Checking Headlight Aim
- Park the vehicle on a level surface, 25 ft (7.6 m) away from, and perpendicular to, a vertical screen or wall. Shut down the engine and set the parking brake. Chock the tires.
- On each headlight, find the bulb center behind the headlight lens.
- Measure the distance from the ground to the center of each
headlight bulb (see Fig.,
Item A). Note those distances.
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Measure the distance from the ground to the center of each headlight bulb.
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Mark where the center of each headlight projection should appear.
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Screen or Wall
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Center of Right-Hand Headlight Projection
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Center of Left-Hand Headlight Projection
Fig. 1, Headlight Aiming Screen/Wall
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- On the screen or wall, mark the locations of each low-beam headlight bulb center using the distances found in step 3. See Fig., Items 2 and 3.
- Turn on the low-beam headlights.
- Check the horizontal aim of the low beams. The center of
each beam projection should fall on or near the marks made during
step 4 (see Fig.,
Items 2 and 3).If the center of any projection is more than 3.9 in (100 mm) to the side of the marks made in step 4, adjust the horizontal aim of that headlight.
- Check the vertical adjustment of the low beams. The center
of each beam projection should fall on or near the marks made during
step 4. See Fig..
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Low-Beam Angle Upper Limit
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Ideal Low-Beam Projection
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Low-Beam Angle Lower Limit
Fig. 2, Vertical Low-Beam Headlight Variation Limits
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- See Table. to
determine the maximum vertical distance allowable between the marks
on the wall and the center of each low-beam projection.If the distance between either projection center and the mark made on the wall or screen is greater than the maximum distance given in Table., adjust the vertical positioning of that headlight.
Table 1, Vertical Low-Beam Headlight Variation Limits
Vertical Low-Beam Headlight Variation Limits
Distance Between Ground and Headlight: in (mm)
22–36 (560–900)
0
3.9 (100)
3.9 (100)
36–48 (900–1200)
2 (50) down
2 (50)
6 (150)
48–54 (1200–1400)
4 (101.6) down
1.6 (40)
6.5 (165)
Table 1, Vertical Low-Beam Headlight Variation Limits
- Turn on the high-beam headlights. Ensure the beam projections are parallel to the ground. If the beam projections are not parallel to the ground, adjust the positioning of the high-beam bulbs.
Note: See the following heading, Adjusting Headlight Aim , for adjustment instructions.