My First Real Problem

[JS + MS3]

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

no offense man my bad

[ZipprSuitdSungod]

1. Tech package 2011s have auto-level and AFS on the HID headlights.
2. You can see the side-to-side on startup easily. UNLESS YOU ARE PARKED ON A HIDEOUSLY uneven piece of pavement, you WILL NOT SEE ANY UP/DN movement. The un/dn adjustment is VERY small in relation to the car level, so is basically unnoticeable.
3. The up/dn adjustment is ONLY made at start-up and is NOT ACTIVE WHILE DRIVING. It's basically an adjustment to allow differences in load and ride angle....and those don't USUALLY change mid-drive.
4. And yes, up/dn adjustment is mandatory on HID headlights, here and in Europe. That's why the non-tech cars have a MANUAL adjustment and the tech cars don't. It doesn't necessarily mean that those adjustments are adequate, just mandated.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Originally Posted by ZipprSuitdSungod 1. Tech package 2011s have auto-level and AFS on the HID headlights. 2. You can see the side-to-side on startup easily. UNLESS YOU ARE PARKED ON A HIDEOUSLY uneven piece of pavement, you WILL NOT SEE ANY UP/DN movement. The un/dn adjustment is VERY small in relation to the car level, so is basically unnoticeable. 3. The up/dn adjustment is ONLY made at start-up and is NOT ACTIVE WHILE DRIVING. It's basically an adjustment to allow differences in load and ride angle....and those don't USUALLY change mid-drive. 4. And yes, up/dn adjustment is mandatory on HID headlights, here and in Europe. That's why the non-tech cars have a MANUAL adjustment and the tech cars don't. It doesn't necessarily mean that those adjustments are adequate, just mandated.

For the record, I don't know where you read that it's "mandatory" for HID's to be auto-adjustable or manually adjustable. This is not mandated by law within US Transportation Laws whatsoever. It IS however, required by law through the European Union.

There have been HID-equipped cars for years that never required manual adjustment. Even the American automakers don't offer/install at all.

And, I don't know where you see a Up/Down adjustment at start-up, because they swivel left and right, that is it.

[Tokay444]

if your ass end isn't loaded, they're not gonna move.

[ZipprSuitdSungod]

My bad. I mis-spoke/misread about US requirement for leveling HIDs. You're right, European but NOT a requirement for the US.

The system does, however, sense the level on startup to counteract the level of the car fore and aft due to heavy passenger or cargo load in the rear of the car. This has nothing to do with the side-to-side movement you see when the AFS goes through it's test cycle.

[Caboose]

Originally Posted by 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.

Not to keep beating a dead horse, but if you read pages 5-62, 5-63 of the owner's manual you'll see the headlight leveling feature discussed. Both types are mentioned. But notice the ASTERISK after the word leveling, and then examine the bottom of the page......

*Some models

I thought too we should have both until I read more closely. I'm with Silver Ecstacy, I don't think this is available to the 11 speeds. Can't speak about the non-speed threes.

For those of you who think they're aimed too low, just get after them with a philips screwdriver and go to town.

[Silver Ecstasy]

My 05 GTO non-hid projecters had an awesomely even and nice cut-off. I couldn't get that same alignment on this car to save my life. You can always tell when the highlights are turning because of the two jagged beams spreading apart.

[Vater]

This is really an issue? My headlights are aimed so low that I'd have to perform a Vin Diesel Charger Fast n' Furious wheelie to get them to blind oncoming drivers.

[Caboose]

Wonder if the OP ever got his looked at, and what the outcome was. If you look closely at our projectors you'll notice they have fresnal lenses. I bet if you swapped them out with clear lens you'd get that cut off you're talking about like on your GTO.

@Vater, yes it was an issue for me. I like to see more of the road, and signs ahead of me at night, especially when going fast. Will give you more reaction time. Not much, but maybe enough to avoid say a big ass piece of semi tire laying in your lane.

[Vater]

Ack...stupid me for not reading the OP. Didn't realize his auto headlights were pointing down permanently.

I was more referring to the fact that the 2011s have the auto leveling headlights at all...

[Silver Ecstasy]

Originally Posted by Caboose Wonder if the OP ever got his looked at, and what the outcome was. If you look closely at our projectors you'll notice they have fresnal lenses. I bet if you swapped them out with clear lens you'd get that cut off you're talking about like on your GTO. @Vater, yes it was an issue for me. I like to see more of the road, and signs ahead of me at night, especially when going fast. Will give you more reaction time. Not much, but maybe enough to avoid say a big ass piece of semi tire laying in your lane.

If the lens was easy to remove with out yanking off the headlight cover, id do it in a heartbeat. It'd be awesome if the whole lens came out from the back of the headlight.

Actually... Just had a thought... Maybe because we have bi-xenon for high and low beams, this is why they don't adjust up and down?

[MS309]

is this what all the discussion is about ? I can manually adjust them up/down while parked or driving. no tech. The same feature is also available with the tech package which includes AFS.

[Tokay444]

Yeah I have the same nob in genwon.

[adlpb]

I have an 11 tech pkg and definitely do not have that knob

[robry]

11 tech pkg and don't have the knob. I was under the impression it was definitely self-leveling and thought they leveled when I went over large hills. I guess I'm wrong though

[rfinkle2]

I believe that was deleted after .5 of the 2010 models were released.

The headlights, interior led footwell lights changed @ mid year.

I have a 2010.5, and have no adjustment knob.

I have the Bose, etc.

