Proper headlight adjustment

[imusa76]

my head lights have been out of wack since I bought the car 10+ yrs ago.

I know where the adjustment screws are, but what is the proper way of doing it?

I have read in the repair manual, 1/2 - full tank of gas, and no passengers, then use the adjustment kit.

I have seen people park there car "X" distance from a wall, and have tape marks, and align the lights to the tape.

what is the "X" distance from the wall recommended, and where should the tape marks be?

 

[Kit Sullivan]

There areseveral sources online to give those do-it-yourself instructions. I have owned auto service centers for many years and I still have a complete "Hoppy" brand professional headlighg aiming tool kit. If you are a fanatic ( like me!), you may find one for sale on ebay. They are a little more accurate, and can be used in the daytime, since the lights do not have to be on to adjust them.

 

[Don C]

I've done the "X" marks the spot on a wall, but it's difficult to get everything lined up and level. Way back in the day, a straight, flat and level road (with little traffic - easier to find back then) was the best, aim them down the road to suit you.

 

[imusa76]

I was checking out eh Hoppy kits, they are Pricy on E-bay, I did watch someone on youtube show how to use it, it seems prity easy.

I did find a few DIY youtube video and they all seem to do it it eh same way.

now I need to find a level area with a wall and 25 feet of working room.

 

[72HCODE]

drive the car at night, carry a Philips head screw driver. keep moving the lights till you can see the road if people flash you the other way move them down a little

works for me hee hee

or take your daily driver and park in front of the garage door, turn on the lights and place Xs where the headlights are aims, move the new car for the ford then just adjust the lights to the same spot.

 

[imusa76]

or take your daily driver and park in front of the garage door, turn on the lights and place Xs where the headlights are aims, move the new car for the ford then just adjust the lights to the same spot.

this is exactly what my wife told me to do.. LOL

 

[Totalled]

I like the road method. Luckily I have a warehouse near me with an access road behind it. I usually walk out about 6 car lengths in front of the rig after I'm done adjusting, and squat down to about driver height for an approaching car in the oncoming lane. If the headlights don't bother me then, I have yet to be flashed by an oncoming driver. (on low beams anyway.) Other thing, is to try out the high beams. Make sure they aren't up in the trees. Sometimes your low beam aim will need to be a compromise. This is when I had HIDs in my old explorer.