How to Aim and Align your Headlights Correctly

Stop using the standard 2" & 4" drop, these elevations change according to light height. States have min and max projection distances for the low beam. generally 135' minimum and 200' maximum. If you use the 2" drop @ 25' on headlights that are 42" you'll projected the beam @ 520' and not the state maximum. STOP BLINDING OTHER DRIVERS . 42" height @ 25' should be 5.25". Use the formula (42/200)x25=5.25" below center line. ( bulb centerline / light projection feet ) x the distance you are projecting it to ( test wall, test board or other ) it could be anywhere from 10 feet to 50 feet.

Fog lights have a maximum of 135' projection, so get those adjusted correctly too.

Should the main driver of the vehicle be in the driver's seat since their weight will affect the height of the headlights? What about horizontal adjustments? How far apart or close to center do you want the lights to shine?

Measure from the floor, not the ground, unless you're working outside.

It would appear to me that the purpose of this video is to hone the skills of auto repair technicians. Graphics and explanation on how to use the graphics are poor. First thing that needs to be done is instructions on how to construct an headlight alignment board. It leave up to the imagination of the viewer as to where on the headlamp to place the little dot. I assume that it would be directly in front of the light bub.

Thank you so much. I just bought a set LED bulbs to replace a dead pair of halogens and I noticed that the cutoff was a lot higher than before. I did as you advised and I am very happy with the results. My lights are now well bellow the rear window of the cars ahead, nobody has flashed me when coming the other way, and the illumination I get is way better than before.
You got a new fan here.

Lived most of my life in Texas, where car inspections are mandatory and lights get yearly adjustments. Now I live in Oklahoma, where cars never get inspections. When a drivers lights are misaligned, they never gets adjusted unless the driver feels up to it.

Thanks so much your video was very helpful in adjusting the headlines on my 2008 Infiniti qx56 ...I was blinding other drivers and I know its dangerous both for them as well as myself...😢..thanks a million.😊😊

What a most excellent video. I was just getting ready to take it to our trusty dusty repair shop and came across this video and I'm sure you just saved me a lot of Moola!! Thanks Bro!! 1A Auto will now be my first Stop to Shop!!

Very helpful 😊

Did I miss the ballpark left right aim location should be?

Excellent video Thank you very much

Possible translation into Arabic ❤

Good information, Thank you

And in states where this is part of the check for Vehicle Safety Inspection for license plate renewal this is very important. The phrase "Watch where you are driving. Keep your eyes on the road" come to mind. You have to see the roadway and conditions in advance to be safe. It's also true, you can 'overdrive' your headlights if the vehicle speed is greater than what you can see in advance to take evasive/precautionary action. All impacted by headlight aim. Thanks for the excellent presentation of this facet of motor vehicle safe operation!

Thank you so much!

I like how all Toyota tundras trucks come standard with electric up and down aiming lights for carrying loads so you can push a switch on the dashboard to aim the lights down if you have a heavy load. I wish other trucks had this standard option 😕.

This was an awesomely educational video, thank you for your time and knowledge !!!

Now if you have a lift kit it’s not the same and I’ve seen we’re you put bigger wheels on throws them off

Just curious as to adjusting the left/right part of headlight aiming. Where should they point left to right?

This is the first video of correct aligment for headlight. This is more professional than most videos I have seen!

My right side seems to be pointing to the left! 2015 Jeep grand Cherokee. Is there a left to right adjustment?????

When you were bringing your left headlight down, I would have lowered it to where it was too low, then bring it back up for a better visual. I know that's a little overkill but that;s just my OCD kicking in... Thank you for this, it was very detailed and easy to understand.

thanks.

Very helpful! Thanks for sharing and taking the time to make this video.

Hi, may I ask if my country driver side is at right, so left passenger there will adjust aim higher than right side ?

Any tips for fixing a broken adjuster. I turn my adjusters but the headlights don't move.

The tape crosses on your plywood are about 2” difference in height from left to right…..intentional or not??

Many thanks from the UK 😊

Is it the same screw for adjust low and high? Thanks.

Well done. Thank you.

Can you make a video or tell us the parrameters for fog lamps ? Thank you.

Based on the 2nd method, how far should i back up my car?

Yes, excellent and thorough. thank you

Excelente 👍

Excellent explanations thanks

Did anybody mention if you adjust while in high beam or low beam?

Not clear at all

I read somewhere the ideal distance ANY headlight should reach out is 200 feet in front of your vehicle, for your DRIVER SIDE headlight. Using 200 feet is not practical so they settled on 25' as a good practical distance for measuring the drop. The ideal distance for the passenger side, I believe, is 400', but I won't do the numbers on that one since it generally doesn't blind oncoming drivers.

If you have an average headlight height of say 32" and you want your beam to reach 200', or 2400", then you have to calculate the proportional drop between 25' or 300", and 200' or 2400". The formula would be as shown below, where you're solving for X, the drop at a distance of 25', or 300"

32"/2400" = X/300", 2400X=9600, X=9600/2400, X=4" drop at 25' distance. An even simpler way to calculate the drop is to take the height of your headlight and multiply by 1/8, or .125. This simplified method is for when the distance is 25 feet to the wall.

You can substitute your own headlight height, but the rough numbers are going to be around 4" for an average car.

don't think my car has those haha

I just installed new headlights in a 2003 Subaru Forester and aligned them using this procedure. Used a 55” TV box for creating the light beam map. Was easy, fast and accurate. Thank you for creating this superb video. I’m in your debt. “ATTABOY!!!”

I worked in a auto supply store. We had a gentleman that would come in an get headlights all the time and he always asked us to check the alignment of the headlights. It was so hard because he was very cross eyed and people would laugh when he asked but he truly was a sweet older man so I never laughed at him but I felt bad that many people did.

Good stuff. Thanks guys.

Excellent video, thank you!

Would this be the same for a truck ??

I get the not tryin to blind oncoming driver but why would you want your beam to not be on the same level

how do you determine where the headlight axis is?

May i know the distance of the headlight to the alignment board?

This was worth watching. Other videos on headlight adjustment miss key parts like the passenger light will be higher than the left to elliminate blinding other drivers, and that you need to do this on a level surface. This got my lights finally correct. Thanks!