HELP! I can't see...
 

I have a 2011 MS3 with the HID's. I noticed all of a sudden that I was hitting every pothole around at night because my beams were projecting to only about 10/15 feet ahead of the bumper. I don't drive much at night, and when I do it is on highways and well-lit roads, so it IS possible it's been like this for a while, but...

I'm not sure when it started, but I did hit a pretty nasty pothole & smacked a pretty high curb straight on, but my headlamps seemed to be projecting straight down. A few weeks ago, I dropped it off at Mazda for some minor service and told them about the issue with the beams. Seemed like they didn't do anything to fix the issue and I dropped it off again this past week. They told me over the phone hours later that they thought it may be a situation where the entire housing and/or bracket that holds the lights in place may require repair. (I'm a car n00b, so I'm unfortunately in a position to have to believe what I'm being told, to a certain extent). They kept it overnight and told me that it was just an issue with the beam alignment and I should be all set. I can now see the beams on the ground to ~18/20 feet.

Before I get beat up here, I am aware that there is a system to pull up to a wall on level ground and measure out 25 ft etc etc etc, but I don't have an ideal setup to do this and Mazda Service should be taking care of this when I bring the car to them for service (TWICE) anyway, right?
WTF, is this just something that I never noticed and need to learn to deal with or what??

isnt there an switch to adjust level on that, my 09 has it.

lol yeah so does my 07 ms6
that'd be pretty epic if the dial was just turned down.

Check your leveling sensor which should be around the right rear control arm. Some models (Canadian models?) have the leveling sensor somewhere in the front near the front LCAs somewhere.

The sensor looks like a small end link.

Since this occurred after you hit a pothole you either damaged the sensor or simply the connector is unplugged or damaged.
These leveling sensors are known to fail occasionally.

LOL That would be funny, but no, they aren't leveling. They DO move horizontally whit the wheel turn, but no vertical movement.

If you open the hood there is a dial on each of the headlights that you can adjust the vertical flow of light that is projected from the housings.

The thread is on here somewhere, can't seem to find it at the moment.

Is there any exterior damage to the car?

There is bumper damage/scratches, but nothing too bad. I'm of the opinion that there is something worse going on here and not just an alignment issue. There seems to be NO forward illumination at all...

They aren't leveling because that sensor has gone to sleep one way or another.
Jack the car up and find the sensor. Every car with HID lights has a leveling sensor. My 2008 MS3 has one, there 's no chance your 2011 with aiming HID headlights doesn't have one.

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/foru...0/#post1969378

Read that post and you'll find how to adjust the lights.

I know a few guys with pu's and they don't have an adjustment dial for the head lights. Some with tech and without. My 09 does though.

AWESOME! Thanks. Been looking and couldn't find anything. GREAT FIND, Disarray!!

Can't be sure if the MS3 is the same, but I had this same problem with my RX8. Had two leveling sensors...one behind front wheel, one behind rear wheel, both on driver's side. Tried leveling the lights manually with no luck...had a bad sensor that would reset the lights to their lowest setting. The only fix was a sensor replacement, which was $450 new (for a $5 potentiometer).. ouch. Bought a used one on ebay for $150. If your lights lower again after adjustment, your sensor is probably bad. I wouldn't be surprised if a pothole hit broke it...I diassembled the broken one I had...they aren't terribly robust inside.

Good luck.

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Thanx, Jokerface. I stopped by the dealership again this AM and suggested the level sensors. The guy at the desk (who clearly doesn't know his ass from his elbow) said that if it was a sensor it would've thrown a code. Anyway, he's going to take the car again next week AND give me a loaner. LOL As long as they fix it, I'll deal with the inconvenience. Thanks again, everyone!!

Not necessarily. My RX8 had a malfunctioning sensor for months with no trouble code. Only when the pendulum inside physically broke did I get a warning light. The sensor could be putting out a signal...but it could be an incorrect one, as was the case with my car. No signal at all might send a code, but if the computer sees SOMETHING is working, there may be no code at all. The problem with the sensors on the Rx8 was that condensation would get inside and foul the contacts and corrode the internals...it still sent a signal, but not a proper one. Not sure if yours is doing the same.

Glad to hear they're fixing it.



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You're awesome, Jokerface! Picking the car up tonight. They called me yesterday to come see the car up on the lift, and they confirmed it was a mangled level sensor. I practically had to beg them to even check it, and there it was: YOU WERE RIGHT! They claim that they were able to bend it back into a functioning position. We will see... At least I had a loaner for the past two days lol

So all is well then? Sounds like the sensor mount was bent?

I don't know what the sensor looks like on a Speed, only had mine 6 months and the wheels haven't been off yet. If all they did was bend it back, I hope your sensor is OK. If it had an impact on the mechanism...eww... Here's hoping all is well. Trying to drive with HIDs pointed at the ground sucks the high, hard one. I was always worried I was going to hit an animal or a pedestrian.

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Glad you had it worked out!
There's a knob covered by plastic behind the headlight that you can adjust with a wrench or socket


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so did anyone ever find it anywhere that the HIDs are supposed to auto-level vertically?

going to manually adjust them either way, they shoot a little bit low for my tastes stock. if anyone could take a picture of the leveling sensor though, that'd be great so i could know what exactly i'm looking for, as i've never seen it level vertically (assuming it's supposed to do it on up/downhills?)