Strange lighting issues 4.4 2004

Well its normally me sticking my nose in to other peoples problems so now it's my turn again for an issue.

2004 4.4 petrol, i have been getting some warnings up on the dash panel like, check rear fog light, check main beam, check rear light and also on occasionan the left or right indicators will flash really fast but they are all working including the repeaters and then just go back to normal after a while.

I have run all comms and cleared a few different faults and have copied the light check module screen shot below.

Its been really wet and i jet washed it last week which i never normally do but there was mud caked under all the arches.

Coincidence or have i stuffed myself?

i do have a leak in the boot that has come back but i can trace that from the rear panel where i put the tow bar on which i thought i had sorted but i can't see it gets in anywhere other than sits under the compressor.

The back lights are all dry around their wiring as i took them both out

I clear all the faults, drive around the block and i get a bing and a dash warning or the indicators go crazy again although the light check module didn't show any faults the second time after such a short trip.

Any ideas much appreciated as always ?

The Headlamp levelling module is mounted on the Left hand A pillar and has been known to suffer water ingress.....the LCM is mounted on the Right Hand A Pillar so logic would suggest if the LH can suffer water, the RH can too....

Check both....

I thought the LCM was mounted under the passengers seat along with the BCM ??

Thanks Ant, good weekend?

i didn't check the headlamp levelling module on the all comms as i didnt think i had one, i think i was thinking of the cornering headlights on the later models

stand by, got to catch a mouse in my kitchen, things have been pretty tight since i got the rangey so you have to eat when you can

2.0_hippo said:

I thought the LCM was mounted under the passengers seat along with the BCM ??

Click to expand...

Rave says LCM behind drivers A panel, next to my pond probably...

2.0_hippo said:

I thought the LCM was mounted under the passengers seat along with the BCM ??

Click to expand...

No tucked up the side of the dash....might have a photo...one sec

EDIT: Nope only a pic of it already out....

Cheers mate, i'll whip that out tomorrow, i checked on the headlight level in all comms and didn't show any faults but i do have a couple of new ones in the LCM which was front left sidelight fault and right side repeater.
its got to be something in the brain as its chasing itself around the whole car.
i knew it was short lived.

The other thing it is doing more today that normal is when i turn the key to start i get a clunk like its tried to turn the engine but gave up after one rev, turn off and back on and it goes almost every time, some times i need to do it twice. it has happened about 6 times since i had it but this weekend its done it about 4 times alone.
i am guessing the starter doesn't like the cold but could be related ?

holidaychicken said:

Thanks Ant, good weekend?

i didn't check the headlamp levelling module on the all comms as i didnt think i had one, i think i was thinking of the cornering headlights on the later models

stand by, got to catch a mouse in my kitchen, things have been pretty tight since i got the rangey so you have to eat when you can

Click to expand...

holidaychicken said:

Rave says LCM behind drivers A panel, next to my pond probably...

Click to expand...

Not bad Andy cheers....yesterday went for a walk in the rain to get the baby to sleep (She likes a ride in the pram) and today was the F1 Final...

Hope you catch the mouse, sprinkle with Dill, lightly rub in some extra virgin olive oil and bake under a high grill for 7 minutes...works a treat!

Saint.V8 said:

Not bad Andy cheers....yesterday went for a walk in the rain to get the baby to sleep (She likes a ride in the pram) and today was the F1 Final...

Hope you catch the mouse, sprinkle with Dill, lightly rub in some extra virgin olive oil and bake under a high grill for 7 minutes...works a treat!

Click to expand...

Sounds ideal and range rover free, you have to have a balance, i shot some clays yesterday, that tends to iron out a few wrinkles.

Regarding the mouse, he is still at large...

Tune in tomorrow for an update

Thanks all

Well here goes, problem hasn't fixed itself.
Checked the LCM, all looked dry.

Checked behind the passenger A panel and couldn't see the headlight levelling ECU, there was a wet look to the floor pan area under the carpet in the corner but not soaking.

Interesting the headlight levelling ECU wont connect to the all comms, just returns error in bottom right of panel. see attached.

Pulled a couple of the same errors as yesterday from the LCM with all comms, see attached pic, side marker defective and ECU transistor fault ? attached pic

The HID left and right show voltages of <7.5 volts, same as yesterday again on pic.

