JJones91

It appears as though my passenger headlight might be misaligned, looks like it might be pointed more towards the ground than the driver headlight. I've noticed for a while now in reflections that the passenger side isn't as bright as the driver side. Looking at them both head on at eye level it's obvious the driver side is brighter and when you look at the glare on the lens you can see that the glare is more center and the passenger side glare is lower on the lens. That being said, is this common for the headlight to become misaligned?
I can clearly tell at night that the passenger side doesn't illuminate the road as much as the driver side.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

when did you get the RL?
have you done any work on the RL?
I really think the bulb isnt seated correctly...but without physically looking at the car, I cant be sure....
I dont know what yyear your car is, but something tells me that some one replaced the bulb and didnt seat it correctly...

there are notches in the bulbs base, it has to line up in the headlight housing, or else you get what you're getting

JJones91

I just bought the car this past month and it's an 05. iirc I thought I saw on the maitenance history report that a bulb had been replaced at some point

JJones91

6/5/2012 the bulbs were replaced at an Acura dealer

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^there's a chance the dealership didnt install the bulb correctly and the previous owner has been driving like that for 3 years.

BUT, since I cant PHYSICALLY check, I cant be sure.

if you have tiny hands, you can reach through the wheel well and feel around for the bulb to see if it's seated correctly. you might have to pull the bulb out and re-install it.

if hand cannot reach through wheel well, front bumper needs to be dropped so that you can gain access behind headlight housing

Comfy

Can you post a picture of a wall shot from 25 feet distance showing the low beams. Thanks.

JJones91

Took it to Acura earlier and they said naturally the passenger side will be positioned lower to avoid blinding oncoming traffic

Carbon Legend

That Acura dealer is full of BS. Left hand drive cars the cutoff should be level at the steps. Headlights should be 1-1.5" lower than the center of the headlight.

oo7spy

1st, take a picture at night in front of a wall on level ground. Not too close, not too far. Like Comfy said.

2nd, the passenger bulb can be accessed through the engine bay if the washer reservoir is removed. Shouldn't need the wheel well or bumper on that one.

3rd, the dealer blew smoke up your ass. Probably doesn't smell any better though.

4th, almost every car has a verticals adjustment screw on top of the assembly. Not positive about the RL however.

01acls

Vertical adjustment screw (Note the access hole).

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

LOL it's the drivers side that's lower to prevent blinding oncoming traffic


it should do a step! like this ______/--------------

oo7spy

Wondering if the OP has JDM headlights with RHD cutoff...

JJones91

Looked at the housing earlier can definitely see that the passenger side is aimed down more.

JJones91

Here is a night shot sorry it's the best I could get

thoiboi

driver's side bulb looks like it has a severe hotspot... i think the bulb was installed incorrectly..

thoiboi

also a flat wall would help too

JJones91

Oh really?? I thought maybe that's how bright it was suppose to be and the passenger side was too dim

schen72

Based on that picture, something is definitely wrong. My RL's lights are very evenly spread, with the normal slight step-down on the driver's side to avoid blinding oncoming traffic.

CommonSense

common sense says: light bulb is incorrectly installed

JJones91

Exactly and I have no idea which one is correct lol

thoiboi

get a better picture on a FLAT wall so we can help you.


Or just take it back to the dealer.

JJones91

It's going back to the dealer this Saturday to have 2 recalls done

oo7spy

That was not level ground in front of a wall.

That appears to be a slope in front of a small incline of grass.

JJones91

Wasn't a slope just the angle I took the pic, was trying to take a pic from the middle in the driver seat

oo7spy

No, the lights are pointing toward the ground. Either the ground is raised, or your headlights are both seriously fucked.

Here is an example of what we are looking for. Notice:
- Even distribution of light.
- Cutoff is level from the headlights and below the eyes of oncoming driver's.
- Step up from driver's side to passenger's side.

Comfy

Yes, exactly what we are looking for. That's a super cool and clean light. Is it retrofitted?
@ OP, if you can't find a level ground and flat vertical wall, go to the nearest supermarket / shopping mall at nightfall and take a picture from the parking area against the shop....
I dunno, but I can't seem to see the picture original posted by OP. Is it deleted or in some format unreadable by my computer?

JJones91

Wow mine look like garbage compared to this pic LOL probably doesn't help my headlights are oxidized too.

oo7spy

I can still see the pic, Comfy. My picture was a retrofit. Going back to the OP's pic, I don't even see the passenger beam. The lights stops way too early on the right for it to be from the passenger projector.

JJones91

Well I managed to fix my issue. Turns out the passenger bulb wasn't positioned properly.

Pictures don't show much but here's a before..




and After, once I get the headlights cleaned up since they are oxidized pretty badly I'll get some new pics..

oo7spy

Oh, it's a bush.

Comfy

That's cool. Glad everything is fixed well.

racerock

Trimmed bush.