Headlamps, Checking
Headlamps, Checking
Headlamps, Checking Adjustment
• Vehicles with gas discharge lamps are equipped with automatic beam width regulation. For these vehicles the "Basic Setting" sequence must be performed to adjust the headlights.
Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required
• Head light adjusting unit (VAS 5046) or
• Headlight adjuster (VAS 5047)
Test- and adjustment requirements:
• Tire pressure must be OK.
• Cover 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 headlight adjuster must be on a level surface. Refer to Operating instructions of headlight adjuster (VAS 5046) or operating instructions of headlight adjuster (VAS 5047).
• Inclination must be set.
• Headlamp side adjustment is not possible on NAR vehicles, and for this reason, cannot be turned.
In the trim above the headlight, inclination measurements are sometimes 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 approximately 10 cm.
• The correct value for all headlamps in the US is 0.7%.
Information for vehicles with halogen headlamps with manual headlamp range adjustment
• For certain markets, no manual headlamp range control is offered in conjunction with halogen headlamps.
• The headlight range adjuster thumb wheel 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 approximately 11 lbs (5 kg).
Information for vehicles with gas-discharge headlamps:
• On vehicles with gas discharge headlamps, DTC memory should be checked and erased using Vehicle Diagnosis, Testing and Information System (VAS 5051) or Vehicle Diagnosis, Testing and Information System (VAS 5052) and headlight range adjuster brought into Basic Setting before every headlight adjustment.
Check adjustment of headlamps:
Please 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 headlight (as viewed when looking forward) a few times. Then check dipped 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.
Check adjustment of fog lamps:
- Check whether the upper light-dark border touches the setting line and runs across the complete test screen width horizontally.
Other Additional Head Lamps
Accessory auxiliary headlamp systems must be checked and adjusted according to the guidelines valid for them.
HID Headlamps, Performing Basic Setting
Since the automatic Headlamp Range Control does not have a manual adjustment, the basic setting procedure must be performed to adjust the headlights.
If the basic setting for the automatic Headlamp Range Control is not performed, the mechanical adjustment in the headlight housing will be damaged.
After the headlights are adjusted, the DTC memory must be checked. For that reason, this procedure must be strictly adhered to.
- Connect the diagnostic tester.
- Switch the ignition on.
- Select "Guided Fault Finding"
Enter vehicle information; all control modules are interrogated.
- Press the following selections in the order shown:
• Go To
• Functions and component selection
• Body
• Electrical Equipment
• 01 - On Board Diagnostic (OBD) capable systems
• 55-Dynamic Headlamp Range Control
• J 431-Dynamic Headlamp Range Control, Functions
• J 431-Headlamp Range Control Module, basic setting
• Press -> -button.
- Follow the steps of the tester and confirm the entry until the following text appears:
J 431- Headlamp Range Control Module, basic setting
• Press -> -button.
- Follow the steps of the tester and confirm the entry until the following text appears:
J 431- Headlamp Range Control Module, basic setting
- Follow procedure on tester.
- Check headlight adjustment and adjust headlights if necessary.
- Perform the function program J431 - Headlamp Range Control Module, basic setting, to the end.
• Also check whether both headlights work evenly when operating the manual headlight range control.
Headlamps, Adjusting
• General information on gas-discharge lamp systems. Refer to
• Left headlamp, adjusting, refer to
General information on gas-discharge lamp systems
The Xenon lamp system using a gas-discharge lamp that is filled with xenon gas.
For this reason, the headlamps with gas-discharge lamps are also called xenon headlamps.
There are different types of headlamps:
• Simple "Xenon" headlamps
Simple "Xenon" headlamps means the low beams are generated with "one" lamp.
Simple "Xenon" headlamps have an "additional high beam lamp"
• "Bi-Xenon" headlamps
"Bi-Xenon" means the low beams and high beams are generated with "one" gas discharge lamp.
For this reason, with "Bi-Xenon" headlamps, the high beam is automatically adjusted with the low beams.
"Bi-Xenon light systems" are also always equipped with a headlamp range control system and headlamp washing system.
• AFS headlamp system
The AFS system is a lighting system with main headlamps, gas discharge lamps and static cornering light
• Vehicles with cornering light can be recognized by an additional reflector - arrow - between the turn signal - 1 - and low beam module - 3 -.
• The static cornering light only functions in conjunction with the low beams.
AFS means Adaptive Front Lighting System
The headlamps with gas discharge lamps and cornering light have no "additional high beam lamp"
For this reason, the high beams are automatically adjusted with the low beams on the "AFS headlamp system".
• On vehicles with high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, the basic setting must be performed with diagnostic tester before every headlamp adjustment.
Adjusting left headlamp:
• Headlamp side adjustment is not possible on NAR vehicles.
• The adjusting screw - 1 - is secured so it cannot be turned.
• If the headlamp has been replaced, then a one time adjustment is permissible.
• After adjusting, seal off the screw for the lateral adjustment with a cap. Refer to Electronic Parts Catalog.
• Press the cap into the lateral adjustment opening.
• Check whether both headlights work evenly when operating the manual headlight 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.
Adjustment screws for right headlamp are arranged symmetrically
• First adjust the low beam and high beam height adjustment screw - 2 - to the test surface bright/dark boundary in the tester display.
• Then adjust the low beam and high beam side adjustment screw - 1 - to the test surface bright/dark boundary in the tester display.
Fog Lamps and Other Auxiliary Headlamps, Adjusting
• Fog lights in headlamps, refer to
• Left fog lamp in bumper, refer to
• Other auxiliary headlamps, refer to
Fog lights in headlamps
• The adjustment of fog lamps is performed automatically when adjusting headlights.
Left fog lamp in bumper
- To adjust fog lamp beam width - B -, turn adjusting screw - arrow A -.
Other auxiliary headlamps
Accessory auxiliary headlamp systems must be checked and adjusted according to the guidelines valid for them.