Outdoor lighting — description and operating principle (Focus 1)

Headlight adjustment

Element	X value
Traditional design headlights	X = 12 cm/10 m = 0 degrees 41 minutes = 1.2%
Xenon headlights	X = 10 cm/10 m = 0 degrees 34 minutes = 1.0%
Fog lights	X = 22 cm/10 m = 1 degree 16 minutes = 2.2%

Tightening torque specifications

Name	Nm	pound-foot	pound-inch
Headlight assembly mounting bolts	5	-	44

Regular headlight up to model year 2002

The front side lights are built into the headlight housing and cannot be removed separately. The headlight is equipped with a H4L-50/55 W bulb for low beam and high beam.

The complex reflector shape provides a very high intensity light beam.

Plastic is used to make headlight diffusers because it is lighter in weight and easier to shape.

The turn signal in the bumper is equipped with a transparent P-21W lamp.

Regular headlight from 2002 model year onwards

NOTE: When replacing the bulb, do not use a regular H1 or H7 bulb, but a bulb with a special coating to avoid yellowing of the inside of the plastic lens.

Front side lights and direction indicators are integrated into the headlight housing. The headlight has an H7 bulb for low beam and an H1 bulb for high beam and headlight signaling.

Gas discharge headlights from 2002 model year onwards

Gas discharge headlights are offered as an option, the low beam is provided by a 35-watt gas discharge lamp. The gas discharge lamp burns three times brighter than a conventional H7 lamp.

The headlight consists of the following elements:

• Headlight housing
• Headlight housing cover
• Gas discharge lamp for low and high beam
• Halogen lamps for high beam and headlight signaling
• Turn signal lamp
• Parking light lamp
• Headlight control motor
• Starter
• Electronic control unit

Action

WARNING: Voltages up to 30 kV may occur.

Similar to sunlight, the light produced contains a high proportion of green and blue light.

Due to the special design of the socket and the diffuser, the range is significantly improved and the coverage is wider. This results in better illumination of the road edge without exceeding the limit for glare.

An additional advantage of the selected light distribution is a softer light-dark boundary. Too strong a light-dark contrast can lead to disturbing changes in the road lighting when driving. Gas discharge headlights make a decisive contribution to increasing active safety.

The full light intensity of a gas discharge headlamp is achieved within one minute after it is turned on. Therefore, special electronic equipment is needed to ensure immediate action when used in automobiles.

The glass bulb of a gas discharge lamp is filled with xenon and a mixture of metal halide salts.

A short high voltage of 20 kV ignites the gas between two electrodes. After a short phase of ultra-high current, during which an arc of light is present, the power of the lamp is regulated electronically to 35 W.

The lamp wear is so low that the service life of the gas discharge lamp corresponds to the entire service life of the car.

The side lights and direction indicators are integrated into the headlight housing.

Headlight beam adjustment - gas discharge headlights

Vehicles with gas discharge headlights are required by law to have an automatic headlight leveling system.



The system includes the following elements:

• Ride height sensors for cars on the front and rear axles
• Main control module on the left headlight housing
• Working control module on the right headlight housing
• Electric motors for headlight leveling in both headlight housings

In order not to blind oncoming traffic, when the ignition is turned on, an adjustment is made depending on the vehicle load.

No adjustment is performed during dynamic processes (braking, acceleration, starting).

NOTE: After performing work affecting the headlamp leveling sensors, the headlamp leveling system must be recalibrated and initialized using WDS.

The vehicle's ride height sensors on the front and rear axles send a load-dependent signal to the main control module. Based on the difference between the two signals, the module calculates the optimum beam angle and sends the necessary data to the operating module. Based on the actual and desired positions of the headlight reflectors, both modules generate control signals for the headlight beam angle correction motors.

When the low beam is switched on, the system compares the actual load with the initial setting. This reduces the illumination of the road and prevents dazzling oncoming traffic.

Headlight leveling system - regular headlights

NOTE: The basic headlight adjustment should always be performed with the headlight leveling switch in the "0" position

Each headlight has an actuator motor that can be activated using a switch. The motor moves the headlight's rotating reflector to the desired position using an adjusting shaft.



The headlight leveling switch has two positions. In position "0" the switch is latched, this is the basic setting. In position "4" the headlights are deflected to the maximum angle.

The headlight leveling system is operated by DC motors. The voltage is supplied via a potentiometer combined with the headlight leveling switch (required value). Using the same principle, the actuator in the motor generates a voltage dependent on the position of the adjusting shaft.

The desired value (switch setting) and the actual value (adjustment shaft) are compared. Depending on the voltage difference, the reflector moves up or down until the voltage values are equal.

For safety reasons, if the signal is absent or implausible, the system switches to low beam.

Headlight washer system

On vehicles with gas discharge headlights, a headlight washing system is required by law. It is a high-pressure washer system.

The non-adjustable nozzle holder is located in the bumper. With the headlights on, as soon as the windshield washers are activated, the telescopic nozzle holder extends and cleans the outer surface of the headlight (plastic diffuser) using a high-pressure jet.

An additional high-pressure pump for the high-pressure washer system is installed on the washer fluid reservoir.

Element	Name
1	Lid
2	Nozzle holder

Differences provided for the Scandinavian markets

Daytime running lights, which are low beam headlights with reduced brightness, must be turned on when the ignition is turned on. The daytime running lights system includes

• Daytime running lights relay,
• Resistance for low beam mode,
• Three diodes for daytime running lights.

The voltage reduction in the low beam lamps is achieved by connecting the low beam lamps in series or by a preliminary resistor, i.e. a low beam resistor of reduced brightness. In this way, the brightness of the low beam is reduced.

When the parking lights or headlights are turned on via the light switch, the daytime running lights relay is pulled in and breaks the circuit through the low beam dimming resistor. When the light switch is in the "Headlights" position, the low beam lamps receive their voltage via the low beam relay and glow at full brightness.

Daytime running light diodes only allow current to flow in one direction when the light switch is turned on, since otherwise the light switch would have a series of contacts shorted that are not required for the daytime running lights.

Procedure if there is a complaint about condensation forming inside the plastic lens of the headlight or if the plastic lens of the headlight is broken.

NOTE: It is normal for a small amount of condensation to form on the inside of the plastic lens of the headlight, this will disappear after the headlight is turned on. If the headlight does not dry out after being turned on for 15 minutes, check the production date of the headlight. If the production date is between 08/01/98 and 09/30/98, install a new headlight cover shutter. The production date can be found by the eight-digit number on the white label on the top of the headlight. The last four digits indicate the day and month.

Due to the stresses caused by fixing the headlight, a crack may appear in the plastic headlight, allowing moisture to penetrate into the headlight. If this is the case, both headlights should be removed. Defective headlights should be replaced and may require modification. When installing the headlight, reduce the number of fixing points. For more information, refer to the chapter Removing and installing headlights in this section.