Headlight levelling - ABL Bi Xenon

[Tannaton]

Morning all...

2011 XC90 with ABL Xenon headlights

Strange issue.... long drive home last night I noticed the headlamps where pointing at the floor - i.e. would be on the lowest possible level setting. They were fine that morning, they're suddenly both so low now it's dangerous to drive on unlit roads.

I never worked on the leveling system of an XC90, I've replaced numerous axle sensors on XC60, P3 V70 etc.

Had a look on VIDA and it doesn't show any suspension sensors as part of the ABL system - does it have them? I know the car must have a self-leveling system as part of the Xenon setup.

On my journey I had to mount a very high kerb to pass a stranded vehicle at a junction, so I was thinking it had knocked a link off the sensor. Later i'll pop a wheel off to have a look - just wondered if anyone knew??

[Moose Test]

Have a look on the rear sub-frame. I seem to recall seeing a sensor with a drop-link there when I replaced my Nivomats.

[Tannaton]

Problem was rear axle level sensor which is on the LH rear suspension (I don’t think there is one at the front which is strange for a car with self levelling suspension…).

Not easy to get to, mounting bracket bolt heavily corroded, had to tap on a 9mm socket over a 10mm bolt.

Failure reason was clear, the rose joint on the middle of the two links to the suspension arm had seized solid, this would exert considerable force on the links and sensor as suspension moves.

The sensor attaches to the lower arm by a small metal plate which is riveted on with aluminium rivets, these had corroded and it was hanging on by a shard. As the lower arm is hollow, managed to reattach it by using double sided sticky tape to put a M4 nut on the end of my finger, insert finger into cavity and try to thread onto bolt as I turn it. 10 mins to explain, 2 hours to work out and execute. At a dealer, that would likely have been a new lower arm, adding £500 to the bill I guess.

Looks very much an afterthought, and yet another failure I’ve had to resolve by throwing a part with FoMoCo stamped on it in the bin………


Still, I can now see in the dark again…