I was replacing the HID head lamp ballasts on my 04' Jag and decided to have the bumpers refinished since they were off. Turned out fabulous..

Then "Suspension Fault" Error Message . When I reinstalled everything I got a, "B1471 Headlight Circuit open/ground message". Since the headlights work correctly and checked fuses, I'm hunting tor answers.

I think it has to do with the headlight leveling system is tied to the height sensors which the ride height seems to function correctly. After eliminating faulty installation or connections, I think the NEW Ballasts maybe the issue since the headlight motors are connected to it. While the headlight operate normally no leveling can be observed.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

Hi Ed,

Here's what I have on B1471:

From the DTC Summaries:



There are Pinpoint Tests for B1471 beginning on pdf page 274 of the Chassis section of the Workshop Manual, which you can download here:

Jaguar X350 Workshop Manual - Chassis

Please keep us informed - we'll all learn from your diagnostics.

Cheers,

Don

 

I'll review this .. I don't think my replacement ballast is letting the leads of the motors pass through it. Thanks for,your assistance.

 

Hi Ed,

Does your 2004 have the 12-pin ballasts or the later 4-pin ballasts, and did you replace yours with the same type as the originals? Did you clean the ground points behind the headlamps (one behind the left lamp and two behind the right lamp)?

Cheers,

Don

 

What began as a simple headlight bulb replacement turned into having both front and rear bumper covers refinished, installing new HID lights bulbs and replacing both headlight ballasts. The issue began when the left low beam HID headlight went out. After replacing the bulb and it still did not light, I determined it was the light ballast located under the headlight assembly that failed. This required removing the front bumper cover.

Since I went through the trouble removing the shoddy looking front bumper cover, that had received a " Broom Job" repaint by the dealer, I thought it would really bring the beauty of the car back by having it stripped and refinished. Considering the body shop would be doing the front, I took the rear bumper cover off and had that one refinished also.

All went smoothly, The replacement headlight bulbs and new ballasts were installed in the assemblies, The headlight assemblies were installed and the beautiful refinished bumper covers were installed. The Jag looks fantastic, like it just rolled off the floor in England..

Started it up and everything lights up beautifully and now the car looked better than new. Then (Oh No) the dreaded "Air Suspension Fault Warning" message appears! I had already replaced air compressor, the Front Air Struts and installed a new set of Continental DSW4's. The car rides great.

After scanning with my Jaguar/ Land Rover Scan Tool, I read the B1471 code with indicated a short or open in the headlight leveling system.

After removing the bumper and headlight assemblies and checking for shorts or broken wires, I found nothing. Don Supplied me with the below document and after a lot of study found that the headlight leveling system is tied directly to the air ride system. The headlight leveling system was not functioning.

The issue is the replacement Valeo Head Light Ballast (12-pin); while they operate the headlights perfectly, they do not have the propitiatory circuitry to pass through to the headlight leveling motors, that is causing an "Open" which is tripping the Air Suspension Fault warning.

The original Jaguar Ballasts, Control Module 2004-2005 Jaguar C2C9071 are discontinued/no longer available. I searched everywhere and I'm sure they would be $800.00 @ instead of $42.00 I paid. Link:
Had I originally looked at the fine 6pt. print at the bottom of the description, I would have read:My next visit will be to the dealer and have the Technician disable this Headlight Leveling System "Open" fault generating code B1471 code the from the ECM. This will remove the trigger causing the constant Air Suspension Warning message.

When you replace your Ballast on your HID headlight system, the aftermarket ballasts available do not have the circuitry to control the Jaguar Headlight Leveling system.

 

After considerable research, I have determined when you replace both HID headlight ballasts with units that do not support headlight leveling that causes the ASM (air suspension module) to display Air Suspension Failure and trip code B1471. Since the OEM ballasts are no longer available anyone replacing both HID lamp ballasts will encounter the same situation.

The solution is to have the ASM reflashed/reprogrammed as a Halogen headlight unit. Since Halogen headlights do not have headlight leveling the ASM will not trip code B1471. The Problem was finding a dealer that would perform this programming. My dealer of over 10 years and 4 cars, Imperial Jaguar, told me, "My Technician told me it can't be done." Basically we're not interested in helping you. I told them he is mistaken and I know it can be done. They had no response.

I contacted Ted at Imports Unlimited in Highland Park, IL, (847-432-4200), he told me he had not encountered this issue, but he would be glade to help. With in 30 minutes of arriving for my appointment, Ted flashed the ASM for Halogen headlights and that solved it.
NO "Air Suspension Fault" in the display or code B1471!. Headlights work and air suspension works perfectly.

