Electrical gremlin

[true blue]

Hi not used the car for a while ,so I disconnected the Battery to charge and ensure no cold weather problems ,all OK Now it is reconnected and reset the ecu Ihave an error message with red triangle CHECK HEADLIGHTS .Local electrical guy has done a check and says no code ,we have checked bulbs all OK and main and dipped beam all work as usual  any ideas as to a solution ? the light is annoying but I am also concerned about the MOT which is due in a couple of weeks. Will this light mean a fail or advisory even though the lights are working OK 

[Linas.P]

Really hard to say... technically only check ABS, engine, airbag and brakes lights are the failure. Lexus is annoying with that stupid red triangle, because it can mean a lot of things from irrelevant to important. What the MOT technician makes out of it is hard to say. I would expect it to result in advisory, but it could be anywhere from nothing to failure, there is a lot of discretion that MOT technicians have and not all of them uses it wisely.

[GMB]

12 minutes ago, Linas.P said:

here is a lot of discretion that MOT technicians have and not all of them really knows what they are doing

The guy at our local MOT place is a bit deaf so I take my motorbike there. Always a PASS.

[Linas.P]

Was he always deaf or only became deaf after you started using that MOT place? 😄 

[normski2]

Just a thought

You have the SEL so I'm guessing you have HID headlights. Do you see the usual little headlight dance when turning the lights on as they 'level up'? If not [given that the car has been sat for a while] I'm wondering if one of the levelling armatures has slightly seized up .. I know this can happen.

From memory they are both on the passenger side. The front one is quite easy to see by turning the wheel out to the left. They can even get broken from pot holes in the road.

Sometime ago I put up photos in a post of both levelling devices when I was checking mine. Shout if you need to see it and I'll see if I can find it ... could be 5-6 years ago!!

Of course if you don't have HID lights then I'm not helping at all 🤭

 

[Linas.P]

Yes, both on passenger side, although I would expect to see codes for AFS then and the message would be "Check Auto Headlight Levelling System" or "adaptive light system", something like that. Unless OP has not quoted the message in full.  

[true blue]

Hi thanks Normski the lights do not now dance and level up , they did before but I can see it now I have checked it in the dark ! ,this must be the problem and I will look into it and report back Photo would be great if you can   Great site this. Regards

Dave

[Linas.P]

Not 100% sure this is IS250, but it will looks something like that - long arm attached to a swivel. 

[Herbie]

I don't know how much parts would be at the dealers but there's no need to go there as there's plenty on eBay.

This one for the electrical sensor or complete unit

This one if it's the mechanical linkage that's gone

[Linas.P]

Yeah - sadly not cheap, as Lexus only sells it as "complete assembly"... not sure how much it would be in UK (surely kidney will not be enough!), but even from abroad it is still not cheap:

It lightly hurts me looking at the above prices, because I know mine is made up from zip ties, paper clips, rubber bands and dreams and hopes... and I wanted to replace it with proper parts, but at £277 (minimum) I am just not sure it is rational repair. 

[normski2]

I had a search around and found the links!!

Have a read through these they give you some useful pointers and may even lead you to use for an old spanner!