How to headlight repair stype FAQ
#101
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Well - it happened - after hitting the "invisible" pothole my R light went down... And thanks to Brutal and Vance - it was back up within a few minutes.. Thank you guys - that's why I love this forum...
For all the skeptics there - the fix works great - makes the light work as brand new - including self adjustment... And a warning - watch for a potholes - those lights don't like them at all... Happy motoring.
For all the skeptics there - the fix works great - makes the light work as brand new - including self adjustment... And a warning - watch for a potholes - those lights don't like them at all... Happy motoring.
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#102
#103
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I must also give thanks to both brutal and vance. I bought my STR in the daylight and didnt realize these were even broke till I drove it last night and noticed they both pointed to the ground. I seen this thread before i noticed the drooping, so i just said wtf, and had a small chuckle.
less then 5 minutes later Everything is back where it should be and it didnt cost me a dime since i have alot of different screws in my shop at work. I used an 8/32 1" screw and it worked like a charm.
less then 5 minutes later Everything is back where it should be and it didnt cost me a dime since i have alot of different screws in my shop at work. I used an 8/32 1" screw and it worked like a charm.
#105
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Fantastic information here! Damn glad I found it. I recently had the drivers side assembly replaced after I was struck by a suicidal deer. Since being repaired, the self leveling lamps have quit working and provide little help at night. I check the connectors to high beam just like in video and neither are broken. Will the screw fix work for me or am I looking at reprogramming or what? Thanks for the help and if I missed the answer for this in previous post, sorry for wasting your time.
#106
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Damon /Houston, Texas
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#107
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Fantastic information here! Damn glad I found it. I recently had the drivers side assembly replaced after I was struck by a suicidal deer. Since being repaired, the self leveling lamps have quit working and provide little help at night. I check the connectors to high beam just like in video and neither are broken. Will the screw fix work for me or am I looking at reprogramming or what? Thanks for the help and if I missed the answer for this in previous post, sorry for wasting your time.
#108
#110
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After about 9 months of ownership, due to "brutal" roads, my brutal fixed headlights w/1" screws failed...Somehow, the screw tip bored itself into the tab causing them to settle where they wanted, drooping downward...One "tab" broke yet I can still fix it...
So for a more permanent fix, force a screw through the headlamp, remove it, grind down the head...Or drill a pilot hole and a bolt vs a screw with a point...
So for a more permanent fix, force a screw through the headlamp, remove it, grind down the head...Or drill a pilot hole and a bolt vs a screw with a point...
The following users liked this post:
Staatsof (01-09-2012)
#112
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Damon /Houston, Texas
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After about 9 months of ownership, due to "brutal" roads, my brutal fixed headlights w/1" screws failed...Somehow, the screw tip bored itself into the tab causing them to settle where they wanted, drooping downward...One "tab" broke yet I can still fix it...
So for a more permanent fix, force a screw through the headlamp, remove it, grind down the head...Or drill a pilot hole and a bolt vs a screw with a point...
So for a more permanent fix, force a screw through the headlamp, remove it, grind down the head...Or drill a pilot hole and a bolt vs a screw with a point...
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#114
#115
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at the point that more than the center adjuster post breaks. I recommend buying a headlight repair kit avail from motorcars and or ebayers. just heat the light in the oven for 10 mintues at 175* and pull apart the clear plastic lens from the housing and install new pieces in the kit. theyre made with much better non crumbling engineered plastic![Smile](https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
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Thanks for any help you can provide.
#116
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#117
#118
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: PHX some of the time
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Would you have a link to one or more of these kits? I'm searching eBay and google and nothing comes up that looks like a repair kit for the weak adjust plastic parts. Maybe I'm not using the correct search terms but any help would be appreciated as I think both horizontal and vertical adjusters are broken on my light. Left halogen assembly is actually aiming way high compared to right which looks normal, and there's lots of sloppy movement when pressing the back of the high beam rubber covers.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
#119
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#120
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Thank you so much for coming up with this repair for the headlights! The dealer wanted $3000 to replace both headlight assemblies. Luckily a another forum member was at the dealer when I was there and showed me your post, pictures, and the youtube video.
I do not normally do my own auto repair. I am handy with a drill and screwdriver though. It took me ten minutes and a package of screws for $1.26 from the hardward store to fix my headlights following your instructions. I did drill a small pilot hole and then screwed in the screw.
Obviously Jaguar management does not understand that they would retain more customers by offering known fixes than gouging you for repairs. I love my car, but will probably never buy another Jaguar.
By the way, on the same trip they wanted $6000 to repair the climate control (Total of $10K on a 2004 car...). Jeff at Jaguar Climate Control did that repair for me for $299 including shipping. All I had to do was take the unit out and put it back in above the glove compartment. So for $300.26, great internet help, and less than an hour total, a non-automotive savy female repaired both problems! And thank you Cliff for advising me of both fixes!
I do not normally do my own auto repair. I am handy with a drill and screwdriver though. It took me ten minutes and a package of screws for $1.26 from the hardward store to fix my headlights following your instructions. I did drill a small pilot hole and then screwed in the screw.
Obviously Jaguar management does not understand that they would retain more customers by offering known fixes than gouging you for repairs. I love my car, but will probably never buy another Jaguar.
By the way, on the same trip they wanted $6000 to repair the climate control (Total of $10K on a 2004 car...). Jeff at Jaguar Climate Control did that repair for me for $299 including shipping. All I had to do was take the unit out and put it back in above the glove compartment. So for $300.26, great internet help, and less than an hour total, a non-automotive savy female repaired both problems! And thank you Cliff for advising me of both fixes!