I spent hours looking for help and Ted straightened this out in minutes. If you're in the Chicago area drive the extra mile south of Imperial Jaguar. I would highly recommend their service. True mechanics

 

Glad to hear that edobernig was able to find a dealer that helped him fix the B1471 code. I have a 2004 XKR that I have the exact same B1471 issue. I am thinking of trying a dealer to flash the ASM to Halogen headlights, but I am converting the Air to Coils shortly. I will be pulling the plugs on the air module under the back seat, is there a consensus that unplugging the module will also clear up this B1471 code for the ballasts? Best regards, Nick

 

Sorry, I've got a 2004 XJR not XKR...

 

When I switched to Xenon headlamps, the light was definitely brighter than my previous halogen bulb. I like that the power consumption is less than half of my last set up and I expect this system to last much longer than the stock halogen.

 

Wow finally found the problem ,
same here.2003 xj8 253tkm /220tmiles.
After flickering a couple of times cleaned ground studs , changed d1s bulbs ok for a good while.
Then during winter left side went out completely. New bulbs and ballast both sides, cleaned bumper and lenses and corrosion in connectors .dialectic grease added to ground studs...
Since then everything seemed ok but not the leveling at start up and naturally the constant "air suspension fault"

We will try same procedure and reflash to halogen

 

Fantastic it works
.2003 xj8 4,2 with 4 heightsensors and working headight hight adjustment system until I had to put in brand new
original Valeo ballast( 12 pin ) on both sides
From there on almost constant " air suspension fault" and orange warning .
first flickering then new batterie snd same day brush cleaning ground studs .
a couple of weeks later left headlight turned dark
Ordered new compressor (old one was really old)a week earlier installed and drove around only in daylight. The normally appearing susp. Fault after 10 min drive was finally gone . Until I installd those ballast that are not supporting the leveling of the headlights .
problem solved over Sdd by switching lightsystem to Halogen instead of Xenon

 

Xenon headlights new ballast Lad5g does indeed not support leveling motor on early xj's (the ones with 4 height sensors )
Over Sdd switch to Hallogen instead of xenon.
Amber light goes away
Passed Mot

 

I cannot find how to do this in SDD. Any suggestions?

 

Welcome to the forum!
This is what I went through just recently, like this past December:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ts-sdd-293959/
in SDD start new session let is scan vehicle and it told me that in ISO bus third line from top that ADHLS-R

In my case it was not working before.
@Petz in my car 2004 x350 with HID, leveling motors fitted in lens boxes, 4 sensors suspension the correct ballast is LAD-5G NOT, and I repeat NOT LAD-5GL!

@SkookumCat Good luck with fixing it. BTW: make sure the ballast installed there now is LAD-5G. as I understand LAD-5GL does not have function to control leveling. Make sure it is correct ballast! One thing I must say that LAD-5GL has a different, not compatible connector 6pin instead of 12 pins. If somebody was messing with it prior to you, you may have dig deeper.

 

Thanks for the quick reply.
I have two new ballasts here which are both LAD-5G. I have no idea what is on the car currently. I also have new bulbs to replace the current ones so I have a fresh start. I’m going to pull the bumper as soon as I get a weather break and see what is going on. I’ll pull the lens off and reseal as well as clean and polish the plastic, and finally pull the adaptive cruise distance module to see if I can get that sorted and working.
I’ll report back. Thanks again!

 

Sorry guys
did not mention specificly how to get rid of the orange light on the dash after renewing ballast on early x350 2002 - 2004 with headlight self leveling and 4 heightsensors.... installing
NEW Valeo Lad5G 12 pin ballast does not support selfleveling( of the headlights)
over Sdd start a New session ,answer the questions in regards of equipment and LIE ... SAYING IT HAS HALOGEN headlights solves the problem

 

Okay, I don’t recall seeing that option, but is there anything else to do? Module update of some sort?
thanks for chiming in. All good info for us newbies.

 

WHOW! Valeo left part number same but removed function! Where is EUROPEN ISO committee?! This is a BIG NO-NO: Revision change requires part to be BACKWARD compatible; if not it is new part number!.
I will second: in new session SDD asks me if car is armor-plated, if it has voice module, and something else... And nothing about lights I have 138 version.
Edited: I have a thought: on outside of ballast there is a sticker with bunch of manufacturing information, including manufacturing date. If @Petz is right, I can attest, @Petz possesses great amount of knowledge some of it was shared with me and was right on the money, and there is a function removal without part number change; then the close to 2003 manufacturing date better chance that height adjustment included in.

 

I currently have version 164 had a different version before . And I do not have the 2003 xj8 with xenon anymore so testing is not possible.
start new session over Sdd it should ask if you have xenon or halogen . Klick to halogen

 

So I think I finally got it. I tried v131, 134, 138, and finally 1.68. That was the one that asked for the type of lighting I had. I set it to Halogen, and reran the suspension calibration.
No more “suspension fault” error on the message center.
thanks for all the help!