the first evening I got it home (couldn’t resist taking it for a country road blast) where a spanner appeared stating “electrical fault, auto lights” or thereabouts. After this fault the headlights have since adjusted so they sit pointing as low as possible and pretty much stayed there minus a few occasions where they’ve returned to the correct driving height, but they don’t stay there for long (maybe some sort of safety procedure to a fault in the system as to not blind other drivers)

I then discovered when switching my auto wipers into auto, they just continuously operate.
I’ve checked the headlight level sensor on the rear and all seems well and moves freely. I’m also booked into a Renault dealership next Saturday to get plugged into clip.

But I wondered, before then, is there anything obvious I’ve missed or can check? I’m assuming from the faults combined it’s a issue with the sensor in the windscreen.

My car is actually missing the plastic surround where the sensor is situated and there’s a plug with nothing attached, from what I’ve gathered it would plug into a interior temp sensor for my auto climate control which I’m yet to source and fit.

Thanks in advance for your help
 
You have two separate problems the auto headlights/rain sensor controls the light level and turn the headlights on the sensor also detects rain and brings the wipers on and so for safety if the windscreen sensor is not plugged in then it's safer to turn the headlights on allow the wipers to operate. The headlights not staying level there are two sensors one at the rear and the other at the front to the anti roll bar. Make sure the mechanism is attached and to test you could disconnect the lever and manually move it and see if it has an affect on the headlight level also check the headlight its self if there has been enough impact on the headlights the internals can disconnect or break and the reflector assembly rolling around inside. When you turn the headlights on the lights go from full down to full up then level from this you know the motor is working.

One of my brand-new genuine headlights which was delivered broken in transit. You can see the wires are red that's halogen bulbs if the wires are yellow then they are Xenon's check if you break a Xenon headlight its cheaper to replace with two projector halogen headlights than one Xenon unit if you bought the car from a dealer bring it back it should be road legal faulty headlights are not a safe thing.
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Thanks for your reply,
They are defiantly the genuine xenons as I have the factory data sheet.
Upon startup and turning on the headlights I can confirm both headlamps do do a full sweep from down to up. I have also manually moved the rear level sensor which does move the headlamps position.

I did put the car on a ramp at work today quickly but I couldn’t find the front sensor (I wasn’t 100% certain they even had multiple sensors I just guessed)

Another point to add. On starting the car, the rear wiper does about 5 sweeps of the rear window. I was under the impression the rear wiper only went off when a) the stalk was manually operated b) the car is put in reverse whilst the auto wipers are functioning. So maybe this could be another piece to the complicated puzzle.

If I’m honest, if a headlamp broke I would pay the money and refit the xenon headlamps with the turning lights, when they work, they are amazing.

Maybe il just have to be patient and wait until I get plugged into clip at Renault next weekend.
 
It would help if you put the area your in some people are more likely help if they knew you were local. Follow the bridge loom from the rear it runs to the lighting computer in the left wheel arch and the front sensor as well. The front sensor is clamped to the anti roll bar so if someone has pushed the anti roll bar too far with the drop links disconnected or as some have done changing the drop links different places list different lengths which can range from 265mm to 280mm can change the position of the front sensor by the angle of the Anti Roll Bar.
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Thanks for your reply @turkie172
Having been to a Renault dealership at the weekend and plugged into clip, it seems there is a open circuit somewhere which the Renault techs think is putting the system into safe mode.
First thing I will do is check the wiring from the rain and light sensor to the control module behind the glove box.
Apparently it’s not uncommon that the wiring can get damaged or snagged during a windscreen replacement.
Next to check/replace is the light sensor in the top of the dash. Their are no actual faults coming up with any particular part of the system so I fear this maybe a long fault finding process!
 
Oh, one more think to mention. @turkie172 if I move the rear sensor, the headlamps do NOT move. But I’m thinking this could be due to the “safe mode” they are in from the fault in the system. So very hard for me to determine which sensor (front or rear) is fault or if at all!
 
The rain sensor loom goes from the mirror to behind passenger side front window a pillar trim open the door pull the door seal back from the trim pull it out at the top roof lining end and slide upward towards the roof the clips should un index there are two connectors there depending on options roof lights rain sensor etc check rain sensor back to there unlikely to be a cut anywhere else the connector to the rain sensor is very hard near impossible to disconnect most likely someone put a screw driver though it at the mirror end cost of pulling everything apart the sensor might be damaged I’ve seen new ones for £35 and a guy on eBay sells the gel pads for £6 the gel is very important for the rain sensing signal but now with the systems disarmed they need rearmed another trip to dealer unless they just changed from auto to deactivated. I have a from and rear level sensor used here in a box a multi meter should be able check them no guarantee mine are used and might not be working the loom for them is separate and easily checked goes to a 6 connector plug into the engine loom I’ve retro fitted the auto headlight fuctions so I know that end and I have the stuff except the washer bottle and jet piping for xenon retrofit so I can help the diagnostics should have said more your chasing two problems.


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I'd also check your scuttle panel isn't blocked and the UCH is swimming about in water... CLiP should have identified exactly which sensor is open circuit, pretty common for headlight level sensors to fail this way but that shouldn't cause issues with wipers etc.

p.s. if lights are working properly they should adjust when you move the sensor, (rear ones easist) and move up on full beam when driving.
 
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