How to Aim and Adjust an LED Headlight Bulb Light Beam, by ledcarlight manufacturer on YouTube. 1 min 15 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 15 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground facing a flat wall about 5 metres away. Check the tyre pressures and clear the boot so the car sits at its normal ride height.
Switch on the low beam and mark the centre of each beam on the wall with tape. This gives you a reference before you change anything.
Open the back of the headlight housing and unclip the bulb. Note how the socket sits so you can refit it the same way.
Fit the LED bulb so the two LED chips sit on the left and right sides, not top and bottom. This matches how the reflector throws light sideways.
Switch the lights on and look at the pattern on the wall. A good beam has a sharp horizontal cut-off with a step up on the right side.
If the pattern is scattered or the cut-off is tilted, loosen the socket and rotate the bulb a few degrees. Refit and check again.
Repeat the small rotations until the cut-off is level and the hot spot sits in the centre of the reflector. Lock the socket when it looks right.
Do the same on the other side, then check both beams together. The two cut-offs should sit at the same height.
Take a short drive and check the beam on the road. If oncoming drivers flash you, lower the aim slightly with the alignment screws.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not touch the LED chips with bare fingers, as grease can shorten their life.
Rotate in small steps and check the wall each time, since a few degrees makes a big difference.
If the beam stays scattered after rotating, the bulb may be the wrong type for your reflector.
Keep the beam aimed so it does not dazzle other drivers, and check your local rules on LED conversions.
Questions
Why is my LED beam scattered instead of a clean line?
The LED chips are probably sitting at the wrong angle in the reflector. Rotate the bulb in its socket until the chips face left and right and the cut-off on the wall is sharp.
Do I need to touch the alignment screws?
Usually not for a bulb swap. Rotating the socket fixes the pattern. Use the alignment screws only to fine-tune the height after the pattern looks right.
Can I do this at night?
A dim garage or a wall in shade works best. You need to see the beam pattern clearly, so avoid bright daylight.
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.
