VW Crafter Headlight Aiming Issues and Range Control Fix

Had almost the exact same problem with my 2013 VW Transporter. As someone with moderate experience working on VW vans, I initially thought it was just the headlight switch causing issues. After some troubleshooting, it turned out the servomotor in the headlight beam adjustment system had failed. The control module was still functioning, but the motor that actually moves the headlight up and down was shot. The range control system would try to adjust but couldn't maintain proper position. Took it to a workshop specializing in commercial vehicles. They diagnosed a defective servomotor in the lighting system and replaced both the motor and calibrated the beam adjustment mechanism. Total cost was 1040€ including parts, labor and system recalibration. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Which error codes are stored? Does the issue affect one or both headlights? Can you hear any noise when the headlights try to adjust? Has the vehicle been in any minor accidents that might have affected the front end? The symptoms sound very similar, but knowing these details would help confirm if you are dealing with the same headlight control module failure I experienced.

Had almost the exact same problem with my 2013 VW Transporter. As someone with moderate experience working on VW vans, I initially thought it was just the headlight switch causing issues. After some troubleshooting, it turned out the servomotor in the headlight beam adjustment system had failed. The control module was still functioning, but the motor that actually moves the headlight up and down was shot. The range control system would try to adjust but couldn't maintain proper position. Took it to a workshop specializing in commercial vehicles. They diagnosed a defective servomotor in the lighting system and replaced both the motor and calibrated the beam adjustment mechanism. Total cost was 1040€ including parts, labor and system recalibration. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Which error codes are stored? Does the issue affect one or both headlights? Can you hear any noise when the headlights try to adjust? Has the vehicle been in any minor accidents that might have affected the front end? The symptoms sound very similar, but knowing these details would help confirm if you are dealing with the same headlight control module failure I experienced.

Had almost the exact same problem with my 2013 VW Transporter. As someone with moderate experience working on VW vans, I initially thought it was just the headlight switch causing issues. After some troubleshooting, it turned out the servomotor in the headlight beam adjustment system had failed. The control module was still functioning, but the motor that actually moves the headlight up and down was shot. The range control system would try to adjust but couldn't maintain proper position. Took it to a workshop specializing in commercial vehicles. They diagnosed a defective servomotor in the lighting system and replaced both the motor and calibrated the beam adjustment mechanism. Total cost was 1040€ including parts, labor and system recalibration. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Which error codes are stored? Does the issue affect one or both headlights? Can you hear any noise when the headlights try to adjust? Has the vehicle been in any minor accidents that might have affected the front end? The symptoms sound very similar, but knowing these details would help confirm if you are dealing with the same headlight control module failure I experienced.

Had almost the exact same problem with my 2013 VW Transporter. As someone with moderate experience working on VW vans, I initially thought it was just the headlight switch causing issues. After some troubleshooting, it turned out the servomotor in the headlight beam adjustment system had failed. The control module was still functioning, but the motor that actually moves the headlight up and down was shot. The range control system would try to adjust but couldn't maintain proper position. Took it to a workshop specializing in commercial vehicles. They diagnosed a defective servomotor in the lighting system and replaced both the motor and calibrated the beam adjustment mechanism. Total cost was 1040€ including parts, labor and system recalibration. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Which error codes are stored? Does the issue affect one or both headlights? Can you hear any noise when the headlights try to adjust? Has the vehicle been in any minor accidents that might have affected the front end? The symptoms sound very similar, but knowing these details would help confirm if you are dealing with the same headlight control module failure I experienced.

Latest service was at 65000KM. Thanks for the detailed response. Just checked and the P052B error code shows up consistently. The issue affects both headlights and there is a slight buzzing noise when they try to adjust. No accidents or front end damage to report. I might try replacing the servomotor first since the symptoms match your experience. Before I do that though, I noticed the electrical connectors near the beam adjustment mechanism look a bit corroded. Would cleaning these connections be worth trying before going for the full motor replacement?

