How To Adjust Car Headlights The Ideal Alignment For Perfect Aim

Sometimes, when you drive and park your vehicle, the momentum compresses the shocks on one side of your car. You want the lights to be as ideally placed as possible! Alternatively, you can measure the distance to the ground from both headlights to ensure that the suspension itself is level.

You can also measure the distance from the floor to each bulb and then mark those measurements on the wall if you want to be extremely scientific.

If your two lights aren’t even, measure the distance from the ground to your bulb. Then, transfer that measurement to the wall to figure out which + sign is too high or too low. Redo that + sign.

Always defer to the specs in the owner’s manual—some manufacturers recommend different distances for proper adjustment, although 25 feet (7. 6 m) is the most common distance.

If the brightest points aren’t the center of each +, you need to adjust your lights horizontally. If the area above the horizontal line on each + is illuminated, you need to lower the lights. If the light is super low, they need to be raised. If your lights are too high, they can blind other drivers. If they’re too low, you won’t be able to see pedestrians and other cars in time to prevent accidents.

You usually have to pop the hood to access the bolts on the inside of the engine bay. In some vehicles, you just pop a flange off the rim of the light to expose the screws on the outside. Some cars may feature adjustment bolts rather than screws. On Hondas specifically, there is a bubble level on each headlight casing to help you confirm your lights are correct. You shouldn’t have to remove the light, but you may need to remove a coolant tank, cover, or panel to access the headlight casing. Refer to your manual for more info.

If you have a have a helper to sit in the driver’s seat while you do the adjustments, now is the time to ask them to hop in the vehicle.

The top of the most intense part of the beam should be even with, or just below the center of the line of tape you made. This way, you can see ahead while you drive without blinding other drivers.

If your lights “feel” off, they probably are. You should be able to see slightly beyond 25 feet (7. 6 m), which is 3-4 car lengths. Do this at night! You aren’t going to be able to see whether your lights are correct or not during the day.