My First Real Problem

[reggiegsd]

I now have 2300 miles on the car and my automatic headlights have decided to permanently look down. This is OK if you need to tie your shoes, but for driving it pretty much sucks. I'm hoping this is just something dumb I did.

Reggiegsd

[Speed3eak]

take it to the dealership if you don't have any mods

[Tokay444]

Mods that would affect headlights?

[Speed3eak]

yes yes I know how the mangusson moss act works

but if you have mods on the engine they document them which can be a problem down the road if you have any trouble with your driveline.

[Postulio4joo]

Ugh there are automatic headlights?

[mazdaspdmike]

i know the genpu's have headlights that swivel left and right as you turn but they auto-level as well? the gen1's have a manual headlight leveling dial just above the OBDII port, didn't know the genpu's auto-leveled.

[Silver Ecstasy]

They say they are self-leveling, but I honestly do not remember them ever doing that.

[Caboose]

There is no auto-level feature on the genpus. Only side to side. I just had to manually adjust them up because I didn't think they lit up the road far enough in front of me.

And the fogs.....utterly useless. Those bitches are getting upgraded to 3000K hids as soon as I get my occ, hpfp, ap, sri, tp, dp, bpv, etc....... My mod list seems to keep growing the more reading I do..... I swear, modding needs to have it's own DSM diagnosis code. And this place is my MA (modders anonymous). hehe!!

[adlpb]

Originally Posted by Caboose There is no auto-level feature on the genpus. Only side to side. I just had to manually adjust them up because I didn't think they lit up the road far enough in front of me.!

Actually, the 2011 models are supposed to have that. This is on the mazda specs website:

"Self-leveling Bi-Xenon High-Intensity-Discharge (HID) headlights with auto on/off feature"
2011 MAZDASPEED3 Features and Specs - Mazda USA

[Caboose]

Originally Posted by adlpb Actually, the 2011 models are supposed to have that. This is on the mazda specs website: "Self-leveling Bi-Xenon High-Intensity-Discharge (HID) headlights with auto on/off feature" 2011 MAZDASPEED3 Features and Specs - Mazda USA

I won't argue the point that they SHOULD have them. But I can tell you that MY new '11 w/tech package does NOT have that feature. I do have

Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS)

. After reading the various forums on the 3, I found out how to adjust up/down aiming of my lights. It was manual adjustment screws. I can't imagine having a separate extra option for the self leveling feature.

I was under the impression that the only option available on the speed3s was the tech pkg, and everything that implies. Maybe I'm wrong, but it wouldn't be the first time corporate marketing made a mistake.

[MS33SM]

Take it to the dealer.

2010 is the best genpu year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[adlpb]

Yea you should. I installed coilovers in my car and I'm pretty sure that changed the stance of my car (front lower than back compared to stock). I didn't have to adjust anything with the HIDs. The lighting distance/angle was the same as stock.

[silvapain]

Originally Posted by MS33SM Take it to the dealer. 2010 is the best genpu year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's just like saying Hepatitis A is the best of the Hepatitisis to get. While that may be true, you still have Fucking Hepatitis.


Tapadatass

[Silver Ecstasy]

Originally Posted by adlpb Yea you should. I installed coilovers in my car and I'm pretty sure that changed the stance of my car (front lower than back compared to stock). I didn't have to adjust anything with the HIDs. The lighting distance/angle was the same as stock.

So you think, or so you remember.

[adlpb]

When I was stock my rear was slightly lower than front. Now there is more gap in the back which obviously points that my front is lower now. Although they may be only minute differences to the eye, the angle change is projected over the 100ft or so of light. I do a lot of night driving, so yes, I think it would be something I notice. It's not like the installation was gradually done. If they had the light angle adjusting knobs on the Gen1, they would have kept them on the Gen2's. I don't think they would be dumb enough to take out a feature from the previous 3 years, and list a lie on their website.

[Caboose]

For the sake of not looking any MORE stoopid than I already am, I walked out to my car and looked at the owner's manual about the lights. Sure enough they ARE an option! Opened the hood, and I see what appears to be the self leveling motors. But I hear NO sounds of them working when turning on ACC, as the manual alludes to.

