Adjusting headlights (aiming)

[Dan]

Hi,

The Haynes manual I have for my 1987 DL Wagon says that if you adjust/aim
the headlights yourself, it's only a "temporary" measure, and you should
still have a shop adjust them.

I'm curious as to why one would expect a shop to do a better job, assuming I
do all the proper measurements (e.g., distance from a wall, height of the
beam, etc.).

Thanks!

 

[Rick Courtright]

the headlights yourself, it's only a "temporary" measure, and you should
still have a shop adjust them.

Well, even life itself is "temporary" in the grand scheme of things, so
you need to look at the bigger picture: probably few people have a
proper area available to measure off the right distance, set up the
proper "cross hairs" on the wall, etc.

IMO, a shop won't do any better than you can IF you can set things up
properly, but some areas require headlights be aimed by a certified shop
as a part of required inspections. One of those bureaucratic things...

Having said that, I've had lights adjusted by shops, then had to come
home and redo them myself so I could see anything! Shops usually set
them way too low, and way too far to the edge of the road for my taste
(I do a bit of night time mountain driving, so it's nice to be able to
see!) If I overdo it and get flashed, I'll trim things out a bit, but
usually there's no problem. Naturally this is a YMMV issue.

Rick

 

[y_p_w]

Dan wrote:




Well, even life itself is "temporary" in the grand scheme of things, so
you need to look at the bigger picture: probably few people have a
proper area available to measure off the right distance, set up the
proper "cross hairs" on the wall, etc.

IMO, a shop won't do any better than you can IF you can set things up
properly, but some areas require headlights be aimed by a certified shop
as a part of required inspections. One of those bureaucratic things...

Having said that, I've had lights adjusted by shops, then had to come
home and redo them myself so I could see anything! Shops usually set
them way too low, and way too far to the edge of the road for my taste
(I do a bit of night time mountain driving, so it's nice to be able to
see!) If I overdo it and get flashed, I'll trim things out a bit, but
usually there's no problem. Naturally this is a YMMV issue.

I'm starting to miss my 1995 Acura Integra GS-R. The headlight
housing was adjusted via a crown screw that turned with a #2
Phillips screwdriver. It had a bubble level that was set at the
factory for proper aiming.