Headlights adjustment (too low)

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Old Nov 12, 2012 | 11:56 AM
  #1  
Klum86's Avatar
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10th Gear
 
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From: Bay Area, CA
Headlights adjustment (too low)

I lowered my car and now my headlights are too low. I tried to adjust them up using that funny gear thing on the back of the headlight housing. Apparently you just jam a + screw driver in there and turn clockwise for up. After spinning it for quite a while, I noticed no change in the elevation. Am I doing something wrong? Anybody have any other suggestions?
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Old Nov 12, 2012 | 12:18 PM
  #2  
Stephen00TL's Avatar
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From: Jacksonville, FL
Thanks for reminding me, I need to do the same thing. I'm not sure how they adjust because I have never messed with them
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Old Nov 12, 2012 | 02:37 PM
  #3  
Skirmich's Avatar
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From: Baja, México.
OK: PROCEDURE

1: You need a Parking Lot with a Wall you can Park in Front Of (A Wall Starting from the Ground Level not on top of a Sidewalk) Obviously the Road must be Level (Not with an Elevation) to the Wall to Work.

2: Park your car at about 7 Meters or 19 Feet away from (1 1/2 Car for the Common Reason), Turn the Headlights On!.
(Example Pic):

Hes Using PROJECTORS! So 25 Feet is wayyy Off for the TL (Unless you have Projector Retrofit) Projectors will also have an Offset! Notice the Left side of the Pic where the Beam Pattern is, There is a Small Cliff where the Beam from the Passenger Ends and the Drivers Side Starts! This is True for our Headlights Too.

3: The Lights should only aim at about 3-4 feet from the Wall (Driver Side will Always be Lower than the Passenger) This is a Safety measure so dont worry you wont have a perfect lining...


Hope that Helps!
Tips: If your Having Trouble turn ON your HIGH BEAMS! High Beams must be CENTER DEAD ON but Low Beams will have a slight offset in the beam Pattern.

HAVE A NICE DAY!

Last edited by Skirmich; Nov 12, 2012 at 02:44 PM.
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Old Nov 12, 2012 | 03:52 PM
  #4  
AlanW's Avatar
2006 NBP TL MT6/ 02TL-S
 
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From: Little Rock, AR
Also, using a 10mm socket & ratchet on the adjusting nut is much easier than inserting a screwdriver into those little slots
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Old Nov 13, 2012 | 12:03 AM
  #5  
soria's Avatar
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From: Los Angeles, CA
I need to do this too. Here are the instructions from the service manual. I couldn't make much sense of them, though...
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Old Nov 13, 2012 | 12:43 AM
  #6  
Skirmich's Avatar
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From: Baja, México.
Wierd the Instructions seems clear to me...

1.- Park the Car at 25ft away from Wall
2.- Adjust Headlights to 2.1" from Floor to Light Cut-Off.
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Old Nov 13, 2012 | 11:11 AM
  #7  
AlanW's Avatar
2006 NBP TL MT6/ 02TL-S
 
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From: Little Rock, AR
What I got out of reading that: Park with the low beam bulb exactly 25 foot from the wall. The area must be level. Measure from the ground up to the center of the low beam bulb. Then measure the light spot on the wall. The brightest spot of the light on the wall should be 2.1" lower than the measurement you made on the car of the ground to bulb distance.
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 10:11 AM
  #8  
01tl4tl's Avatar
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whats hard about sliding a + screwdriver down a channel designed for it
then using its `teeth` to engage the top gear of the adjuster
its really slick once you know how

careful you dont loosen the main bolt holding the thing together -that solo 10mm bolt

wont go up enough? car lowered majorly? housings been off the car before?
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 10:14 AM
  #9  
01tl4tl's Avatar
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the spec gets them decent,,,then a dark road for final setting,,,you want to light up the right edge lane markings,,pedestrians bikes etc..a little farther than spec

and use the left light pointed slightly right and down to illuminate more of the close in, and center of lane= where you need to dodge obstacles
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 10:14 AM
  #10  
01tl4tl's Avatar
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if adjuster wont go high enough,,remove housing from the car and inspect mechanism
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 12:58 PM
  #11  
AlanW's Avatar
2006 NBP TL MT6/ 02TL-S
 
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Little Rock, AR
I had to adjust mine once, after I lowered the car. It had to come up quite a bit, I found it easier to use a little racket & socket...out there at night on that dark road.....cause that's how I adjust mine also-by the light pattern on the road, getting out in front and seeing what my lights would look like to oncoming vehicles, setting the fogs, low beams, and high beams to all cover their specific areas, then usually wiring the vehicle to run all of them at once when I need to.
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 11:55 AM
  #12  
01tl4tl's Avatar
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had to do an emergency on road headlight adjustment for the 2 wheel Honda last night,,up in the twisties coming back from the hills..very dark and deadly...

recent install of lower rear shocks had light aimed at the space station

used a wall, then dark road for final setting on main and 2 aux lights
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