Help with retrofitting auto lights
 

Has anyone done this mod and could provide some advice?
I have fitted the sensor (i used 4e0955559a) , changed the light switch and run a wire down to the central electric module and powered it from the roof module.

Now, the auto wiper function works great, but the DIS always throws an error that the sensor is faulty when I put it into auto lights.

Do I have a dodgy sensor? (If so then wouldn't the wipers also not work) or have I missed something out.

This is on a 2004 D3, and I did note that the circut diagrams only refer to the sensor as a rain sensor, not rain and light, but that may be a red herring....


Thanks

Maybe there were 2 different sensors available - one for auto lights plus wipers and one just for auto wipers - they would be two different sensors as one would be a light sensor and the other a sensor to detect rain on the glass :Confused:

My eyes are not fully open yet, and I have to take SWMBO to Salford Quays for some market she spotted.
Quick lok at page 29 on the diagram does show two sensors, a humidity one and a light one.
Sorry due to high levels of earache no time to dig any deeper :D

I think 4e0955559a is just for rain - what about the light sensor below it?

I did wonder if the part is just for rain only, but ETKA does describe it as a rain and light sensor.

My understanding is that the rain sensor detects changes in light reception caused by drops of water on the screen in front of it - so it makes sense that it's both at the same time, but who knows. I also have read (can't remember where I read it now), that the other light sensors are used for the dimming mirrors, and this still works fine.

Has anyone else done this update?

It works by using a ring of maybe 5 or 7 tiny IR LEDs at 45˚ to the glass in the sensor.
In the middle is an IR sensor that measures the reflected light.
There is also a dark red IR filter.
When it rains and the droplets settle within the ring, IR light escapes from the surface so the sensor sees a corresponding drop in IR level and adjusts the wiper interval.

I thought the headlight sensor was (as viewed from outside through the windscreen) on the bottom of the mirror mount housing and looks like a clear 5mm ball inside a hole but you are right about it being called rain and light... but maybe that is for autodimming mirrors.
http://www.partscats.info/audi/en/?i...ail_id=1243121
It does seem common to have rain light in one...
http://www.trw.com/sites/default/fil...tsensor_en.pdf

Did you find in VCDS the part where you choose subsystem in a popup menu > REGENLICHTSENSORH11?
and can see options for different glass types and security glass (disabled)?

Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 4E0-910-279.LBL
Part No SW: 4E0 910 279 Q HW: 4E0 907 279 Q
Component: ILM Fahrer H14 0230
Coding: 0133122
Shop #: WSC 02313 785 00200
VCID: 3668AF7D4111EB91857-8063

Subsystem 1 - Part No: 4E2 910 113 B
Component: Wischer WWS D3 H50 0420
Coding: 00000037
Shop #: WSC 02313

Subsystem 2 - Part No: 4E0 910 557 Labels: 8K0-955-559.CLB
Component: REGENLICHTSENSORH11 0050
Coding: 00139548
Shop #: WSC 02313 ]

http://www.audi.co.uk/glossary/l/lig...in-sensor.html

Have you coded the right module too as one module just controls rain sensor whilst I think central electrics controls the rain light sensor and only one module can be coded, it's all on ross tech wiki, not sure if you've done this as Iv not seen it mentioned yet :)

Not sure - I'll double check the coding in Central Electrics later this afternoon

Ok guys. I have done this update.

There are many facts.

First, NO rain sensor was available in a pre-facelift car. Only a light sensor.

Second, rain and light and the light only sensor are coded and wired differently.

I will type the whole thing out for others to use as many of the pages on this topic are not in english.

The Light only sensor looks and works differently to the rain/light and is coded in the roof module only.

The RLS is coded in the central electronics module 09. A data wire must be run down and SPLICED into the correct wire at the central electronics module. (yellow and white wire from memory). The roof module must have no coding for the RLS or LS at all.

As it happens, almost all of the pre-facelift cars (some late 2005 will be ok) will have a central electronic module that cannot accept the coding for the RLS.

What happens is the rain sensor works improperly but works, and the auto lights will throw an error in the DIS.

What has to happen to cure this is a change to a Rev Q or later Central electronic module from a facelift car. This will plug and play and will probably be precoded for the RLS as most if not all of them came with it.

Then the whole system will work as factory. My OEM 09 Central Electronic module was REV E. This did not have the ability to accept the coding for the RLS.

If you have a prefacelift car and just want Auto Lights, you MUST buy a light only sensor, and plug it into then code the roof module. Fit an auto headlight switch and it will work as intended.

Mike

This is the light only sensor.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...sfy5ukfqj.jpeg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...srmawdsbw.jpeg

This is the rain sensor

http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225...kq15VpAAzg.jpg

Mike

Thanks for that comprehensive information-looks like I'll need a new module as everything else is done...

Nearly there
 

New module ordered, delivered and now installed and now no light sensor error pops up.
.
.
.
.
Instead I now get a bulb error on both sides! Looks like the LED sidelights I put in a couple of years ago don't agree with the new module- i guess the new module has extended bulb monitoring to the sidelights which the old one didnt.

oh well, back to yellow sidelights for me:(

Why not try the parallel loom that Trups does? Works on mine.
OK it means a normal filament bulb hanging about doing nothing constructive, but as we do not need to put shillings in the meter . . .+++

I think I may do that.the yellow lights looks pretty bad now they are back i there. But on the plus side the auto lights work peachy

Back to LEDs again, thanks for the excellent suggestion- I made up a loom to run both bulbs and hide the incandescent one! Works a treat.
I got the bulb holders from ebay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181178128998) and they fit perfectly, look just like the originals.

Did you have to take the battery off to change the central electronic module?

Mike

No, i didn't, but in hindsight, i probably should have

Why's that? Did something go wrong?

Mike

Not at all-it all went very well, its just good practice to disconnect the battery when working on electrics to minimise the risk of damage.

But nothing bad did happen, and thanks to your excellent advice, and our sponsors, I have auto lights.

Awesome!

I have my update central electronic module arriving shortly. I have been unable to get one locally - there are no parts in Australia for these cars - and none of the prefacelift cars in the country came with auto lights.

I am in the same boat as you, I found out about the auto light sensor error after I did the retrofit.

I am looking forward to having proper lights.

Interestingly, I have in my possession the light only sensor at the moment also. It has no part number, and was only ordered as part of the "coming home and leaving home package."

Its also pretty easy to get to the module to change it, theres just a few screws to remove (some are under the centre dash trim). What really confused me is that my module happily accepted the coding, so I dont think I would ever have figured that a new module was needed.

Good luck with yours+++

I fitted the new central elec module. I had to recode it, but all is working as it should! It's very handy having fully automatic lights again.

Mike

Ok, so apparently if you replace the J519 Central elec module, you have to run through a basic settings thing for the power steering column adjustment. Mine decided it would only go up 10mm and it wouldn't self lift when exiting the car.

I know the column is fine as it adjusts all the other ways. And it does lower and lift, just only 10mm.

Anyone else had to do this?

I have not but I have heard of coloums that stop working for no apparent reason that are remedied by doing the basic setting.

I haven't noticed it doing this, but I don't really pay attention to the steering column.

I'll have a look at it this afternoon to see if mines the same

The basic adjustment reset for the J519 sorted it.

The column now has all the travel back.

I love the VCDS system!!

Mike