Gen2 OEM HID Levelling Issue

[studum]

Hey guys, first real issue with my 3. 2010 GT non-tech package so OEM HID with manual motorized levellers, not AFS.

My right side headlight is pointed up and will not adjust height via the height adjustment controller on the dash. No sound at the headlight when adjusting the height vs the driver's side which is clearly audible.

Tried doing some reading up on it but it doesn't seem like too common of an issue yet. I found how to manually point down via the 8mm hex headed gear under the plastic cap at the back of the headlight - I've got it as low as I can get it but it's still noticeably higher than the driver's side. A lot better, but I'm still worried it's too high for oncoming traffic.

The lower plastic gear, which I believe is the motor itself, did nothing for height adjustment that I could tell.

I read that there's 3 wires that work the height motor and 2 of them should have voltage: I found a green, yellow and black going to that spot on the headlight. Tested the lines and black has continuity to ground, and there's slightly different voltage on the green and yellow lines to ground (I believe one was ~11.5V and the other was ~12.5V with the car off and the lights on). All other lighting functions work 100%. The only other thing I read there was that if I have power on both wires it's the motor itself, I didn't read anything about specs.

For those who know, does it look like my headlight adjuster is pooched? Can the motor alone be replaced or does the whole assembly need swapped out?

I didn't have a chance to call dealers during business hours for pricing yet but I've had two quotes for after-market OEM equivalent assemblies for $405 and $450. RockAuto is $450 US plus conversion, taxes, shipping for a part that's equivalent to OEM# BBM51031, whereas my headlight is tagged BBM51030 and I don't know what the difference is. Partsource can't compare to my OEM part number and I have to pay up front so I'm hesitant, but I told them it's OEM HID non-auto levelling and the say their description from a 3rd party vendor is HID non-skyactive, non auto levelling. Of course they won't give me the vendor they got a hold of... Napa can only get the halogen unit. Unfortunately I'm well out of warranty at 121km right now, bought the car used a year and a half ago with 70km on it and didn't buy extended warranty.

I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing here. I haven't compared line voltages that go to the height motors on the other side of the car as it was late and dark. Was hoping I wouldn't have to fix a newer used car so soon but shit happens I guess.

Any help / advice / experience is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Canadianbacon]

I always keep mine pointed the highest

[Hyperion]

I always keep mine pointed the highest
Please google how to properly aim your headlights

[Hyperion]

Hey guys, first real issue with my 3. 2010 GT non-tech package so OEM HID with manual motorized levellers, not AFS.

My right side headlight is pointed up and will not adjust height via the height adjustment controller on the dash. No sound at the headlight when adjusting the height vs the driver's side which is clearly audible.

Tried doing some reading up on it but it doesn't seem like too common of an issue yet. I found how to manually point down via the 8mm hex headed gear under the plastic cap at the back of the headlight - I've got it as low as I can get it but it's still noticeably higher than the driver's side. A lot better, but I'm still worried it's too high for oncoming traffic.

The lower plastic gear, which I believe is the motor itself, did nothing for height adjustment that I could tell.

I read that there's 3 wires that work the height motor and 2 of them should have voltage: I found a green, yellow and black going to that spot on the headlight. Tested the lines and black has continuity to ground, and there's slightly different voltage on the green and yellow lines to ground (I believe one was ~11.5V and the other was ~12.5V with the car off and the lights on). All other lighting functions work 100%. The only other thing I read there was that if I have power on both wires it's the motor itself, I didn't read anything about specs.

For those who know, does it look like my headlight adjuster is pooched? Can the motor alone be replaced or does the whole assembly need swapped out?

I didn't have a chance to call dealers during business hours for pricing yet but I've had two quotes for after-market OEM equivalent assemblies for $405 and $450. RockAuto is $450 US plus conversion, taxes, shipping for a part that's equivalent to OEM# BBM51031, whereas my headlight is tagged BBM51030 and I don't know what the difference is. Partsource can't compare to my OEM part number and I have to pay up front so I'm hesitant, but I told them it's OEM HID non-auto levelling and the say their description from a 3rd party vendor is HID non-skyactive, non auto levelling. Of course they won't give me the vendor they got a hold of... Napa can only get the halogen unit. Unfortunately I'm well out of warranty at 121km right now, bought the car used a year and a half ago with 70km on it and didn't buy extended warranty.

I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing here. I haven't compared line voltages that go to the height motors on the other side of the car as it was late and dark. Was hoping I wouldn't have to fix a newer used car so soon but shit happens I guess.

Any help / advice / experience is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Those assemblies you buy on rockauto do NOT come with the motors or wires. Which is why they are so cheap. And I'm pretty sure the ones you're looking at do not have AFS, as those are closer to $700+ for just the assemblies.
Unless you can find a used set somewhere and buy that, you will probably have to buy a complete new headlight from the dealer.

[Booter22]

I always keep mine pointed the highest


Please google how to properly aim your headlights

yes please aim them correct. nothing worst then being in front of some jack ass with lights that look like highbeams behind you. just makes you want to get out and punch them

[Booter22]

I always keep mine pointed the highest


Please google how to properly aim your headlights


Those assemblies you buy on rockauto do NOT come with the motors or wires. Which is why they are so cheap. And I'm pretty sure the ones you're looking at do not have AFS, as those are closer to $700+ for just the assemblies.
Unless you can find a used set somewhere and buy that, you will probably have to buy a complete new headlight from the dealer.

could he not remove the levelers and manual adjust them to a level and leave them be. save some money that way if possible. and you don't need levers those things are stupid. even the lights that go side to side when you turn.. give me a break.

