How To Adjust Your Vehicle's Headlights, by FCP Euro on YouTube. 6 min 40 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 40 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground about 25 feet (7.6 m) from a flat wall. Check your tyre pressures first, since ride height changes the aim.
Gather a long Phillips or Torx screwdriver plus a socket and ratchet. Which one you need depends on where your adjusters sit.
Open the bonnet and find the adjuster screws on the back of each headlight housing. Most cars have one for height and one for side-to-side aim.
Measure from the ground to the centre of each headlight lens, then run a strip of masking tape on the wall at that height.
Mark a vertical line on the wall in line with the centre of each headlight so you can compare left and right.
Switch on the low beams and see where the sharp cut-off line falls against the tape.
Turn the vertical adjuster a quarter turn at a time and watch the cut-off move until it sits about 2 inches (5 cm) below the tape line.
Repeat on the other headlight, then recheck both beams against the marks before closing the bonnet.
Drive a short loop after dark and fine-tune if oncoming drivers keep flashing their lights at you.
Tips and common mistakes
Roll the car a metre back and forward before measuring so the suspension settles at its normal height.
Turn the adjusters in small quarter-turn steps, because a tiny movement shifts the beam a long way down the road.
Keep the cut-off below the tape line. A beam aimed high looks brighter but dazzles oncoming drivers.
Let the headlights cool before you reach in, and keep your fingers clear of the cooling fans.
Questions
How far should the car be from the wall?
About 25 feet (7.6 m) on level ground gives a clear, accurate beam pattern. Move closer only if your space is tight, and expect a smaller cut-off line.
Which way do I turn the screw to raise the beam?
It varies by car and by which adjuster you are turning. Watch the cut-off on the wall as you turn and stop when it reaches your mark.
Do I need to unplug the battery to adjust headlights?
No. The adjusters are mechanical, so leave the battery connected and just switch the low beams on so you can see the beam on the wall.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