I believe that this is why when you look @ parts on a parts site, there are 2 models listed under 2010 mazdaspeed3 (same motor etc., but 2 selectable models)

[Tokay444]

They wouldn't level out on a hill. Then they'd be point straight into the road just aft the front bumper.
They level in relation to front vs rear right height, and they're extremely slow. Put 400lbs of interlock in your trunk at night while you're pointing at a wall, and you'll seem SLOWLY aim themselves back down.

[adlpb]

Yea that's what they should do. I never thought they'd level while you drive. Which is why I was going the comment of my coilovers. After their installation my stance changed, and they seem to stay level.

[Tokay444]

They do not change while driving. You're ride height ratio isn't going to change on the fly.
They change (if your stance has changed) when the car is started only.

[Caboose]

Ok. After checking out this

video

video

posted by Aetherfury about the 2011, and pausing on the window sticker shot, I'm convinced that if you have an '11 w/tech you get BOTH the auto-level AND AFS.

Assuming that is true, then my dealer was wrong (big suprise) about me not having it. So how do I get something fixed/ checked out by a dealer who is in denial about even having it?

I'm going to my local monthly Mazda meet at Cobb tonight. Maybe someone there with an '11 w/tech can show me how their headlights work.

Anyone know where I can find a shop manual/wiring diagrams for an '11 speed? I'm tempted to try and sleuth it out myself.

OP, did you get a diagnosis from the dealer yet???

[Elusivellama]

Look on page 3-13 of the manual, under advanced key. It states that when the ignition is turned to ON (not ACC or start) you can hear the auto-leveling motors running. I just tested it on my 2010 and I heard the faint sound of some motor whirring right after I switched from ACC to ON.

Anyway, it doesn't make sense that the non tech pkg cars give you a convenient switch on the instrument panel, but the higher trim tech pkg would force you to open the hood and fiddle with some bolts to do the same thing.

[reggiegsd]

I have not been to the dealer yet concerning my lights. They are till looking for four leaf clovers. I don't drive the car at night very often.

I have noticed more incorrect info in this forum than I am used to. The other forums that I have been a member of pride themselves on the accuracy of their info. That seems not to be the case here.

The headlight in the Speed without the tech package have a manual level adjust on the dash. This is common in the mid-line Mazda trim levels. The higher trim levels (the Speed3 tech package) the headlight level adjustment is automatic, no little thumb dial on the dash. There are two sensors, one on the left front A-arm and one on the left rear A-arm, that detect the amount of front and rear suspension compression. This info is used by the headlight control module to adjust the headlights to the proper level. The adjustment occurs on the initial start up of the car.

In my case, the sensors appear to be fine but the lights don't adjust. A Mazda tech with a M-MDF will be able to diagnose this problem quickly. If I ever get there.

Reggiegsd

[Vater]

Originally Posted by Elusivellama Anyway, it doesn't make sense that the non tech pkg cars give you a convenient switch on the instrument panel, but the higher trim tech pkg would force you to open the hood and fiddle with some bolts to do the same thing.

Except that the auto-leveling headlight option that's part of the higher trim tech package is not intended to malfunction (we can only assume), and when working properly no manual adjustment is necessary. While the manual switch on the instrument panel is convenient, even more convenient is not having to adjust them at all.

I suppose it would be extra-convenient to have a manual adjustment on the dash just in case of a malfunction, but on the other hand I don't see a manual window crank on my doors on the off chance my power windows fail.

[Elusivellama]

Originally Posted by Vater Except that the auto-leveling headlight option that's part of the higher trim tech package is not intended to malfunction (we can only assume), and when working properly no manual adjustment is necessary. While the manual switch on the instrument panel is convenient, even more convenient is not having to adjust them at all. I suppose it would be extra-convenient to have a manual adjustment on the dash just in case of a malfunction, but on the other hand I don't see a manual window crank on my doors on the off chance my power windows fail.

No, what I meant by my 'convenience' comment is that having a switch on the dash is more convenient than having to fiddle with bolts under the hood, but the absence of said switch on the higher trim tech pkg implies that an auto-leveling feature should exist.

[Tokay444]

Originally Posted by reggiegsd I have not been to the dealer yet concerning my lights. They are till looking for four leaf clovers. I don't drive the car at night very often. I have noticed more incorrect info in this forum than I am used to. The other forums that I have been a member of pride themselves on the accuracy of their info. That seems not to be the case here. The headlight in the Speed without the tech package have a manual level adjust on the dash. This is common in the mid-line Mazda trim levels. The higher trim levels (the Speed3 tech package) the headlight level adjustment is automatic, no little thumb dial on the dash. There are two sensors, one on the left front A-arm and one on the left rear A-arm, that detect the amount of front and rear suspension compression. This info is used by the headlight control module to adjust the headlights to the proper level. The adjustment occurs on the initial start up of the car. In my case, the sensors appear to be fine but the lights don't adjust. A Mazda tech with a M-MDF will be able to diagnose this problem quickly. If I ever get there. Reggiegsd

Since you're shooting for accuracy and all, when did genpu get a-arms?

[jkienlen]

FYI, I have a 2011 MS3 w/ Tech Package and I can verify, for certain, that the headlights adjust up/down. It's as simple as parking in front of a wall, opening the hatch, having a couple of friends sit back there and you can watch the headlights go down when they sit, and go back up when they get out.

[Stingray69]

I am going to throw a monkey wrench in this discussion and say my lights adjust up and down as I drive. Wifey and I noticed it the first time we went down a hill and the lights pointed up. Why would they just do it on start up? If the sensors and motors are there use them?

[Tokay444]

Why would you want them to point up when going down a hill?
So the you blind the person in the oncoming lane and they hit you head on and fix your stupid pu smile?