Headlamp Adjustment, Checking and Correcting
03 - Service Procedures
Headlamp Adjustment, Checking and Correcting
Headlamp Adjustment, Checking with Test Screen without 15° Adjustment Line
HID Headlamps, Adjusting
Headlamps with Halogen Bulbs, Adjusting
Fog Lamps and Other Auxiliary Lamps, Adjusting
• Horizontal adjustment of the headlamps is not permitted on NAR vehicles.
• For this reason, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - for the headlamps is capped so that it cannot be turned.
• After alignment of the horizontal aim, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - must be permanently disabled by inserting an adjustment screw cap into the adjustment screw socket. Press cap firmly until it is fully seated in the adjustment screw socket.
• Check whether both headlamps work evenly when operating the manual headlamp range adjuster.
• If the vehicle is equipped with separate low beams and high beams, high beam must be adjusted extra. Note that the adjuster must be set to 0% when adjusting the high beams.
Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required
• Head light adjusting unit (VAS 5046) or
• Headlamp adjuster (VAS 5047)
Test- and adjustment requirements:
• Tire pressure must be OK.
• Lenses must not be damaged or dirty.
• Reflectors and bulbs OK.
• Vehicle must be properly loaded.
• Move vehicle back and forth for 1 meter (3 to 4 feet) or bounce front and rear of vehicle several times up and down to settle suspension.
• Vehicle and headlamp adjuster must be on a level surface. Operating instructions of headlamp adjuster (VAS 5046) or Operating instructions of headlamp adjuster (VAS 5047)
• Inclination must be set.
• If the vehicle is equipped with separate low beams and high beams, high beam must be adjusted extra. Note that the adjuster must be set to 0% when adjusting the high beams.
In the trim above the headlamp, inclination measurements are stamped in "%". The headlamps must be adjusted according to these measurements. Percentage information is based on a projection distance of 10 meters. For example: inclination of 1.0 % converts to approx. 10 cm.
For vehicles with halogen headlamps and manual headlamp range control
• For certain markets, no manual headlamp range control is offered in conjunction with halogen headlamps.
• The headlamp range adjuster thumb wheel, if present, must be in basic setting - 0 -.
Load: Vehicle must be loaded with one person on the driver's seat, weighing 165 lbs (75 kg), otherwise vehicle must be empty (curb weight).
The curb weight is the weight of the vehicle ready to be operated with filled fuel tank (at least 90% filled), including the weight of all equipment usually carried in the car such as spare wheel, tools, car jack, fire extinguisher, etc.
If the fuel tank is not at least 90% full, adjust the weight as follows:
- Read fuel level from fuel gauge. Calculate additional weight needed using the following table. Place extra weight in luggage compartment.
Tank filling table
Example:
If the fuel tank is half full, place a weight of 44 lbs (20 kg) in the luggage compartment.
• For additional weight use containers filled with water. A container filled with 5 liters of water weighs approx. 11 lbs (5kg).
Applies to vehicles with gas discharge lamps and dynamic headlamp range control:
• For vehicles with gas discharge headlamps, DTC memory should be checked and erased using Vehicle Diagnosis, Testing and Information System (VAS 5051) and or Vehicle Diagnosis & Service Syst. (VAS 5052), and headlamp range control brought into Basic Setting before every headlamp adjustment.
°Headlamp Adjustment, Checking with Test Screen without 15 Adjustment Line
• Horizontal adjustment of the headlamps is not permitted on NAR vehicles.
• For this reason, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - for the headlamps is capped so that it cannot be turned.
• After alignment of the horizontal aim, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - must be permanently disabled by inserting an adjustment screw cap into the adjustment screw socket. Press cap firmly until it is fully seated in the adjustment screw socket.
• Check whether both headlamps work evenly when operating the manual headlamp range adjuster.
• If the vehicle is equipped with separate low beams and high beams, high beam must be adjusted extra. Note that the adjuster must be set to 0% when adjusting the high beams.
Headlamps:
Check the following:
- With the low beam switched on check whether the horizontal light-dark border of the setting line - 1 - contacts the test surface.
- Check whether the break-away point - 2 - between the left horizontal part and the rising part on the right of the light-dark border runs vertically through the center point - 3 -. The bright core of the light beam must be on the right of the vertical line.
• To make it easier to find break-away point - 2 - cover and uncover left half of headlamp (as viewed when looking forward) a few times. Then check low beam again.
• After correct adjustment of low beams the center point of the main beam must lie on the center mark - 3 -.
• For the previous test screens with 15° setting line, adjust for new test screen. To avoid incorrect settings, ignore 15° setting line.
