How to Adjust a Car's Headlights
The angle of your headlights can be adjusted on many cars via screws on each headlamp assembly. Although this is most accurately done with a professional headlight-adjuster kit, you can also do it at home with just a screwdriver.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Park your car on a level surface with the front facing toward a wall or garage door.
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2
Find the adjustment screws. The screws are located on different places on different models, but they are frequently on the side and on the bottom of the headlamps. On many models, there will be smaller screws that hold the headlight into the assembly, and 2 larger screws for horizontal and vertical adjustments. Some cars may only have one screw for both the vertical and horizontal adjustment.
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3
Turn the headlights on.
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4
Make note of the light they cast on the wall or garage door. They should be facing evenly straight ahead.
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5
Loosen or tighten the adjustment screws slightly with a screwdriver to lower or raise the beam.
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6
Repeat with the other headlight.
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7
Turn the high beams on and repeat if your car has a 4-headlight system (2 high beams and 2 low beams).
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1
Tips & Warnings
Your headlights may not be adjustable. Check your owner's manual for more information.
Some newer cars have a small level within the headlamp assembly, making it easier to get an accurate adjustment.
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Comments
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rubberbunny
Jan 13, 2010
Some cars have a little wheel on the dashboard(left hand side of steering wheel), where you can adjust the headlights while driving or for different loads. -
hopper
Jan 26, 2007
fill up the gas tank. and sit in the car. the beam should always go downwards a little. (same goes for "monster cars"!) While driving slowly backwards the beam at the wall should move downwards.
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hopper
Jan 26, 2007
fill up the gas tank. and sit in the car. the beam should always go downwards a little. (same goes for "monster cars"!) While driving slowly backwards the beam at the wall should move downwards.
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Nov 22, 2005
On a level surface, park your vehicle 25 feet back from a wall. Measure distance from the ground to the headlight center, then measure that same distance up on the wall. Use tape for a level line on wall. Center of beam should line up with that line.
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Nov 22, 2005
On the lower inside corner of the headlight housing is a 5/16 hex head holding a washer (about 1") that has teeth facing away from the hex head. To raise the beam, (standing in front of the car, facing the rear), use a long screw to move the washer teeth down. Pushing the teeth on your left down lowers the beam. Pushing the right side down raises the beam. Follow all the other hints by parking on flat surface facing garage door so you can line up the beams.
