How to Adjust Your Car’s Headlights

Driving with poorly adjusted headlights can put you or others at risk. Headlights aimed too far down or toward the ditch limit visibility while driving, while headlights aimed too high or toward the other lane can make it difficult for others to see where they’re going. A minor mishap like bumping into something can throw headlights off-kilter. Worn shocks and even carrying more cargo can also alter headlight performance. While not all cars have adjustable headlights, most have adjustment screws that allow you to make adjustments to ensure you can see and protect oncoming traffic.

What Are the Steps to Adjust Headlights?

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There are the six steps to checking, adjusting, and verifying any changes made to your headlights. Note that different screws or fasteners hold the headlights in place and adjustment screws will be used to adjust the beam. Fog lights and high beams may need adjustment as well depending on the vehicle.

1. Ensure your car is level and the tires have proper inflation. Ideally, remove extra cargo and have about half a tank of gas. Although, if the vehicle typically has heavy cargo or equipment, place it inside. Park on a level surface 6-15 feet from a garage door or wall with the headlights facing it. Level the car by pushing down on all four corners. Check to make sure each headlight is the same distance from the ground.
2. Turn on the low beam headlights and mark each headlight with vertical and horizontal masking tape marks, making two crosses on the garage door or wall. Some headlights may feature a target or cross-hairs that will help find each headlight’s axis. Measure the intersection of the crosses from the ground and note any difference between the headlights. If one side is higher, lower the tape to match the lower headlight. The center lines shouldn’t be more than three and a half feet from the ground. Create a center guide to represent the vehicle’s center by placing a vertical piece of tape between the two axis marks.
3. Back the car exactly 25 feet from the wall or door, confirming this with a tape measure. Note that some manufacturers recommend different distances. Prepare for making the adjustments by taking off the trim ring from each headlight, if necessary, to reveal the horizontal and vertical adjustment screws. Note that some vehicles may have adjustment screws in the engine compartment. Some cars may also have a bubble level to assist with adjustments. Have tape and dark fabric available to block one light while adjusting the other. Consult the owner’s manual for details, as the process may vary. Note the brightest part of the beam should be aimed at or just below the taped location.
4. Ideally, an assistant will sit in the driver’s seat and turn the lights on and off during the adjustment process. For the vertical adjustment, clockwise moves the lights up, and counterclockwise moves the lights down. Adjust the lights about two inches below the taped axis. The driver’s side beam should be slightly lower than the passenger side to ensure oncoming cars aren’t blinded.
5. Adjust the lights so the brightest part of each beam is just to the right of the marked spots on the wall. Not all models have this adjustment.
6. Check everything by conducting a road test and making any additional adjustments. If the lights are dim, consider replacing the bulbs.

Following these steps will ensure your headlights are properly adjusted, making the roads safer for you and others. For more information on adjusting your headlights, contact us at United Chevrolet Buick GMC.

Check the Lenses

If your headlights still aren’t bright enough after being adjusted, check to see if the headlight lenses are cloudy or yellowed. Aged headlight lenses could reduce headlight performance by as much as 80%. Long-term sun exposure damages plastic coatings and creates haze and yellowing. Road debris like rocks and dirt can pit headlight lenses and cause further damage over time.

Research shows that for the best results, the headlight buckets should be replaced with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) materials. Aftermarket materials restore about 80% to 90% of the light quality delivered by new factory headlights. Restoration kits, either professional or do-it-yourself, can restore about 70% of original light quality to aged headlight lenses but may introduce high glare issues.

Consider Bulb Replacement

If your headlights aren’t giving an ideal performance, another consideration is to replace the bulbs. Since bulbs have limited life spans, it’s also best to replace both if one fails. This also ensures equal performance since the bulb styles will match. Schedule a service call to let our factory-trained technicians replace your bulbs.

There are several types of replacement bulbs on the market:

• Halogen bulbs (generally 55 watts) are the most common and typically the lowest cost. They have a metal filament like many household bulbs. Halogen bulbs have a warm and yellowish light and cost about $30 to replace. Light bounces off a mirror behind the bulb. Halogen bulbs are available with higher performance options that have a brighter and whiter light. High-performance bulbs may have a shorter life span.
• HID/Xenon (High-Intensity Discharge, generally 35 watts) are high-performance bulbs that don’t have a filament. Instead, the light is produced by igniting an arc in xenon gas inside the glass. They are brighter, last longer, and use less power. Cars that are manufactured with this type of bulb can only accept this type of replacement. Car owners seeking to upgrade to HID lights may purchase an adapter kit that includes a ballast to produce a higher current. Light is distributed by a projector lens, making the beam a brighter white that is more targeted and shines farther. HID bulbs can be $100 to $200 each.
• LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs are a newer technology, as LED typically hasn’t been used for projection lights in the past. Adding LED bulbs to a car that wasn’t manufactured with them as factory equipment requires an adapter kit. A LED light option can add up to $3,000 to the price of a new car.

Some states restrict the wattage for headlights. Higher wattage means higher brightness and more potential for strain on the electrical system.

Properly adjusted headlights keep you and other drivers safe. Following some basic steps to make adjustments and needed changes can give you peace of mind. If you’d prefer to have a professional perform the adjustment, contact us at United Chevrolet Buick GMC. Our knowledgeable technicians would be happy to take a look at your headlights.