EM_5

I had just finished installing the black out kidney grill from Turner. As I was admiring my new grills, I see that the hood is not symetrically flush on both sides. With tool in hand, I go to adjust the bolt identified by the pics below with the red circle. Obviously, that was not the hood-stop/rest bolt. I did not count how many turns I made, so I had to guesstimate where it was... stupid me... too many tools, too little common sense.

Anyhow, I did a search on the web a see that the screw I tinkered with is not the headlight adjustment screw, even though it will loosen the headlights to the point where it can move around.

After tightening the bolt, I go and proceed to test the aim of the lights visually, standing about 20 feet from dead center of the car. I noticed that the Driver's Side headlight gets brighter FIRST, as I lower my height (by slowly squatting). It would appear that if my car was behind another car, the Driver's side headlight will be much brighter.

Attached is the sequential pictures I took. I was first in a higher position (pic 1), where things appeared normal.... then I lowered my body (pic 2) and the Driver's Side light becomes brighter than the other side.... then further down (pic 3) it gets really bright while the passenger side stayed relatively the same.... then squatting (pic4) both are really bright.

I've read that after lowering the car, the headlight angle auto adjust sensor could be off. It may have been like that before I tinkered with the screw in question... OR I may have messed it up.

HELP!!

DrLev99

Regardless of whether the lights may be self leveling, lowering the car will require the lights to be adjusted upward, with the screws circled below in yellow. When my car was dropped on springs, I could barely see any illumination at all in front of my car. I have tinkered with my headlight adjustments more than most people ever will, to get them just right. As a matter of fact, I just adjusted the passenger side one 30 minutes ago, when I got home from work.

As for that screw you loosened, as long as you tightened it back down, I don't think it should have affected your aim, especially up and down. Remember, driver's side one should be a bit lower than the passenger's side, to not blind oncoming drivers.

For adjusting vertically, clockwise on the inner screws for down, and vice versa. For the right and left adjustment, clockwise is inward and vice versa for outward, but I wouldn't mess with those.

I also included a good headlight adjustment DIY for ya...Headlight_Aim_Instruction.pdf

EM_5

Thanks for the quick reply. I did not anticipate that the Driver's will be that much higher than the Passenger's side after lowering (or maybe the Passenger's side became that much lower than the Driver's side). Any hoot, I have since, after your post, eyeball-leveled both to match the higher side. I will find a vertical wall and use your referenced PDF to get it right.

Since the car is lowered the same on the left and right side, why do you think the Driver's side became so much higher than the Passenger's side?

Thanks so much!

DrLev99

Someone else may be able to answer this better than I in terms of the auto-leveling issues after a drop. I know if you search, it's been discussed here. I am not sure why your driver's side light would be so off compared to the other side. And maybe messing with those screws that hold your light in place, did "screw" something up. Good luck...just keep tweaking it after driving around. You will get it just right after a while.

RootKit

The screw you mentioned just holds the headlight in place. A while back I took the left and right headlights out to change the "angel eyes" bulbs. When closing the garage i noticed the light beams (left and right) doesn't look level. I loosen the screwd a little bit and position the headlight slightly and rescrew it back again. That solves the problem--and I never messed with the aiming.

I know Rudy posted the instructions for headlight aiming. By shining it against the garage or flat surface i think you can get it pretty well leveled to your likings IMHO.

here it is....

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=...st&p=237331