The springs on my load leveling sensor keep getting corroded. This time I sprayed them with contact cleaner and then dipped them in dielectric grease so hopefully they won't go bad again, but I fear they might. It looks like there was some kind of anti corrosive treatment on them which was removed when I cleaned them off.
View 1 RepliesI just got the warning symbol that mine has failed, so I'm thinking of trying the repair myself, too. But I thought I'd ask here: how have people's repairs held up? Have you had to go back and eventually replace it? Is there anything you wish you had done differently when you repaired it?
On a related note, I see that the Toyota Service Bulletin for this problem instructs the mechanic to "Perform the Headlight Leveling ECU Initialization procedure using the SST" and then to "Perform the Headlight Aim Only procedure." This doesn't seem like something an individual can do without specialized equipment / knowledge. Is there a way to do it? Is it unnecessary?
First a bit of history: About a year ago, I received the headlight leveling system warnings comprising a red triangle alert with exclamation point in the middle located on the dash, combined with a yellow(ish) warning symbol on the center stack display comprising what looks like a headlight with up and down pointing arrows. Eventually, the warning lights went out, but the HID headlamps were left pointing in a down position that lit barely 10 ft in front of the car.. This is is supposedly their default position when the sensor breaks, most commonly due to moisture entering the sensor innards resulting in corrosion of the contact points. I effected the repair quoted elsewhere on this forum, and it was good to go.
View 7 RepliesMy 2005 Prius with around 60K has the occasional Headlight Leveling Warning Light. My question is how serious is this? Do I need to go to the dealer or can I wait on it? The lights still work fine.
View 1 RepliesMy '05 Prius with just 16k miles on it just started displaying the red triangle with exclamation mark (multifunction warning lamp?). It displays about every 3 times I start the car... The Info screen shows the icon for the Automatic Headlight Leveling System. So Ive been searching, and have found a few threads related to this, but the fix Ive seen referenced I cannot find since the posts referencing the fix are about 5 yrs old. Exactly where on the car I can find the sensor, and how it can be fixed?
View 19 RepliesI had read that the auto leveling only works when you first turn on the lights. But, I have caught mine doing it in traffic. When I come to a stop behind a car, a second after the front end bounces back, I notice the beams dip down half of an inch, on the car in front of me. I have seen this a few times. Seems the auto level feature is always at work. Is this new for 2012?
View 5 RepliesThe auto leveling warning light has come on a couple of time now on my daughters 04 rx330. The lights do adjust when vehicle is started so the motors are working. I assume this leaves the sensor? I will also note that the lights are operated in the "auto" mode and the warning light has come on when just the daytime running lights are on. If this sounds like a sensor issue, great, probably a fix that I can take care of. 1st question, is there a sensor front and rear? And for question #2, where is it or they located?
View 1 RepliesI am the original owner of a 2006 Prius with 265k miles. I use Mobil 5-30 synthetic oil and I drive a steep hill every day and the engine knocks in the summer afternoons when I use cheap 87 Octane gasoline from Safeway or Costco. If I use better 87 octane gasoline (Chevron, Shell) generally there is less knocking. Also during the winter months no knocking even with cheap gasoline.
During summer I can sometimes make the knocking go away by accelerating or decelerating. The knocking is intermittent and generally occurs only during the steepest parts of the commute. The engine might knock for 30 seconds to 60 seconds before its goes away as I try to change the engine RPM.
Unfortunately I am burning some oil at a rate of approximately half a quart every 5k miles. Generally I watch the oil level, but there have been cases where the oil level has fallen below the lowest mark on the dip stick so I suspect I have some carbon build up.
I've read posts where others have used additives like gumout regane and I've read posts that say not to use additives.
I have an 06 with 105000 miles. Since about 95000, I've been starting to get what sounds like a fuel knock with medium-high load on the engine. Thought it was carbon at first, but a few applications of Techron didn't clear it. Higher octane does seem to solve it.
