Headlights aiming tutorial

sometimes you need to readjust your headlights because they bother incoming traffic or the light they give is so badly aimed you can't see pedestrians on the side of the road.

the service manual tells us you need a perfectly flat road and a wall (preferably white).

since it is not so easy to find such good location, here is an alternative way to aim the headlights (see illustrations I've made below).

Figure 1

Figure 2

you need a frame (6 feet by 4 feet) made of wood on which you set some white paper or cardboard.

even a plasterboard will do.

the car should be at exactly 5 meters (16' 8") from the frame (Figure 1).

here are some prerequisites:

- tires must be inflated at standard pressure

- a person must sit on driver's seat

- dip beam switch at 0

the ideal aim is when the headlights cover the area shown in yellow (Figure 2).

crosses represent the center of headlights.

the most important setting is 2.4" (60 mm) for having the best road illumination yet not blinding anyone.

you can adjust the headlights side to side and up down from the two knobs shown.

Note: for British cars, image has to be mirrored horizontally along car vertical axis

Edited 28 June, 201214 yr by masster