So add me to the list of "take it to the dealer". Already have an appointment set for Tuesday to figure out wtf is going on.:friday:

[Silver Ecstasy]

Originally Posted by Caboose For the sake of not looking any MORE stoopid than I already am, I walked out to my car and looked at the owner's manual about the lights. Sure enough they ARE an option! Opened the hood, and I see what appears to be the self leveling motors. But I hear NO sounds of them working when turning on ACC, as the manual alludes to. So add me to the list of "take it to the dealer". Already have an appointment set for Tuesday to figure out wtf is going on.:friday:

Switch your headlight switch to auto and park in the garage, turn the car on and they should swivel as a self diagnose/re-align before you drive. If they aren't, you have problems. FWIW, the headlights will not swivel unless you are driving over 3mph.

Trouble codes the dealer can scan for are listed in the Gen 2 Manual under 09 Body & Accessories, page 09-02i.

[Caboose]

When I start the car in the garage I can see the lights go from side to side, or more like cross eyed then straight, but I've never seen them calibrate/self test up and down. At least not like I'm used to every time I start my Lexus.

[Tokay444]

Originally Posted by silvapain That's just like saying Hepatitis A is the best of the Hepatitisis to get. While that may be true, you still have Fucking Hepatitis. Tapadatass

Hepatiti.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Originally Posted by Caboose When I start the car in the garage I can see the lights go from side to side, or more like cross eyed then straight, but I've never seen them calibrate/self test up and down. At least not like I'm used to every time I start my Lexus.

That's because they don't swivel up and down.

[Caboose]

Originally Posted by Silver Ecstasy That's because they don't swivel up and down.

I think that's the point of contention. Some say yes, others say no. Up until today I thought no as well. I'll find out for sure Tuesday. Apparently the owner's manual states that they do.

Could Mazda have made another mid-year change? My '11 was made early to mid last year.

I'll post my findings next week.

[oh10speed3]

i wish we had auto leveling headlights, they aim down so low right now

[JS + MS3]

what's the benefit of this? i've never thought about needing this feature. just curious.

[Tokay444]

So you can see at night.

[Caboose]

Originally Posted by JS + MS3 what's the benefit of this? i've never thought about needing this feature. just curious.

I think a big part of it, is that if you have a car load of people or stuff, and your back end droops, that it'll prevent your headlights from aiming too high into oncoming traffic. I suppose it could also help going down a hill, such that theoretically you'd be able to see a bit further ahead than normal.

I was convinced that we didn't have them until reading owner's manual. Pages 89, 91, 163, & 222 all mention auto leveling. As I understand it, auto leveling is NOT the same thing as the AFS feature (side to side movement of lights).

I did pop the hood and maunally adjust the aim of the lights by using a philips screwdriver and cranking the adjusting nuts some. They shine further than before, but not so much that I get high beamed by other traffic.

Again I'll post up what I find out at the dealer next week.

[JS + MS3]

Originally Posted by Tokay444 So you can see at night.

i can see at night completely fine without this feature dumbass

Originally Posted by Caboose I think a big part of it, is that if you have a car load of people or stuff, and your back end droops, that it'll prevent your headlights from aiming too high into oncoming traffic. I suppose it could also help going down a hill, such that theoretically you'd be able to see a bit further ahead than normal. I was convinced that we didn't have them until reading owner's manual. Pages 89, 91, 163, & 222 all mention auto leveling. As I understand it, auto leveling is NOT the same thing as the AFS feature (side to side movement of lights). I did pop the hood and maunally adjust the aim of the lights by using a philips screwdriver and cranking the adjusting nuts some. They shine further than before, but not so much that I get high beamed by other traffic. Again I'll post up what I find out at the dealer next week.

Agreed. Thanks for the write up.

[silvapain]

Originally Posted by Tokay444 Hepatiti.

According to Wikipedia:

Hepatitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hepatitis

The plural of Hepatitis is Hepatitides. We both fail.

Auto-leveling is law for HID headlamps in Europe (as are headlamp washers), but in the US that is not the case. The purpose is to prevent excessive glare for oncoming traffic when the car's ride height is not level (from loading the back or failed suspension components, etc).