Do the knock sensors go bad on a Prius? What's the proper way to diagnose the knock sensor on a Prius? (can't exactly bang on the block with a wrench at idle and listen for fuel adjustments on a car that doesn't idle).
The dealership states that this is not a big problem and that the headlights will not be affected but the malfunction light stays on and the exclamation point is on the dashboard. The fix: replace the rear sensor harness where corrosion on the connection and pin was found - new harness assembly needed. What about just replacing the pin? Dealer states you cannot cut the wire and replace because the wires are not sealed.
View 2 RepliesI put on a leveling kit a few months ago and pretty much replaced a lot of worn out parts in the front fenders. With the exception of lower control arms, shocks and springs. Just about everything else that moved was replaced I think.
Well now it seems like every time I hit a decent bump in the road my truck jumps to the side. It's very noticeable if I'm going around a corner and hit a bump. The steering wheel is thrown from side to side so I'm fairly certain that the issue is up front but don't really know where to start looking.
The truck may have done this before the leveling kit but it's very exaggerated now. It's so bad at times that my husband won't drive it.
I'm not too familiar with the difference between lift kits and leveling kits. I want to lift my truck 2" but in doing research do i need get a lift kit and a leveling kit? For the front and the back? I have a 2006 F150 4.6 V8 RWD I also haven't been able to find any good places to but the kits (also because I don't know what all i may need) It would be ideal to get a kit i can bolt on myself.
View 1 RepliesI've noticed, maybe a handful of times in the 5k miles I've owned the car, that the engine will rattle excessively for maybe 30 seconds or so on a drive. This only happens during high load/low speeds and I think after the engine has been off for at least about 10-15 minutes. It doesn't happen on start up, only after the car is warm, but hasn't been using the engine for a bit. I'm thinking this is fuel enrichment (really rough running) because the cat has cooled.
View 6 RepliesGuess all the speed bumps in Scotland have finally taken its toll after 145,000 miles back right spring is broken at the top and the back left is cracked and about to break as well. Getting both springs replaced but wondering if it is needed to the shocks as well?
View 2 RepliesIs it necessary to get new shocks/coilovers when installing lowering springs? (and other concerns)
View 12 RepliesWhat additional parts should I be replacing when I do this? Spring seats, bump stops, etc?
View 12 RepliesI just had some H&R springs installed and my front suspension is making a funny noise.
It sounds like the front springs are clanking around..
My Ex has a ProComp 6" lift that was installed in 2004 (it's an 03) and it seems that the rear springs are worn out and sagging. I'm assuming the lift used the stock springs and blocks. I haven't measured but I'd say the rear is 1" - 2"s lower in the back. Question is should I replace the springs with stock ones? Maybe get springs that'll give me some lift and remove the blocks? Airbag it?
View 14 RepliesLooking for the answer to this question. This could possibly save me some money.
View 19 RepliesSo I noticed the other day whenever I go over bumps there is a rusty noise from the driver side rear spring/shocks. I don't hear this noise during normal driving just when going over bumps. What it is? I drive it everyday and the car has 53k miles.
View 1 RepliesI have a 2006 Prius with about 152000 miles. About 2 weeks ago we got new tires and an oil change before a long road trip. the next day the Check Engine light came on. I took the car back to Firestone the next day and they were complete jerks about even checking the light for me, but eventually read the code for me P505 Idle Air control sensor. They swore it was a minor error and after some online investigating, I decided that at least we could drive the trip and then get it fixed when we got back.
On the way back home, the light went out. The next few days it was fine, then CEL comes back on, p505 and also 1220 I believe. That same night - the light went back off.
A few more days of no light then BAM saturday midnight Red Triangle of doom (!) and the car stalls.
After a couple of resets, I was able to start the car again and decided to drive home instead of the dealer. On Monday on the way to the dealer, the car stalled and would not come back to life.