Visual Headlamp Aiming Procedure (Preferred)

Visual Headlamp Aiming Screen:

Correct Aim Adjustment For Low Beam:

Composite Headlamp Adjustment Screen:

Location
The area should be darkened and large enough to allow for the vehicle and an additional 7.62 m (25 ft.) measured from the face of the headlamps to the front of the screen. The floor on which the vehicle rests must be level with the bottom of the screen. If the floor is not level, it must be compensated for.

Aiming Screen
If a screen is used, it should be at least 1.52 in (5 ft.) high by 3.66 m (12 ft.) wide with a matte white surface well shaded from ambient light and properly adjusted to the floor on which the vehicle stands. The screen should be moveable so that it can be aligned parallel with the rear axle of the vehicle. It should be positioned so that a horizontal line will pass an equal distance midway between the two headlamps.

The screen should be provided with a vertical centerline, two laterally adjustable vertical tapes, and one vertically adjustable horizontal tape.

If a regular commercial aiming screen is not available, the screen may consist of a wall having a clear uninterrupted area at least 1.83 m (6 ft.) high by 3.66 m (12 ft.) wide. The surface should be finished with a washable no-gloss white paint.

After the aiming screen has been set up and located, paint or tape a reference line on the floor 7.62 m (25 ft.) from the screen. The vehicle should be parked with the front of the headlamps directly over this reference line.

Visual Procedure
1. Prepare vehicle.
2. Park the vehicle square with the screen and with the headlamps directly over the reference line.
3. Make sure all components are in place if other work has been done on the vehicle.
4. Line up the centerline of the vehicle with the centerline of the aiming screen. This can be done by marking the vertical center of the vehicle and front windows with tape. Use these lines as "sights" to line up the centerline of the vehicle and screen.
5. Adjust the vertical tapes on the screen to match the vertical centerline of each lamp. (Measure the distance from the centerline of the vehicle to the centerline of a low beam lamp.)
6. Adjust the horizontal tapes on the screen to match the horizontal centerline of the low beam headlamp. (Measure the height from floor to the center of a low beam.)
7. Turn on the low beam lamps. Adjust the headlamps so that:
a. The left edge of the high intensity zone on the screen for the low beams is on the vertical line for each side.
b. The top edge of the high intensity zone on the screen for the low beam is on the horizontal line for each side.