This all started yesterday in the rain with the lights on but i don't think i had driven it for a while needing lights so maybe this problem is older than i think

In the most recent past, i jet washed it last week.

i fitted osram nightbreakers to the front main beam 2 weeks ago.

i fitted canbus LED sidelights about 2 months ago, the off side one is flickering ?

it has canbus number plate LEDS which have been on for 3 months + i guess.

if i sit in it with the engine running no warnings come up on the display. if i turn on the lights, it can take quite a while then i get the bing noise and it shows up check rear fog lights and then sometimes check front lights but all the lights are ok, the longer i drive it, the more warnings ping up for different lights along with fast flashing indicators sometimes and can be either side, it can be random combinations of any of the light warning messages.

i do also have a faultmate extreme if thats any help but the all comms is very user friendly

anything ring any alarm bells with anyone ?





Any thoughts are much appreciated

Hmmmm

Do you have Xenon Head lamps?? if not you won't have the levelling ECU as it was only fitted to the HID/Xenon version. Also if you do have HID/Xenon lamps, often the Leveling ECU is removed as it is notorious for causing CANbus errors when it gets wet!

As an aside, (when mine would connect to diagnostics) I would get the 7.5V warning too....

Have you tried replacing the CANbus LEDs with filament lamps and see if you still have issues??

Also I have a spare LCM on my desk at work you are welcome to try. Bought off ebay about a month ago to see if it would cure my lack of diagnostics...but when fitted, it was still the same!

Curiously, it did report brake lamps failed when plugged in, but put the original back and no warnings!

You will get the 'Manipulation' warning up on the dash (small dot in the Mileage display) this indicates that a ECU has been replaced and not programmed to the vehicle, once you put the original LCM back the dot goes again!

Not sure if the LCMs are programmed differently for Halogen and HID/Xenon lamps ..... I have Xenons and it worked on mine, if you have Halogens, not sure if it would work as it may need to be told your setup...but again, welcome to try it!

Hi mate, thanks for coming back.
I do have Xenon head lamps but I don't know if i would see levelling motors, I would guess they are tucked under the light units.

I could have a better look for the Leveling ECU, had a brilliant visual migraine at the time so my vision was a bit limited.

When i have checked all through All Comms in the past i haven't had anything return an error, is this a recent addition to All Comms by any chance ?

I think after checking for the leveling ECU again, I'll will swap out all the LED's as you suggest.

Many thanks for the offer of trying the LCM, may well be worth a try if I am stuck, could i reprogram it with faultmate do you know ?

Any ideas on the transistor fault, that is definitely a new one on me ?

Thanks for your help mate, i get the feeling we are not a million miles away with the faults we both have, its odd mine is ok for about ten minutes of driving and then it starts chucking ****e at me but i am very glad i can still connect

@ Saint,

I was just having a scan around regarding the leveling ECU and stumbled across a thread that had the same problem with not scanning on the OBD port like you along with other gremlins then i realised the next person to post was you. I am guessing you have renewed your leveling ECU ?

Post is below

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/obd-problem-246557.html

Bit of an update if anyone is following, i am pretty certain i don't have the leveling ECU. i looked through the info page on the faultmate software and it says on there they stopped fitting them after a few years of introduction due to all the problems.

The faultmate didn't detect one when i scanned it originally as it didnt load a module for it and also the all comms doesn't detect it and looking at where it should be there is no evidence that i ever had one

My next step is to remove all the LED bulbs and replace with normal and possibly the nightbreaker main beams, then onto the LCM..well more to the point, Saint's LCM

chicken, when the front bulb warnings come up, does it say "check main beam" or "check side lights" ?

i have seen check rear fog light for definite and i think i had just check front lights but in the all comms pic a few posts up i had something about a transistor fault and side marker.

The indicators do randomly flash fast as if a bulb is out but when i am driving it throws up a few different check light faults.

All the lights are working fine although i have noticed the front off side LED sidelight is flickering slightly

Just to close off this post hopefully.

Checked into the leveling ECU, wasn't fitted to my car, regarding VIN, see pic from rave as could still be a problem for some.

I removed my LED canbus front sidelight bulbs but the problem persisted.

I replaced my number plate C5W / 239 bulbs with chavtastic canbus LED bulbs about 6 months ago and although they have been working fine, when i looked into them they had started to burn and swell and when i checked into the holder, there was a very strong smell of burning and the holder behind the bulb had burnt through the plastic which i am guessing was caused by the LED bulbs.

i have removed them and replaced with normal filament bulbs and the warnings have ceased. I will clear the faults with the All Comms and hopefully that's the end of it.

Amazing the amount of errors it caused and interestingly not one of them relating to the number plate lights.

Fecking aces Andy, well done for keeping a cool head and systematically checking stuff before going further.....

Top chap!

Cheers Ant, its definitely sorted, been out in it today and its fine, lucky it didn't catch fire.

I'll wait and see what the ebay seller has to say before posting the item on here. They wasn't the cheapest, about £10 and claimed to be the best.

Live and learn