Xenon headlights - how do they work and what breaks in them most often?

Cars produced today with xenon or bi-xenon headlights are equipped with both automatic range control (levelling) and cleaning systems. The first responds to changes in tilt depending on the driving mode, and the second allows you to effectively clean the headlight lenses using special water sprayers that replaced the previously used mechanical wipers.

Dynamic on the road

On vehicles equipped xenon headlights (or bixenon), the so-called dynamic headlight range control system. How it works? The system reacts to changes in the vehicle's inclination, such as acceleration or deceleration, based on sensor data. In order to respond quickly to changes in vehicle inclination, the headlights use electric stepper motors to control them: their switched-mode power supply causes their rotors to turn only a certain angle (unlike traditional electric motors, in which the rotor rotates in continuous motion). In addition, the dynamic headlight range control system includes: electric headlight range control, automatic and dynamic headlight leveling system controller, inductive ride height sensor.

Cleanliness = safety

Xenon headlights The high luminous intensity of gas discharge lamps can cause blinding due to contamination of their lampshades. From here sprinklers on xenon headlights are established on the basis of the rules set out in the ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) approval rules, and in particular in accordance with ECE regulation No. 48. It is worth knowing that in the European Union the obligation to install a xenon headlight cleaning system was introduced in 1996.

Xenon - what breaks?

Washing system xenon headlights with water spraying, it breaks down like other systems used in cars. The most common cause is the pump impeller is not working or the water nozzle is clogged. The pump does not start due to lack of power supply or blown fuse. Sometimes the air in the washing system is to blame. To restore normal operation, it is necessary to completely remove air from the system after several attempts to start the pump. In case of clogging of the nozzle, it is necessary to remove the foreign bodies remaining in it and thoroughly flush the entire system. In turn, in winter, the flushing system xenon headlights subject to icing. Usually then increasing the amount of antifreeze helps. Remember, however, that in the case of a longer parking "under the cloud" (for example, after a very frosty night), this may not be enough and you will have to leave the car for a while in a warmer place.

Added by: 3 years ago,

a photo: Pixabay