The headlights on my 2.0 SportNav are supposed to turn in the direction of steering to aid visibility when going round corners. Their operation was quite obvious until recently. You could even see them reset themselves when you first start up the car. They don’t now seem to be working. I noticed this first when on the road when turning at junctions in that they did not seem to follow the steering angle. I also noticed that they seem to be pointing to much to the nearside and do not seem to reset when staring the car. With the car static, engine running and headlights on, when i turn the steering from lock to lock there is no movement of the headlights beams. Just another of those features that you don’t really need but which are infuriating when they stop working!
The car is booked in next week to have them checked but I just wondered if anyone else has had or has this issue?
Turning into junctions can be illuminated by an extra bulb on some cars, the mx5 is getting that function with the new headights as part of the 2018 update.
SnapperMike: I have checked the AFS is switched on. It is done through the Vehicle Tools menu on the Mazda Connect infotainment system.
AndyMk2: It used to work with the vehicle stationary. I could see the headlight beams moving on the garage door as I put lock on (whilst stationary) to maneuver out of the drive.
Nope. Mine only has the “Lane Departure Warning”, “Tyre Pressure Monitor Reset” and “Stability/Traction Control”. The AFS is accessed by the Mazda Connect system. I have checked that it was switched on, which it was and I have switched it “Off” and also “Reset” all the Light system controls to “Factory Settings” and none of these made any difference. I will see what the dealer says next week and report back. Thanks for all your advice.
On our 2016 3 yes it does, if the vehicle is stationary they wont move, once in a blue moon they might adjust when first turned on, normally they’re in line and don’t need to I guess…
I had this function on a previous car (Skoda Yet I) if you switched the lighting to ’ driving on the right’ it would disable the steering headlights. But it is one of those things you didn’t know you needed until you have it - and boy do I miss it on my Santa Fe round dark winter lanes!
Guys, took my car to the dealers to check and everything is functioning fine. Would you believe you have to have your seat-belt on for the steering headlights function to work! I must admit I feel a bit of a plonker. The dealer was very understanding! Never mind, now we know! Honestly I don’t drive around with my seat-belt off.
Hi I mentioned to my mrs that the lights don’t seem to be turning the other day but forgot about it. after reading your post I nipped outside to check it with the seatbelt fastened I couldn’t make them work so went into the settings on the screen & it was selected so i deselected then reset nothing. So you are not a Plonker but I might be .
Only a thought, I don’t have these…but the DRLs for example only work when the car is moving…except that they take several seconds to go off when stopped and in that circumstance they will work when stationary. Could that account for both First Rider’s observation that they work when stationary, and yours that they don’t?
Not entirely surprised. It’s the way things are going. A number of functions on my Audi A3 require the drivers door to be closed and the drivers seat belt to be clipped before they work. I can see some logic for the door to be closed but, as you say, I’m not going to drive without the seatbelt. As another example, I found out the other week that the wipers on my pal’s VW won’t operate unless the bonnet is fully closed. That confused us for a while. Google is wonderful!
Went for a great drive in the MX5 over Kirkstone Pass today. Wildly variable weather conditions. Glorious blue sky one side, raging blizzards the other! Anyway I washed the car when we got back as it was covered in road salt (probably as we always seemed to be following gritting lorries) and when I had finished and went to move it, seat belt OFF, the headlights beams on the garage door definitely moved moved when I turned the steering whilst stationary (as I remembered)! Very puzzling. The dealers did have my car and were working on it for an hour and half while I waited. It does seem a long time for them to keep my car in the service bay just to tell me the headlights don’t operate unless the seatbelt on. Very strange
I had the self-adjusting headlights on the Merc C class I’ve just replaced. I had the car for nearly 8 months before I even realised they were there and working (car was secondhand so I hadn’t selected the option). I’ve driven down many a dark country lane and never found them remotely more helpful than standard fixed headlights. The car I’ve just bought doesn’t have them either and it’s absolutely fine. The one thing that was good on both the old and new car is that at slow speed when you turn into a junction ie a 90 deg turn an extra sidelight comes on to further illuminate the road. Now that I do find helpful. As for adjustable headlights, well that’s just one more gadget that can go wrong and cost you an arm and leg to fix so good riddance I say…
Totally agree with you there Pete. As for mine, I think they are going to drive me nuts! Are they working? Are they not working? Not sure whether they are working or not. If they are not working I am really annoyed as I have paid for them Etc, etc.
I have driven cars with steering related headlights - not overly impressed with any benefits that I could see however my HDJ80 Land Cruiser (sorely missed) had three front lights. A dip beam a high beam and an outer corner light that illuminated each side when indicating with headlights on, superb and simple - especially when trying to find an entrance in the dark. Image below wasn’t my vehicle.