[Hyperion]

Yea he could. Just has to remember to unplug it all.

[studum]

Yea he could. Just has to remember to unplug it all.

I am not opposed to this, at least until I can find a used one.

I was afraid that it wouldn't come with motor via aftermarket.

I have them pointed as low as possible by the main adjuster right now but it's still too high. If I unplug the motor how can I further adjust?

Thanks for the help guys

[Hyperion]

The motor actually just turns another one of those knobs. You would have to take the headlight out to do the job. Might be pretty tricky. Also would have to find a way to seal it up.

[studum]

Hmm ok thanks. Might be worth a try this weekend if it's FUBAR anyways. Confirmed voltages to the motor are the same right to left side. Black is a solid ground as well. Green wire is always about 12.5v. Yellow wire goes from about 11.3v at dial position 0 to about 5v at dial position 3. Definitely looks like the motor, or its linkage. (Outside playing with it now)

[studum]

Ok so I'm good for now, at least until I can find a good used headlight or see if a replacement motor is available on its own. Your guys thoughts were enough to get me pointed in the right direction. Here's some photos if anyone runs into this in the future. This was done during daylight so I could see better so there's no wall references but trust me the right headlight was still way too high.

Here's the back of the headlight, I've already pulled the black cap off of the upper gear. The upper gear is the main adjustment gear.

The lower gear appeared to do nothing last night when I played with it. That's because it turns the opposite way of the top gear to lower the beam (I was trying to turn it the same for the most part) and it is geared much lower, meaning you have to turn it more to see the same difference compared to the top gear. The top gear adjusts the whole headlight bucket, the lower gear is the adjusting motor itself.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e197/studum/Mazda%203/IMG_20150610_185548_zpsvsw96ggv.jpg

My 1/4" ratchet + 8mm socket worked much better than a Phillips screwdriver. The screwdriver didn't even seem like it wanted to turn the lower gear - also why I gave up on it last night.

I somehow got my fat hands and fingers jammed in there low enough to get the harness for the motor off without removing the bumper or headlight. For now the connection is zip tied so it's not flopping around and I filled the connector with di-electric grease in an effort to help keep it clean.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e197/studum/Mazda%203/IMG_20150610_192810_zps9riunqqk.jpg

Once that was done a little resistance was removed from the plastic nut on the motor gear and with the tape on the headlight housing as a reference I was able to determine that could lower the headlight beam by using this nut.

Start:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e197/studum/Mazda%203/IMG_20150610_190538_zpsfssdl4rz.jpg

End: (#1 is the initial cut off line in the first photo, #2 is where I was able to lower the cut off to).
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e197/studum/Mazda%203/IMG_20150610_191727_zpsnfizjjrq.jpg

It's hard to tell but the lines are about 3/4" apart. This actually put the beam too low, so I used the main adjuster to raise the lamp a bit again so it wasn't sitting on it's stop. I now have wiggle room on both adjusters again.

The beams are relatively close to level at the moment. This weekend I'll get to some flat ground to make sure they're aimed right but I know for sure I'm not blinding people any more.

For shits and giggles I connected the power back to the motor before tying the harness up. I could hear the motor making a sound even though it shouldn't be trying to move, but no motion was happening. It wasn't a good sound, sounded like something was shorting out in there or there was a shredded gear or something. That's why I left it completely disconnected even though it wasn't moving when it was re-connected.

Thanks for the tips guys. At least now I can wait until I can find a good used headlight to swap or cannibalise for parts.

[gabbygenier]

Does the motor have any sticker with any number on it?

its a long shot but you may be able to find it somewhere with that part number.

[studum]

Does the motor have any sticker with any number on it?

its a long shot but you may be able to find it somewhere with that part number.

I wasn't able to see one from the angle I had as I didn't remove the bumper or pull the headlight and the motor is quite low on the housing. I'm planning to swing by the dealer parts department if I can get there on a Saturday morning when they're open to see if they have an exploded parts diagram of the headlight with a separate part number for the motor.

[Hyperion]

Parts is usually closed on the weekends

[sarujo]

Parts is usually closed on the weekends

Mazda of Toronto is open on Saturdays and I have purchased parts there on Saturdays. I'm sure many other Mazda dealers are the same.

[Hyperion]

Mazda of Toronto is open on Saturdays and I have purchased parts there on Saturdays. I'm sure many other Mazda dealers are the same.

Might just be Avante, or maybe it's Sundays, or maybe I'm just wrong.

[studum]

Ya, dealer around the corner from me has parts open Sat am as well, just have to get there. Closed Sundays. I'm not in a rush at this point anyways - was only rushing when I didn't think I could get it pointed down any further.

[McGuyver_3]

The headlight motors have always been part of the headlight and not separately replaceable. I have changed one before because I searched long enough on ebay to get just the leveling motor. Unfortunately they are not that easy to change, the leveling motor has a rod that has a type of ball joint which locks in to a socket internally. The first gen 3 was tricky to get enough pressure to pop the internals in to the socket.
Any kind of aftermarket light I have ever seen has always been the basic non leveling/non AFS versions.

[studum]

Confirmed: From the dealer the adjusting motor assembly is not available separately and only as a component of the assembly (which they told me is $820). So ya, my headlight is staying non-adjustable for the foreseeable future or until I can come across a good used one.

Thanks for the input.