Latest service was at 65000KM. Thanks for the detailed response. Just checked and the P052B error code shows up consistently. The issue affects both headlights and there is a slight buzzing noise when they try to adjust. No accidents or front end damage to report. I might try replacing the servomotor first since the symptoms match your experience. Before I do that though, I noticed the electrical connectors near the beam adjustment mechanism look a bit corroded. Would cleaning these connections be worth trying before going for the full motor replacement?

Latest service was at 65000KM. Thanks for the detailed response. Just checked and the P052B error code shows up consistently. The issue affects both headlights and there is a slight buzzing noise when they try to adjust. No accidents or front end damage to report. I might try replacing the servomotor first since the symptoms match your experience. Before I do that though, I noticed the electrical connectors near the beam adjustment mechanism look a bit corroded. Would cleaning these connections be worth trying before going for the full motor replacement?

Latest service was at 65000KM. Thanks for the detailed response. Just checked and the P052B error code shows up consistently. The issue affects both headlights and there is a slight buzzing noise when they try to adjust. No accidents or front end damage to report. I might try replacing the servomotor first since the symptoms match your experience. Before I do that though, I noticed the electrical connectors near the beam adjustment mechanism look a bit corroded. Would cleaning these connections be worth trying before going for the full motor replacement?

Thanks for those additional details. The corrosion on the electrical connectors is definitely worth addressing before jumping to servomotor replacement. In my case, I actually tried cleaning the connections first, but it only provided temporary relief. For the corrosion cleanup, I used electrical contact cleaner and a small wire brush, paying special attention to the auto-leveling system connectors. This improved things for about a week, but then the headlight malfunction warning returned and the buzzing noise got louder. The P052B code combined with the buzzing sound is almost identical to what I experienced, it typically indicates the servomotor is struggling in the lighting system. When the motor starts making noise but fails to properly adjust the beam, its usually too far gone for just a connection cleanup to fix permanently. Given your vehicle has similar mileage to when mine failed (I was at 68000KM), and all symptoms match, I would: 1. Clean the connectors first since its cheap and easy 2. If problems persist after a few days, go ahead with the servomotor replacement 3. Make sure whoever does the repair recalibrates the control module afterward The total repair should run around 1000€-1200€ depending on labor rates. Just ensure they check both servomotors since you mentioned both headlights are affected.

Thanks for those additional details. The corrosion on the electrical connectors is definitely worth addressing before jumping to servomotor replacement. In my case, I actually tried cleaning the connections first, but it only provided temporary relief. For the corrosion cleanup, I used electrical contact cleaner and a small wire brush, paying special attention to the auto-leveling system connectors. This improved things for about a week, but then the headlight malfunction warning returned and the buzzing noise got louder. The P052B code combined with the buzzing sound is almost identical to what I experienced, it typically indicates the servomotor is struggling in the lighting system. When the motor starts making noise but fails to properly adjust the beam, its usually too far gone for just a connection cleanup to fix permanently. Given your vehicle has similar mileage to when mine failed (I was at 68000KM), and all symptoms match, I would: 1. Clean the connectors first since its cheap and easy 2. If problems persist after a few days, go ahead with the servomotor replacement 3. Make sure whoever does the repair recalibrates the control module afterward The total repair should run around 1000€-1200€ depending on labor rates. Just ensure they check both servomotors since you mentioned both headlights are affected.

Thanks for those additional details. The corrosion on the electrical connectors is definitely worth addressing before jumping to servomotor replacement. In my case, I actually tried cleaning the connections first, but it only provided temporary relief. For the corrosion cleanup, I used electrical contact cleaner and a small wire brush, paying special attention to the auto-leveling system connectors. This improved things for about a week, but then the headlight malfunction warning returned and the buzzing noise got louder. The P052B code combined with the buzzing sound is almost identical to what I experienced, it typically indicates the servomotor is struggling in the lighting system. When the motor starts making noise but fails to properly adjust the beam, its usually too far gone for just a connection cleanup to fix permanently. Given your vehicle has similar mileage to when mine failed (I was at 68000KM), and all symptoms match, I would: 1. Clean the connectors first since its cheap and easy 2. If problems persist after a few days, go ahead with the servomotor replacement 3. Make sure whoever does the repair recalibrates the control module afterward The total repair should run around 1000€-1200€ depending on labor rates. Just ensure they check both servomotors since you mentioned both headlights are affected.

