Headlight adjustment

[cruzer]

After 2 tries, the dealer still hasn't been able to aim my headlights where I want them. The Fog lights hit the ground 5 feet in front of the car ? Does anyone have the directions for do-it-yourself headlight and fog light adjustment----sure would appreciate any help, Maury :help:

[Bradley G]

Hey Maury,

I believe the fog lamps have no adjustment.the headlamps are aimed differently right from left. Drivers side is not aimed as high as passenger side.what are you trying to accomplish?
Bradley G

After 2 tries, the dealer still hasn't been able to aim my headlights where I want them. The Fog lights hit the ground 5 feet in front of the car ? Does anyone have the directions for do-it-yourself headlight and fog light adjustment----sure would appreciate any help, Maury :help:

[MM2004]

Not sure about the headlights. I did, however, read a thread on a deflector in the fogs that can be removed giving greater light distance?
Tomorrow morning, I take my car to the body shop for a facelift due to the accident I was in two weeks ago. I will ask the shop foreman how this is done.
The below pics are of the Sylvania Silverstar bulbs that are very, very bright. They will be going in mine today/tomorrow. Gonna try and "bribe" the body shop to put in the fog bulbs since the fascia is being replaced.;)

Mike.



After 2 tries, the dealer still hasn't been able to aim my headlights where I want them. The Fog lights hit the ground 5 feet in front of the car ? Does anyone have the directions for do-it-yourself headlight and fog light adjustment----sure would appreciate any help, Maury :help:

[cruzer]

Hey Maury,

I believe the fog lamps have no adjustment.the headlamps are aimed differently right from left. Drivers side is not aimed as high as passenger side.what are you trying to accomplish?
Bradley G
Brad, my headlights are only giving object recognition illumination for about 100 feet in front of my car--the right light is illuminating the center stripe on a 2 lane road and my left light is straight ahead--at any speed over 30 mph, I am overdriving my lights---my '99 GM has perfect adjustment---not high enough to bother guy ahead in rear view, but gives good distance illumination---left light aims straight ahead and right light illuminates about 15 ft of the shoulder--excellent for 50 or so at night--I am considering bright-stars--will check them out. Old eyes need all the light they can get , but I will not give the guy in front of me any problems. I plan to match the MM to the '99. Thanks, Maury

[Bradley G]

I am overdriving my lights---my '99 GM has perfect adjustment---Quote
That explains it!, YouR Marauder is so fast that the headlamps can't keep up!:bs:
Bradley G

[Embassy]

This guide is for '98 to present Vics and GMs. It should be relevant for Marauders.


1). Remove plastic shroud (the one with the three plastic retainer tabs under the hood)
2). Pull the 4 metal tabs from the headlamp assemblies. You will need to use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to remove them. Stick one of the noses into the tiny hole on the top of the tab and pull them out.
3). Catch the lamp assemblies.
4). Use a 1/4" ratchet with a 5/32" socket and place it over the metal shaft (with the threads) on the topmost knob. This is the one on top of the smaller knob (you do not need to touch the knob that is by itself).
5). Set the ratchet to loosen, and grib the plastic knob with the pliers. Start ratcheting while holding the knob still. Let the knob go down a few threads.
6). Reassemble but do not lock the metal tabs, use them to secure it for aiming purposes.
7). Turn on the low beams and see if it hits the target (25 ft standard procedure).
8). Re-do until it hits, repeat procedure for other lamp.
9). Use the this diagram:
http://www.redpulsar.us/~coldfusion/adjustment.jpg


Source:
http://www.redpulsar.us/~coldfusion/CrownVic.html#mods (http://www.redpulsar.us/~coldfusion/CrownVic.html#mods)

This tool will make the job much easier:
http://www.bobstools.net/Store/LS14540.html (http://www.bobstools.net/Store/LS14540.html)

[RF Overlord]

The below pics are of the Sylvania Silverstar bulbs that are very, very bright. They will be going in mine today/tomorrow.

Good choice, Mike... :up:

[cruzer]

This guide is for '98 to present Vics and GMs. It should be relevant for Marauders.


1). Remove plastic shroud (the one with the three plastic retainer tabs under the hood)
2). Pull the 4 metal tabs from the headlamp assemblies. You will need to use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to remove them. Stick one of the noses into the tiny hole on the top of the tab and pull them out.
3). Catch the lamp assemblies.
4). Use a 1/4" ratchet with a 5/32" socket and place it over the metal shaft (with the threads) on the topmost knob. This is the one on top of the smaller knob (you do not need to touch the knob that is by itself).
5). Set the ratchet to loosen, and grib the plastic knob with the pliers. Start ratcheting while holding the knob still. Let the knob go down a few threads.
6). Reassemble but do not lock the metal tabs, use them to secure it for aiming purposes.
7). Turn on the low beams and see if it hits the target (25 ft standard procedure).
8). Re-do until it hits, repeat procedure for other lamp.
9). Use the this diagram:
http://www.redpulsar.us/~coldfusion/adjustment.jpg