Fog lights:
- Check whether the upper light-dark border touches the setting line and runs across the complete test screen width horizontally.
Other additional headlamps:
Accessory auxiliary lamp systems must be checked and adjusted according to the guidelines valid for them.
HID Headlamps, Adjusting
• Horizontal adjustment of the headlamps is not permitted on NAR vehicles.
• For this reason, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - for the headlamps is capped so that it cannot be turned.
• After alignment of the horizontal aim, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - must be permanently disabled by inserting an adjustment screw cap into the adjustment screw socket. Press cap firmly until it is fully seated in the adjustment screw socket.
• Check whether both headlamps work evenly when operating the manual headlamp range adjuster.
• If the vehicle is equipped with separate low beams and high beams, high beam must be adjusted extra. Note that the adjuster must be set to 0% when adjusting the high beams.
Perform basic setting:
- Connect diagnostic tester => [ Tester, Connecting ]
- Switch ignition on.
- Select "Guided Functions"
- Perform vehicle identification.
- Select vehicle system "Automatic headlamp range control cornering light".
- Now select "Perform basic setting" function and confirm selection.
- Follow procedure on tester.
- Check headlamp adjustment and adjust headlamps if necessary.
Adjusting right headlamp:
Adjustment screws for left headlamp are arranged symmetrical
• Adjustment screw for height adjustment of bright/dark boundary - 2 -
• Adjustment screw for adjusting cornering light height adjustment - 1 -
• Adjustment screw for side adjustment of low beam bright/dark boundary - 3 - (sealed (capped) for North American market)
- Turn adjustment screw - 2 - to adjust height of bright/dark boundary.
For newly installed headlamps only
- Side adjustment must be checked and correct with adjustment screw - 3 - if necessary.
• Horizontal adjustment of the headlamps is not permitted on NAR vehicles.
• For this reason, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - for the headlamps is capped so that it cannot be turned.
• After alignment of the horizontal aim, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - must be permanently disabled by inserting an adjustment screw cap into the adjustment screw socket. Press cap firmly until it is fully seated in the adjustment screw socket.
• Check whether both headlamps work evenly when operating the manual headlamp range adjuster.
• If the vehicle is equipped with separate low beams and high beams, high beam must be adjusted extra. Note that the adjuster must be set to 0% when adjusting the high beams.
Headlamps with Halogen Bulbs, Adjusting
• Check whether both headlamps work evenly when operating the manual headlamp range adjuster.
• If the vehicle is equipped with separate low beams and high beams, high beam must be adjusted extra. Note that the adjuster must be set to 0% when adjusting the high beams.
• Horizontal adjustment of the headlamps is not permitted on NAR vehicles.
• For this reason, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - for the headlamps is capped so that it cannot be turned.
• After alignment of the horizontal aim, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - must be permanently disabled by inserting an adjustment screw cap into the adjustment screw socket. Press cap firmly until it is fully seated in the adjustment screw socket.
• Check whether both headlamps work evenly when operating the manual headlamp range adjuster.
• If the vehicle is equipped with separate low beams and high beams, high beam must be adjusted extra. Note that the adjuster must be set to 0% when adjusting the high beams.
Adjusting right headlamp:
Adjustment screws for left headlamp are arranged similar
• Adjustment screw for horizontal adjustment of low beam bright/dark boundary - 3 - (sealed (capped) for North American market)
• Adjustment screw height adjustment of low beam bright/dark boundary - 2 -.
• Adjustment screw for side adjustment of high beam bright/dark boundary - 1 -
- First rotate adjustment screw for bright/dark boundary height adjustment.
- Then side adjustment must be checked and corrected if necessary.
• Horizontal adjustment of the headlamps is not permitted on NAR vehicles.
• For this reason, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - for the headlamps is capped so that it cannot be turned.
• After alignment of the horizontal aim, the horizontal adjustment screw - 3 - must be permanently disabled by inserting an adjustment screw cap into the adjustment screw socket. Press cap firmly until it is fully seated in the adjustment screw socket.
• Check whether both headlamps work evenly when operating the manual headlamp range adjuster.
• If the vehicle is equipped with separate low beams and high beams, high beam must be adjusted extra. Note that the adjuster must be set to 0% when adjusting the high beams.
Fog Lamps and Other Auxiliary Lamps, Adjusting
Right fog light in bumper:
Adjusting screw on left fog light is arranged similar.
Inclination figures:
• Fog lights 20 cm
- Turn adjustment screw - arrow A - to adjust beam width.
Lateral adjustment is not possible.
Other auxiliary lights
Accessory auxiliary lamp systems must be checked and adjusted according to the guidelines valid for them.