DIY - headlamp leveling initialization

[Compelica]

The GT86/BRZ models which run HID/LED headlamps have functionality to automatically angle the beam downwards to prevent blinding other cars. This works via a link to a variable switch placed at the rear of the car; where there is more weight at the rear, the switch is adjusted to angle the beams lower.

This obviously is a problem to owners who have lowered their car, as the switch would stay in a lowered position, which angling the beam lower on an already lowered car would drastically reduce road visibility ahead. Cusco and other companies sell an adjustable leveler link which the fixed length link is replaced, putting the switch back to its default position.

Instead of getting under the car and fiddling with the link length, there is a method via the leveler computer to initialize the beam angle back to its default high angle. This procedure is typically performed by Toyota when the computer is replaced or when suspension components are changed, presumably in order for the car to pass inspection tests.

In short, you can use this procedure to bring it back to its highest angle state based on the current height of the car.

This procedure may potentially fry electronics; try at your own risk.

You will need:

1x paper clip
Access to the OBD2 port
Tape (optional)

First off - you will want to park your car facing a wall to capture the current height of the beam with a strip of tape to measure before and after.

1. Get your paperclip and bend it into a U shape. You will use the clip to short certain pins on the OBD2 port to get it into initialization mode.
2. Place your remote in the car. Underneath the driver's footwell - locate the OBD2 port.
3. Note the current needle position of the fuel gauge. Put the headlamp setting on the stalk to OFF.
4. You will need to turn on the car (but not starting the engine, this is by pressing the start button twice). Wait about 3 seconds, then insert the paperclip into pin 1 and 4. The pin insertion can only be done after the car is started and after the headlamp level self-test is completed - this is shown with the headlamp leveling light displayed on the meter cluster and then turning off shortly after.
5. The fuel gauge position indicates the number of times you will need to perform the following procedure; see service manual excerpt below. You will need to cycle the light stalk switch from OFF to low beam, and back to OFF within 3 seconds. If your fuel gauge indicates you need to do this twice, you will need to perform the cycling twice for a total of 6 seconds.
6. Upon completion, there will be a slight delay then a whirring sound from the headlamps adjusting to the new position. The headlight leveling light will blink the number of times you did for step 5 eg, if cycled twice then it will blink twice and repeat. If it blinks 6 times, it has failed; you will have to repeat steps 3 to 5.
7. Turn off the car to complete the initialization.

In my situation, my car is very slightly lowered which there was a very minor change to the angle.

Notes:

As an alternative to Step 5 - you can also cycle the highbeams on and off for a second each instead of cycling thru the stalk. So if your fuel gauge states you need to do it twice, you will pull the light stalk for 1 sec, release for 1 sec, then pull again for 1 sec and release for 1 sec. This is not stated in the service manual; but apparently it does the same thing.

You do not necessarily need to follow based on the number that the fuel gauge indicates - you can do the alternative Step 5 from 1 to 5 times and it will initialize regardless. I'm not entirely sure why 5 variants of this step exist, probably it has something to do with fuel weight - but it will angle to the default height.

The excerpt of the initialization procedure can be found in the 2017 service manual hosted here. The auto leveling functionality should exist for all prefacelift HID/facelift LED models, it is likely not available for the halogen models (ie. Scion FRS).

There are some screenshot excerpts circulating online showing to insert into pin 4 and 8 instead of 1 to 4 with a slightly different procedure. This has been understood to be a mistake on the earlier versions of the service manuals and corrected later on.

All of the above was tested on my RHD 2015 prefacelift Japan market 86.

Thanks to Minkara for the heads up and images.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Feels sketchy to short OBD pins, but looking for the SST mentioned it's used for a few other reset/initialization procedures as well. The same procedure is on the Toyota 2017 repair manual, so should work on post-facelift cars as well. I'll try that on my '18 BRZ once the snow storm clears and temps are bearable again.

[Compelica]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

Feels sketchy to short OBD pins, but looking for the SST mentioned it's used for a few other reset/initialization procedures as well. The same procedure is on the Toyota 2017 repair manual, so should work on post-facelift cars as well. I'll try that on my '18 BRZ once the snow storm clears and temps are bearable again.

Don't really like shorting pins in cramped spaces either, but it's not in Techstream so no other choice.

If it helps - an OBD2 extension cable makes things much easier. Just get those which actually extends all pins, the cheap ones out there only extend a subset of them.

[Drifter X]

What happens if I manually adjusted my headlights because of my coilovers? Will this procedure correct it?


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[Compelica]

Originally Posted by Drifter X

What happens if I manually adjusted my headlights because of my coilovers? Will this procedure correct it?


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Not entirely sure, they should be different adjustment points. The manual adjustment, as I understand is to adjust left right beams individually, eg for situations where the driver side typically beams further out.