Thanks for those additional details. The corrosion on the electrical connectors is definitely worth addressing before jumping to servomotor replacement. In my case, I actually tried cleaning the connections first, but it only provided temporary relief. For the corrosion cleanup, I used electrical contact cleaner and a small wire brush, paying special attention to the auto-leveling system connectors. This improved things for about a week, but then the headlight malfunction warning returned and the buzzing noise got louder. The P052B code combined with the buzzing sound is almost identical to what I experienced, it typically indicates the servomotor is struggling in the lighting system. When the motor starts making noise but fails to properly adjust the beam, its usually too far gone for just a connection cleanup to fix permanently. Given your vehicle has similar mileage to when mine failed (I was at 68000KM), and all symptoms match, I would: 1. Clean the connectors first since its cheap and easy 2. If problems persist after a few days, go ahead with the servomotor replacement 3. Make sure whoever does the repair recalibrates the control module afterward The total repair should run around 1000€-1200€ depending on labor rates. Just ensure they check both servomotors since you mentioned both headlights are affected.

Based on your suggestion, I will start by cleaning those electrical connectors. Just picked up some contact cleaner and a wire brush to tackle that this weekend. The corrosion does look pretty bad, so hopefully addressing that will solve the issue without needing the full servomotor replacement. If the problem comes back after cleaning like in your case, I will go ahead and have both servomotors replaced. Good to know the rough cost estimate of 1000€-1200€, helps with planning. I guess its worth spending that to get the adaptive headlights working properly again, especially since the buzzing noise suggests the motors are struggling. Going to document the results after cleaning the connections. The P052B error code plus the symptoms matching your experience definitely points to the servomotors being the likely culprit. Just hoping the cleaning provides a permanent fix rather than the temporary improvement you saw. Will update once I know more.

Based on your suggestion, I will start by cleaning those electrical connectors. Just picked up some contact cleaner and a wire brush to tackle that this weekend. The corrosion does look pretty bad, so hopefully addressing that will solve the issue without needing the full servomotor replacement. If the problem comes back after cleaning like in your case, I will go ahead and have both servomotors replaced. Good to know the rough cost estimate of 1000€-1200€, helps with planning. I guess its worth spending that to get the adaptive headlights working properly again, especially since the buzzing noise suggests the motors are struggling. Going to document the results after cleaning the connections. The P052B error code plus the symptoms matching your experience definitely points to the servomotors being the likely culprit. Just hoping the cleaning provides a permanent fix rather than the temporary improvement you saw. Will update once I know more.

Based on your suggestion, I will start by cleaning those electrical connectors. Just picked up some contact cleaner and a wire brush to tackle that this weekend. The corrosion does look pretty bad, so hopefully addressing that will solve the issue without needing the full servomotor replacement. If the problem comes back after cleaning like in your case, I will go ahead and have both servomotors replaced. Good to know the rough cost estimate of 1000€-1200€, helps with planning. I guess its worth spending that to get the adaptive headlights working properly again, especially since the buzzing noise suggests the motors are struggling. Going to document the results after cleaning the connections. The P052B error code plus the symptoms matching your experience definitely points to the servomotors being the likely culprit. Just hoping the cleaning provides a permanent fix rather than the temporary improvement you saw. Will update once I know more.

Based on your suggestion, I will start by cleaning those electrical connectors. Just picked up some contact cleaner and a wire brush to tackle that this weekend. The corrosion does look pretty bad, so hopefully addressing that will solve the issue without needing the full servomotor replacement. If the problem comes back after cleaning like in your case, I will go ahead and have both servomotors replaced. Good to know the rough cost estimate of 1000€-1200€, helps with planning. I guess its worth spending that to get the adaptive headlights working properly again, especially since the buzzing noise suggests the motors are struggling. Going to document the results after cleaning the connections. The P052B error code plus the symptoms matching your experience definitely points to the servomotors being the likely culprit. Just hoping the cleaning provides a permanent fix rather than the temporary improvement you saw. Will update once I know more.