With each passing year, auto manufacturers try to add new safety features to make their vehicles safer on the road. One of those advancements is automatic headlight range control. These automatic headlight range control is typically found on all high-end cars including BMW and Audi. These headlights work in regularity with the angle of the vehicle and help your car to adjust the headlights accordingly. When you turn steering wheel left or right, the headlight also moves to provide additional light in the corner. With headlight range control, headlights are pointed slightly lower while accelerating and are adjusted back up; once the car gets speed-up. This mechanism takes place automatically without requiring you to do anything with the headlights and there is a corresponding light on the dashboard to alert you of any issues detected with this system.
The most common warning message typically says: Headlight Range control: Headlamp converter active. Range reduced
With adaptive headlights there is no guessing game. Xenon adaptive headlights are better than LED since it amplifies the brightness of the light, and quickly reach the temperature necessary to emit an intense beam. Xenon adaptive headlights give a better view around the curves, corners and bends of the road especially during night time driving and at higher speeds. The wider spread of light makes it possible to spot dangers on the sides and bends of the road to avoid any accidents.
How do I know if my Audi has adaptive headlights?
If you notice the headlights of your vehicle are changing their angle or brightness with the movement of steering wheel without you doing anything with the headlights, your headlights are likely adaptive.
When an issue is detected with headlight range control system you will receive a warning light illuminating on your instrument cluster indicating a problem with headlight range control. The range control will be disabled temporarily until the problem has been solved and the code is cleared with a scan tool.
What does the headlight range control warning light mean?
This warning light simply means the cornering module has failed and needs to be replaced. Cornering module is consisted of xenon adaptive headlamps or LED DRLs which causes this warning message upon failure.
Why cornering module fails?
However, the main cause for the failure of the adaptive headlight module is water which may cause damage to the module for many reasons, such as driving through heavy rain or flooding, or going through a car wash. When this happens, the adaptive malfunction error message will display on the dashboard of your Audi.
Another main reason can be the lifespan. Completion of life of the module may cause this error to happen. It is an electronic part and may fail over a time and a simple replacement of this module will fix the problem.
The sensors at the front of your car monitor the angle of the vehicle and help your headlights to move in the same angle. These sensors are very sensitive therefore hitting rocks or small bumps at high speed can confuse them temporarily. In this instance, the warning light may come on while you are driving so once you restart the engine, the warning light should go off and you can continue the normal driving.
Sometimes certain repairs such as replacing the bumper or headlight can disturb the tilt sensors and warning light appears. And since nothing is damaged in this case, your car should come to the normal once the codes are cleared.
Is it safe to drive with this error message?
Well, cars have had stationary lights for years so you can be at peace to use your car normally without adaptive headlights. Such a system is not completely essential but since it is added as a safety feature and assists you keeping on the road so this warning should not be ignored.
How to fix this error?
When you restart the engine and the warning light does not go off then you should consider replacing the power module for headlights with a new one. A direct and simple replacement of this part should fix the issue promptly.
It’s really important that you correctly diagnose all headlight problems otherwise you will waste your money. If your headlight range control is not working properly and you are in receipt of a warning message, you can contact xenons4u to have a replacement part or to diagnose the particular issue to fix it professionally.
