Headlight aligment

Post by **Kevin Mitchell** » Mon Feb 03, 2003 7:33 pm

Any clever bods out there got a fool proof way of aligning healights?

Post by **Cam** » Mon Feb 03, 2003 9:34 pm

The only way I have ever done it is to get a car with aligned lights a set distance from a garage door, mark the door where the light 'edges' are, then park the car to be aligned in the same place (marked) and the same distance away from the door, then align the lights until the patterns match.

Not very scientific and you are best using the same types of cars, but I have used it and it seems to work.

The other way is to get the MOT chap to do it for you on his machine.

Post by **Willie** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 9:19 am

Lo, you don't really need another car as a guide. The car should be
squarely facing a flat wall or garage door as Cam says. mark a stick
with the exact height from the floor to the centre of the headlight,
transfer this mark to the wall/door. This is the required height of
the centre of the circle of light from each headlamp ON FULL BEAM.
With regard to left/right alignment the circles of light should be
exactly in line with the headlamps and exactly the same distance
apart as the centre of the two lights ON FULL BEAM.
If you do this you will automatically get a nice dipped adjustment.
Willie

Post by **newagetraveller** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 9:24 am

Willie's method is the correct one. To make it easier, cover one headlight with a blanket or coat while you adjust the other one.
UK headlamps are manufactured so that if main beam is straight ahead they will dip to the left. Those made for driving on the RHS of the road will dip to the right (I think!) I also suspect that if you drive on the continent you should either change them or do something to prevent them dazzling oncoming traffic when dipped.