Source:
http://www.redpulsar.us/~coldfusion/CrownVic.html#mods (http://www.redpulsar.us/~coldfusion/CrownVic.html#mods)

This tool will make the job much easier:
http://www.bobstools.net/Store/LS14540.html (http://www.bobstools.net/Store/LS14540.html)
Thanks, Embassy---I'll try it later this week---I am really frustrated with the way dealers adjust headlights here in Texas--have never had them right---either scaring the birds or looking at the ground in front of the car--I've rigged my own targets by adjusting my lights by actually following my daughter's car while she tells me by cell phone if they are too high---again thanks, Maury

[David Morton]

I adjusted my headlamps myself because my experience of what the books say, recommended procedures, aiming tools, etcetera have always tended to confuse the basic premise of headlamp aiming, that the lowbeams don't shine in the eyes of oncoming drivers.

The owners manual was actually very good and had a simple procedure outlined that I have used for years.

Use a piece of tape to mark the height of the headlamp beam where it hits a wall with your bumper an inch away. Back the car away about thirty feet and if the lamps are higher, lower them, if they're lower, raise them, to about an inch below the tape. There is no left/right adjustment. At this rate of decline they'll be ten inches lower at 300 feet. All this assuming a flat driveway.

I noted that my headlamp assembly shines a rectangular stepped beam, like wide stairs going up from left to right with the right step about an inch higher so I used a piece of cardboard to block off the left light, adjusted the right one so the higher step was just under the line and then adjusted the left lamp so it looked like there were three steps. This gives me a good pattern with the best view of the shoulder without blinding the other drivers. I've never had anybody flash me.

As for the foglamps, I kinda like the fact they shine on the dark area under the lowbeams. Try to remember, they're foglamps. Ever see a guy with those bolted-under-the-bumper aftermarket foglamps on his truck and he seems to think it doesn't matter that they shine in your eyes? I hate those morons. Hence, I don't try to emulate them.

[dwasson]

I adjusted my headlamps myself because my experience of what the books say, recommended procedures, aiming tools, etcetera have always tended to confuse the basic premise of headlamp aiming, that the lowbeams don't shine in the eyes of oncoming drivers.

The owners manual was actually very good and had a simple procedure outlined that I have used for years.

Use a piece of tape to mark the height of the headlamp beam where it hits a wall with your bumper an inch away. Back the car away about thirty feet and if the lamps are higher, lower them, if they're lower, raise them, to about an inch below the tape. There is no left/right adjustment. At this rate of decline they'll be ten inches lower at 300 feet. All this assuming a flat driveway.

The high school near my buddy's house has a flat stretch of parking lot and someone has painted a grid on the wall for aligning headlights. My buddy says that it has been there for over ten years and everyone in the area uses it.

[Mikeenh]

Maury,
Try laying off the sauce for a while. http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/c0/evillol.gif

[Mongoose]

If I'm not mistaken, the procedure for do-it-yourself head light adjustment is in the owner's manual. I remember adjusting mine over a year ago. The fog lamp housings do have an ajustment screw also.

[ckadiddle]

I am overdriving my lights---my '99 GM has perfect adjustment---Quote
That explains it!, YouR Marauder is so fast that the headlamps can't keep up!:bs:
Bradley G
I agree! Stop driving faster than the Speed of Light. I know it helps you foil those laser based speed detectors the cops are using, but cut it out.

[cruzer]

Thanks, everyone for the advice and comments ;) I read the owners manual cover to cover when I got my car---but I didn't remember seeing anything on headlight alignment---and there it is on page 40--simple adjustment--will do it tomorrow. Since the problem is solved, I guess we can close this thread--Thanks for the :help: Maury

[David Morton]

I agree! Stop driving faster than the Speed of Light. I know it helps you foil those laser based speed detectors the cops are using, but cut it out.Actualy, Einsteins' theory on relativity predicts he will be able to shine lights ahead of him at the speed of light but we won't be able to observe his lights before he hits us. That's what's dangerous about his behavior. :D

[Hotrauder]

David..that's funny especially since it is true.:D Dennis

[jim geary]

I am overdriving my lights---my '99 GM has perfect adjustment---Quote
That explains it!, YouR Marauder is so fast that the headlamps can't keep up!:bs:
Bradley G
That's very good Brad. I read that and almost spit my coffee out. Way to
go.:puke:

[BUCKWHEAT]

After 2 tries, the dealer still hasn't been able to aim my headlights where I want them. The Fog lights hit the ground 5 feet in front of the car ? Does anyone have the directions for do-it-yourself headlight and fog light adjustment----sure would appreciate any help, Maury :help:

Maury, I found that my left foglight holding nuts had vibrated loose. In fact one was just gone. You can reach in from the back and see/feel whether the light assemble is loose from the bumper.