How to Adjust Your Headlights Correctly
The sun has disappeared and other cars have started to switch on their headlights so you realise it’s time to switch your lights on as well. You turn the knob but, instead of pointing where they should, one headlight is pointing to the side and the other is pointed upward. With headlights pointed in the wrong directions, it can make it difficult to see down the road, especially if it is a rural road without street lights. That is why you should learn to adjust your car’s headlights so they will work as they were designed to.
It doesn’t always take a mechanic to do repairs to your vehicle. Some fixes are so simple that anyone can do them and one repair you can make to your vehicle yourself is adjusting the headlights. It takes a few basic tools and a little bit of your time but, once you adjust the lights correctly, your night driving will be much improved. You will be able to see down the road with the headlights safely guiding your way and other drivers will be able to see you approaching - without being dazzled.
All you will need to adjust your car’s headlights are a screwdriver that will fit the adjusting screws and some masking tape. Once you have these items ready, wait until it is beginning to get dark and then park your vehicle on level ground about 4 metres from a wall or garage door.
On the wall or garage door mark the lights’ horizontal centrelines with your masking tape. This tape should make a straight horizontal line across the wall. Also mark the vertical centreline for each light. Now you should have a basic indication of where the headlights should be centred.
Next, move your car back in a straight line to about 9-10 metres from the garage or wall and then identify the adjusting screws. These screws will typically be inset close to the headlight. It’s best to find these screws before turning on your lights or they could become too warm to touch.
The adjusting screws should consist of a horizontal screw and a vertical screw, each with a small spring behind them. Some “higher end” vehicles are fitted with a small level. If your vehicle has one, you will see it attached to the top of the headlight under the bonnet.
It doesn’t always take a mechanic to do repairs to your vehicle. Some fixes are so simple that anyone can do them and one repair you can make to your vehicle yourself is adjusting the headlights. It takes a few basic tools and a little bit of your time but, once you adjust the lights correctly, your night driving will be much improved. You will be able to see down the road with the headlights safely guiding your way and other drivers will be able to see you approaching - without being dazzled.
All you will need to adjust your car’s headlights are a screwdriver that will fit the adjusting screws and some masking tape. Once you have these items ready, wait until it is beginning to get dark and then park your vehicle on level ground about 4 metres from a wall or garage door.
On the wall or garage door mark the lights’ horizontal centrelines with your masking tape. This tape should make a straight horizontal line across the wall. Also mark the vertical centreline for each light. Now you should have a basic indication of where the headlights should be centred.
Next, move your car back in a straight line to about 9-10 metres from the garage or wall and then identify the adjusting screws. These screws will typically be inset close to the headlight. It’s best to find these screws before turning on your lights or they could become too warm to touch.
The adjusting screws should consist of a horizontal screw and a vertical screw, each with a small spring behind them. Some “higher end” vehicles are fitted with a small level. If your vehicle has one, you will see it attached to the top of the headlight under the bonnet.
Now, turn on the headlights on the low beam (dipped) setting. When you adjust the low beams, your high beams should set to the right level as well. With the lights now on, see how the beam matches up with the horizontal and vertical tape lines you have placed on the wall.
Turn the adjusting screws slowly with the screwdriver while watching the light beams on the wall. Turning the top adjusting screws clockwise should raise the beam, while turning them anti-clockwise should lower the light beam. You adjust the lights to the left or right by turning the side adjuster screw.
You should adjust the low beam lights so that they hit 50-100 mm below the horizontal centreline and 50-100 mm right of the vertical centreline. You do not want the lights to be completely centred either horizontal or vertically. If the lights are perfectly centred, they can blind the oncoming traffic when you are driving along the road. Being pointed slightly down from and to the left of centre allows the light beam to keep light on the road ahead of you.
Once you have turned the screws and aimed the light beams accordingly, your headlights should now be properly adjusted and those fifteen minutes you used to adjust your lights will help you to drive better in the dark.
Remember that cars can differ, so check your vehicle’s owners manual if this technique does not work for your car. Also, see how often the manual says you should check the headlights. It is usually recommended that headlights be adjusted every 12 months or whenever you notice that they are out of alignment. If you find you are frequently getting “flashed” by oncoming drivers when your lights are dipped, this is usually a sign that they need adjustment.
Incorrectly set headlights can dazzle other drivers and lessen your ability to see the road ahead clearly so, if you can’t adjust them yourself, find someone who can do it for you!
Turn the adjusting screws slowly with the screwdriver while watching the light beams on the wall. Turning the top adjusting screws clockwise should raise the beam, while turning them anti-clockwise should lower the light beam. You adjust the lights to the left or right by turning the side adjuster screw.
You should adjust the low beam lights so that they hit 50-100 mm below the horizontal centreline and 50-100 mm right of the vertical centreline. You do not want the lights to be completely centred either horizontal or vertically. If the lights are perfectly centred, they can blind the oncoming traffic when you are driving along the road. Being pointed slightly down from and to the left of centre allows the light beam to keep light on the road ahead of you.
Once you have turned the screws and aimed the light beams accordingly, your headlights should now be properly adjusted and those fifteen minutes you used to adjust your lights will help you to drive better in the dark.
Remember that cars can differ, so check your vehicle’s owners manual if this technique does not work for your car. Also, see how often the manual says you should check the headlights. It is usually recommended that headlights be adjusted every 12 months or whenever you notice that they are out of alignment. If you find you are frequently getting “flashed” by oncoming drivers when your lights are dipped, this is usually a sign that they need adjustment.
Incorrectly set headlights can dazzle other drivers and lessen your ability to see the road ahead clearly so, if you can’t adjust them yourself, find someone who can do it for you!
