Have you ever been blinded by the headlights of another car, or have you noticed that yours did not illuminate the road right in front of you? If all you see is foliage on the side of the road or approaching drivers flashing lights or beeping at you constantly, surely your lights will be misaligned and pointed into the eyes of others. They are easy to adjust with a few measurements and a screwdriver.
Steps
Step 1. Level the car
Start by removing any excess from the trunk of the car. Also, make sure the pressure on all wheels is within the manufacturer's recommended levels. If possible, have someone sit in the driver's seat while the gas tank is half full. With these conditions, verify that the lights are aligned in the zero position.
Step 2. Park the car
At ground level, park 10 to 15 feet (3-4.6 cm) from a dark wall or garage door with the front of the car facing the wall. The best is a garage space or level entrance.
- Rock the car a couple of times from all four corners to make sure the shocks are level.
- Measure the ground clearance of both headlamps to make sure the suspension is level.
Step 3. Turn on the lights
Don't use your high beams or fog lights. Tape both the vertical and horizontal center lines of the lights to reflect two "T's" on the wall or garage door.
Step 4. Make sure the lights are level
Place a carpenter's level between the two marked lines to see if they are the same. If they aren't, use the tape measure to measure how far away the bottom mark is and lower the other center line to the same height. These center lines should be no higher than 1 m (3.5 ft) above the ground.
Step 5. Back the car exactly 25 ft (7.5 m) from the wall or garage door
Don't calculate the distance! Use a tape measure to make sure you are at the proper distance from the wall. Turn off the lights, remove the trim ring from the lights, and find the adjusting screws. These are usually found next to the lights, although some manufacturers place them in the engine compartment, behind the lights. The horizontal and vertical sliders will be marked.
- Always check the specifications in the user manual, as some manufacturers recommend different distances for a proper fit. For example, Toyota recommends a distance of 3 m (10 ft); Pontiac GTO, a 4.5 m (15 ft); and Chryser, 1 m (3 ft) for some models. Therefore, it is important that you consult your vehicle's manual and follow these instructions.
- You will find a screw on the top of the lights to adjust them vertically and one on the other side of the lights to adjust them horizontally, although some cars may have bolts instead of screws.
Step 6. Regulate each light separately
Cover a headlamp with a t-shirt or other object while you adjust and test the other, as the light reflected from each headlamp can make it difficult to distinguish one from the other. Have a helper sit in the driver's seat while you make adjustments to turn the lights on and off and properly dim the lights.
Step 7. Turn the top screw or bolt to adjust the vertical field
Turning clockwise will raise the lights, counterclockwise will lower them.
Turn on the lights after each adjustment and observe the pattern on the wall. The top of the most intense area should be at the same height, or slightly lower, than the center of the line you drew with the electrical tape
Step 8. Turn the screws or bolts to adjust the horizontal field
Now do basically the same as before but with the left and right settings. Most of the light intensity should be to the right of the vertical line.
Step 9. Test the road settings
Get in the car and test it to make sure the lights are adjusted correctly. Readjust them if necessary by repeating the steps above.
Advice
- Move the car after adjusting the lights and check them again against the wall or garage door. Some user manuals recommend doing this after adjusting the lights. Readjust them if necessary.
- If the vehicle inspection of your country has a light adjustment test, make sure you meet, at least, the marked requirements.
- Find a small level attached to the top of the light. Some automakers install these small levels to help adjust the lights. Acura and Honda are two brands that include these built-in levels. This makes it unnecessary to use a carpenter's level.
- Check the lights every 12 months to make sure they are aligned.
Warnings
- Misaligned lights can affect you and other drivers by being momentarily blinded by them if they are too high.
- If you can't adjust your car's lights, take it to a mechanic, especially if you know they need to be adjusted.