Setting Headlights

[16v205 9]

Hi, had to swap my headlight adjusters today cause the thread was knackered but also cause the mot guy said the headlights were searching for moles!!

 

what im looking for is the measurments to mark the wall (height, spread or whatever it is), and also distance from the wall where i park the car so i can align them roughly for a re-test.

 

cheers for the help

[Guest turnip]

As far as vertical alignment goes...

 

"Visual aim is made with the center of the beam hot spot 1.5 inches below the lamp center at 25 feet with the lamp facing straight forward"

 

This is from an American headlight company, a good starting point if no-one else has anything.

 

If it goes wrong just remember to blame George Bush.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Basically approximately flat from the headlight to a wall

[Guest Gar]

I'm sure the haynes has a 'Make do' technique mentioned in it.

[sleeper205 0]

about 3ft up a wall which the car is 10ft away from.

 

sound about right?

 

that's what i was told, i *think*

[Guest Gar]

Here's what it says in my old polo haynes:

 

1. Position the car on a level surface with tyres correctly inflated, approximately 10m (33ft) in front of, and at right angles to, a wall or garage door.

 

2. Draw a horizontal line on the wall or door at headlamp centre height. Draw a vartical line corresponding to the centre line of the car, then measure off a point either side of this, on the horizontal line, corresponding with the headlamp centres.

 

3. Switch on the main beam and check that the areas of maximum illumination coincide with the headlamp centre marks on the wall.

 

Hope this helps. I used this technique on my old polo and it passed an MOT.