Have you ever been dazzled by the headlights of other cars or noticed that the headlights of your car do not properly illuminate the road in front of you? If the only thing that is illuminated by your headlights is the foliage on the roadside, or if the drivers you pass along the road are constantly dazzled by your car and honking your horn insistently, it is very likely that you need to adjust the alignment of the headlights. The good news is that it is a very simple procedure, which requires a screwdriver and a few small tricks. Let's see how to do it.
Steps
Step 1. Park your car in a level place
Start by removing all the weights from the trunk. Also make sure that all tires are at the correct pressure, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. If possible ask someone to sit in the driver's seat and check that the fuel tank is half full. If your vehicle model has a headlight position adjuster, set it to zero.
Step 2. Position the car
Park it on a flat surface approximately 3-4.6m from the dark garage wall or garage door. The front of the car must face the wall or the shutter. It is best to perform this test in a perfectly level garage or on an equally level driveway.
- Compress the shock absorbers a couple of times by pushing the car down at the 4 corners. This way you make sure they are level.
- Measure the ground clearance of both headlights to make sure the suspension is really flat.
Step 3. Turn on the headlights
Do not use the fog lights or high beams. With the adhesive tape, trace the vertical and horizontal medial lines of each headlight thus obtaining two letters "T" on the garage wall.
Step 4. Make sure the headlights are level
Place a carpenter's level between the two center marks you detected to make sure they are on the same level. If they are not, measure with a tape measure the distance that separates the lowest mark from the ground and correct the other lighthouse to bring it to the same height. These center lines should not be higher than 1.1m above the floor.
Step 5. Back the car 7.6m away from the garage wall
Turn off the headlights. Remove the ring around each headlight and locate the adjustment screws. These are usually adjacent to the headlight itself, although in some models they may be located inside the engine compartment. The regulator of the horizontal plane and that of the vertical plane should be differentiated and well marked.
- Always refer to the specifications given in the maintenance manual; some car manufacturers recommend different distances for an adequate headlight height setting.
- There should be one screw on the top of the headlight to allow for vertical adjustment and one on the side for horizontal adjustment; however, some models may have bolts instead of screws.
Step 6. Adjust each fixture separately
Obscure one with a sweatshirt or other object while checking the other headlight, as the double beam of light makes it difficult to distinguish the one coming from the right headlight from the left one. Get help from a friend sitting in the driver's seat, he will have to turn the headlights off and on while you adjust them.
Step 7. Turn the top screw (or bolt) to adjust the headlight vertically
Clockwise rotations raise the light beam while counterclockwise rotations lower it.
Turn on the headlights after each adjustment and check their position according to the marks you drew earlier with the adhesive tape. The brightest part of the light beam should be aligned with the center of the line you defined or slightly below the limit
Step 8. Turn the screw or bolt for horizontal adjustment
Basically you have to do the same thing, but in a 'left-right' orientation. Most of the very intense area of the light beam should be to the right of the vertical line of the wall.
Step 9. Check alignment with a road test
Take a ride to check that the headlights are aligned correctly. Make any necessary changes, if applicable, by following the steps above.
Advice
- Some car brands install a small spirit level on the inside of the headlights to make it easier to adjust the beams. For example, Acura and Honda normally include this additional element in their cars. This way you won't need to buy a carpenter's level.
- After making the headlight adjustments, move the car away from the starting position and double check the alignment. If necessary, make new adjustments. Many maintenance manuals recommend this check.
- If you live in a state that requires a headlight alignment test to earn your driver's license, be thoroughly prepared for this procedure as well.
- It is recommended to check the correct alignment of the headlights every 12 months.
Warnings
- If you align your headlights incorrectly you could be dangerous for both yourself and other drivers, momentarily blinded by the light of your headlights pointed too high.
- Take the car to a trusted mechanic if you need to adjust the headlights but don't know how to do it, especially if you know the light beams are not aligned.
