How to Adjust Headlights

Although mechanics use a highly accurate headlamp adjuster to ensure that both headlights are pointing in exactly the right direction, in a pinch a screwdriver will fix misdirected beams enough so you can safely drive in the dark.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Level Ground Near A Wall Or Garage Door
• Phillips Screwdriver

1. Park your car on level ground with the headlights about 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 m) from a wall or garage door.

2. Find the adjusting screws for the headlights. They will probably be inset adjacent to the headlight. You'll find a horizontal and a vertical adjusting screw, with small springs behind them. Some cars come equipped with a small level (like a carpenter's level) attached to the top of the headlight under the hood to help you get the correct adjustment.

3. Turn the headlights on.

4. 

   Notice where the light shines, using the wall or garage door as your gauge. Check for uneven or cross-eyed light beams.

5. Turn the adjusting screws with a Phillips screwdriver while looking at the wall. Turn slowly and continue to check the wall (see illustration) until the light beams are even and tilted slightly downward (so your car's headlights won't blind oncoming traffic).

6. Test-drive in the dark and repeat steps 1 through 5 as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Turn the adjusting screws slowly and review the beam's location frequently to avoid adjusting the headlights in the wrong direction.

[absi]

on 12/11/2006 Great! For such a long time my headlights were out of focus, especially when having a full load and travelling on the highway. I had the dealer do the adjustments twice, but they didn't do properly! I did it myself after reading this eHow article and its just great! Its so easy to do it!

on 9/12/2006 Of course, it's wrong to have the left and the right light level. The left one must be set lower ("shorter" light emission) to avoid blinding the drivers coming from the opposite way.

on 3/17/2006 In Europe the headlight must be tilted downward 1%. Sometimes there is a sticker close to the light to inform this. So if you park 3 meters from the wall, then the light must be 3 cm lower at the wall. It's pretty easy to measure with a white paper in front of the headlights. Of course the ground needs to be pretty level.