headlight adjustment
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
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headlight adjustment
How are the LED headlights vertically adjusted?
I need to lower the beam.
It looks like there is a phillips head nut that is connected to an adjuster on the outer front of the light when looking down from under the hood. is that the adjuster? I don’t see anything else that looks like one.
Which way adjusts the beam which way?
I have searched, but did not find the answer.
Thanks
I need to lower the beam.
It looks like there is a phillips head nut that is connected to an adjuster on the outer front of the light when looking down from under the hood. is that the adjuster? I don’t see anything else that looks like one.
Which way adjusts the beam which way?
I have searched, but did not find the answer.
Thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 72
Since your truck is so new, you could probably get the dealership to do a proper job with their beamsetter. Just go in and say you noticed it's shining too high.....actually, if your service department is like most, I'd call first.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
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manual shows how to adjust them.
http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo...ngEnabled=True
pretty sure I am looking at the adjuster.
just need to know: does turning the adjuster clockwise raise or lower the beam?
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
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From: BC Canada
Just mark your existing low beam alignment beam (on the wall you will see some hot spots and the high cut off) on the wall with the truck 20 feet from a vertical wall in pencil ( I use my garage) and the start adjusting, in theory clockwise will raise the beam, counter clockwise will lower. There are some screws at the bottom that should be loosened a tad, then adjust, then tighten them up. Main thing is to document both low beam starting points with the truck sitting level, unladen. At twenty feet, I would want the cutoff line of the low beam to be below the top of the headlight a few inches, that way the beam is pointed down below approaching drivers eye line in lower vehicles. I used to do this on all Dad's cars when he bought new Bosch headlights assemblies and bulbs and I tacked their aiming paper on the wall at the correct height and distance from the vehicle. The other thing you want to be sure is that the headlights are both projecting directly forward, not left into traffic or to far right into the ditch, as this will leave you with unlighted spots. This is another reason why the above starting markings are important.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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I usually go to a straight dead end road at night. Bring. Rug or blanket to cover one set of lights at a time. Make my adjustment on high beams to where I want it to hit on the road. Then the low beam is what it is when finished But not too low.
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Fleet Mechanic
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Just make sure if you do this, because the hood will be up, not to let any of it drape in the engine compartment where it may get grabbed by the fan or serpentine belt. No good would come from that.
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I turn the engine off. And if you can get an electric screwdriver that works best because you can see it move and stop it where you want. Not wiggling the assembly when tightening up then got to go back and forth to get it correct.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
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“...in theory clockwise will raise the beam, counter clockwise will lower.”
is this the case on the new lights? for some reason I think I remember reading the opposite.
The problem I have is that I do not have a spot where I can park the truck 20ft from a wall on a flat surface to do the actual measurement and adjustment.
all the driveways I have access to are sloped. My garage is pretty short, I can’t park in it.
so I just want to be able to give the adjuster a few turns (in the right direction) to lower the beam.
I know these new lights do not have horizontal adjustments, just vertical
is this the case on the new lights? for some reason I think I remember reading the opposite.
The problem I have is that I do not have a spot where I can park the truck 20ft from a wall on a flat surface to do the actual measurement and adjustment.
all the driveways I have access to are sloped. My garage is pretty short, I can’t park in it.
so I just want to be able to give the adjuster a few turns (in the right direction) to lower the beam.
I know these new lights do not have horizontal adjustments, just vertical
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 156
please
thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
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From: BC Canada
Hang a sheet in your garage with the truck halfway in, Mark where they are to start, then do two turns clockwise, Mark, two turns counter, make sure on the same original Mark, then you will know. There is only one adjustment, it adjusts the low beam, you are lowering the high but it is much higher anyway. The only problem with closer distance is it will appear that the adjustment isn't very much but 20-30 feet out it is actually to much. You will also want to measure or mark the distance so you can repeat the markings to adjust further.
I still think it's clock wise, as the screw adjuster turns in, it gets longer and pushes the top over to lower the beam.
I still think it's clock wise, as the screw adjuster turns in, it gets longer and pushes the top over to lower the beam.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 156
Hang a sheet in your garage with the truck halfway in, Mark where they are to start, then do two turns clockwise, Mark, two turns counter, make sure on the same original Mark, then you will know. There is only one adjustment, it adjusts the low beam, you are lowering the high but it is much higher anyway. The only problem with closer distance is it will appear that the adjustment isn't very much but 20-30 feet out it is actually to much. You will also want to measure or mark the distance so you can repeat the markings to adjust further.
I still think it's clock wise, as the screw adjuster turns in, it gets longer and pushes the top over to lower the beam.
I still think it's clock wise, as the screw adjuster turns in, it gets longer and pushes the top over to lower the beam.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 156
clockwise is the direction to lower the beam.
how much lower is sufficient for a 2.5” level kit?
I rotated the adjusters 2 full turns (things feels like they are going to break
) and they lowered the top of the beam 1"
how much lower is sufficient for a 2.5” level kit?
I rotated the adjusters 2 full turns (things feels like they are going to break
) and they lowered the top of the beam 1"
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