[dspider]

look around the DSC button see if there is a dial from 0 to 3 this adjusts the up or down on my 11 no tech . yes no tech so no bose ,nav ,swivel lights or push button start for me.. my wife has a 2010 3gt with tech and the lights go side to side with no up and down ..maybe they were not properly adjusted from the factory. if they are self leveling you could have a blown fuse or some other electrical issue..
GL

[adlpb]

I have an 11 with tech, built in second half of 11 and there's definitely no knob. The dealer, website and manual state that the vertical adjusting is done automatically.

[Airbornemedic]

They auto adjust up and down. It says this right in the documents that come with the vehicle, plus I have witnessed it multiple times. Its like they are gazing at the ground, then they look up when the vehicle is turned on. You can also notice the change aim up and down hills as you drive.

[16-driver]

Any problems before this problem was a fake problem cause this one is a "real" problem.

[Caboose]

Take it for what it's worth. Got back from my dealer. SA says, "since it's a speed it doesn't have the up/down, only side to side". I asked him then, why is it listed in the manual stating otherwise, automatic, or manual. He said you get one or the other. I guess non speed 3s can have the auto level, but don't get the afs(side to side). If you look close you can see a location in the tach for an auto level warning light, but it never lights up when I start the car. Nor is the warning light mentioned in the owner's manual, at least not mine.

Maybe Mazda did another mid year change. Who knows? All I know is my '11 does not have that option. No biggy. Just adjust them up to what I like by hand.... Haven't been flashed yet by other traffic.

I guess if any of you have both, consider yourself lucky.

[Elusivellama]

Take it for what it's worth. Got back from my dealer. SA says, "since it's a speed it doesn't have the up/down, only side to side". I asked him then, why is it listed in the manual stating otherwise, automatic, or manual. He said you get one or the other. I guess non speed 3s can have the auto level, but don't get the afs(side to side).

That.... doesn't make sense. Both MS3 and regular 3s can have HIDs and AFS lights that swivel side to side, but why would the speed 3 not get auto-leveling? The tech in those headlights is the same.

In any case, where does it state in the manual to manually adjust the lights with adjustment bolts? I only see instructions to use a leveling switch on the panel next to the DSC button, and a statement that auto-leveling lights lack the switch. Since my car doesnt have a manual leveling switch, it has to be auto-leveling

[MS309]

my '11 no tech package has the dial at the side to adjust the lights up/down, has settings 0-1-2-3.

[Caboose]

Originally Posted by Elusivellama That.... doesn't make sense. Both MS3 and regular 3s can have HIDs and AFS lights that swivel side to side, but why would the speed 3 not get auto-leveling? The tech in those headlights is the same. In any case, where does it state in the manual to manually adjust the lights with adjustment bolts? I only see instructions to use a leveling switch on the panel next to the DSC button, and a statement that auto-leveling lights lack the switch. Since my car doesnt have a manual leveling switch, it has to be auto-leveling

It didn't say in the manual how to manually adjust them. I looked around online and found out. My manual also mentions a switch next to the DSC, which I also DO NOT have.

I leave my headlights on auto. They have never calibrated up/down, nor do they adjust up/down while driving. They've only calibrated/adjusted side to side.

I'd be curious to see a vid of someone that DOES have the auto leveling headlights in a genpu with the AFS feature included.

Maybe it's just a feature for the GT non speeds? I'm more confused now after the dealership explanation. Ignorance is bliss!!

[Tokay444]

dealers are retarded.
one told me that no, our turbos aren't water cooled.

[JS + MS3]

yeah i have agree. dealers don't know shit about cars.

[MazdaASM]

Originally Posted by reggiegsd I now have 2300 miles on the car and my automatic headlights have decided to permanently look down. This is OK if you need to tie your shoes, but for driving it pretty much sucks. I'm hoping this is just something dumb I did. Reggiegsd

drive into a tree at night and sue the shit out of them for selling you a car with downs

Originally Posted by JS + MS3 yeah i have agree. dealers don't know shit about cars.

for the most part this is true.... i work at a mazda dealer, ha

[Silver Ecstasy]

I can sort've believe why the Speed's got AFS and not auto-leveling.

Some of the benefits of the tech package are actually beneficial to keeping your eyes and hands focused on the road, instead of other things. The Speed can definitely corner better than the regular speed, hence the reactive headlights, and I enjoy the rain-sensing wipers WHEN they work..

[Tokay444]

regular speed?