Headlamp: Adjustments
HEADLAMP UNIT ALIGNMENT
VEHICLE PREPARATION FOR LAMP ALIGNMENT
1. Check for and correct any burnt out bulbs.
2. Repair or replace any faulty, worn or damaged body or suspension components that could hinder proper lamp alignment.
3. Verify proper tire inflation pressures.
4. Remove any accumulations of mud, snow, or ice from the vehicle underbody and clean the front lamp lenses.
5. Verify that there is no load in the vehicle.
6. The fuel tank should be Full. Add 2.94 kilograms (6.5 pounds) of weight over the fuel tank for each estimated gallon of missing fuel.
7. Verify correct vehicle suspension height.
LAMP ALIGNMENT SCREEN PREPARATION
The procedure that follows will prepare a suitable front lamp alignment screen.
1. Tape a line on a level floor 7.62 meters (25 feet) (line 1) away from and parallel to the flat wall that will be used as the lamp alignment screen. The level floor will be used as the horizontal zero reference.
2. An adjacent wall or floor member that is perpendicular to the alignment screen can be used as the vertical zero reference. If there is no adjacent wall or floor member that is perpendicular to the screen, tape a second line (line 2) on the floor perpendicular to both the alignment screen and the first line, and outboard of either side of where the vehicle will be positioned. This will be used as the vertical zero reference.
3. Position the vehicle so that the side of the vehicle is parallel to the vertical zero reference, and so that the front of the lamp lenses are in the vertical plane of the parallel line taped on the floor 7.62 meters (25 feet) away from the screen.
4. Rock the vehicle side-to-side three times to allow the suspension to stabilize.
5. Jounce the front suspension three times by pushing downward on the front bumper and releasing.
6. Measure the distance between the optical center of one of the headlamps being aimed and the floor (horizontal zero reference) (line 6). Transfer this measurement to the alignment screen with a piece of tape placed horizontally to the floor. This line will be used as the lamp horizontal reference.
7. Measure the distance between the vertical zero reference and the optical center of the headlamp being aimed (line 7). Transfer this measurement to the alignment screen with a piece of tape placed vertically across the headlamp horizontal reference. This is the centerline reference for the first lamp.
8. Measure the distance on center between the first and the second headlamp being aimed (line 8). Transfer this measurement to the alignment screen with a second piece of tape placed vertically across the headlamp horizontal reference. This is the centerline reference for the second lamp.
HEADLAMP VERTICAL ALIGNMENT
With the horizontal centerline of the headlamp (line 2) transferred on the wall, measure down 53 mm (2.1 in). This new line (line 1) will be the vertical aiming mark. Using the left side of the headlamp vertical centerline (line 3 for left headlamp and line 4 for right headlamp), adjust the headlamp unit so the residual light from the headlamp, not the hot spot, is even with the line (line 1) that was marked previously 53 mm (2.1 in) below the horizontal centerline (line 2). The ideal alignment should be (line 5).
1. Turn the headlamps On and select the Low beams.
2. Block one headlamp light and adjust the other headlamp.
3. Rotate the headlamp vertical adjustment central screw on each lamp to adjust the beam height as required.
HEADLAMP LATERAL ADJUSTMENT
No lateral (left to right) alignment is recommended.
Two small plastic plugs are inserted in the two lateral adjustment screw locations to prevent this procedure.