Since so many people have been picking up the recalled 06 headlights and installing them on their cars without doing any sort of aiming, I figured it was about time this was posted so you don't go around blinding all the other drivers on the road. Improper aiming leads to all sorts of beam issues and glare for other drivers and is extremely inconsiderate. If you have ever removed your projector headlights, or even had the recall work done, check your cutoff using this guide, as none of the dealerships seem to be performing any type of aiming at all.

Tools:
Long thin phillips head screwdriver
Tape measure
Masking tape

Find a location with a flat wall and level ground that you can use as your measurement surface. Aiming is done at a distance of 25ft from the wall, so the area needs to be decently sized. Warehouse/industrial areas are usually good places, find somewhere at night with little ambient light so the contrast is better.

Park your car on level ground 25ft from the wall measured from the front of the projectors, leaving the lights on. Pop the hood to locate the adjustment screw for the projectors. Pics below show how to adjust them. I don't remember if clockwise is up or down, but its pretty easy to figure out by just turning the screw and seeing which direction the lights go.






Below is the alignment guideline for how to aim your headlight cutoff.

A.
This is your reference line, it is the distance between the ground and the middle of the projectors. Measure this distance with the tape measure, and transfer this to the wall, making a straight line parallel to the ground at this height with the masking tape. All your aiming is based off this line, so make sure it is straight and the right height

B. This is the amount of slope the headlights have to meet DOT specs. At 25ft, the lower step of the cutoff should be 2.1-2.5" below the middle of the projector, which is the reference line in red that you marked using the masking tape previously. Check each headlight seperately to make sure the lower step falls on this line.

C.
This is the distance between the projectors, and is measured between the centers of the two projectors. This distance on the wall is measured between the slopes of the two projector cutoffs. This measurement is to make sure the projectors are actually pointed straight ahead. Another way to make sure is to drive towards and away from the wall and see if the two angled slopes move left and right. If they aren't pointed straight, either loosen the headlight bolts and adjust them until they are straight, or remove the headlights and adjust the two 8mm bolts on the rear which adjust the horizontal alignment. This is a tedious process and will require multiple removal/reinstalls

D. This is the distance from the projectors to the wall as mentioned before, 25ft. This is the standard distance for measurement performed to meet DOT specs.

Make sure that the lower and upper cutoffs are even with each other and that they are parallel to the ground. If they are rotated/angled, its likely the way the headlights were installed, and you need to loosen the bolts and adjust them around until they are level.

Hopefully now at least we can limit the amount issues with people installing recalled headlights, or those who have removed/ installed 06+ headlights. This needs to be done EACH TIME the headlights are removed and reinstalled as slight alignment issues can wreak havoc on cutoffs.

 

great write up!

 

uhmmm i might need to do this....yea im pretty sure i do hhaha

 

Nice write up!

Is there any way to adjust the tilt of each headlight? For ex... the cutoff one one light could be like / or like \ , but wants to be more horizontal, like - .

 

thanks! very useful

 

Usually this is an install error, and the headlight bolts need to be loosened and adjusted slightly until its horizontal again.

 

Isnt the drivers side supposed to sit like this / slightly?

What is that called by the way? cutoff? gradient? I need to learn my headlight terms.

 

thanks for the write up. ill def. do this soon

 

no, the cutoff should be perfectly horizontal, if its angled then its usually an install error

 

nicee writee up !

 

ive been super lazy to fix the cut off i think my driver side is a little higher than passenger side...

 

thats the one that blinds oncoming traffic. Fix it asap. It takes no more than 5 minutes once you find a decent wall

 

awesome write up. My passenger headlight was fine...but the driver's side needed to go lower.
BTW, if you turn the adjustment screw clockwise, it lowers the beam and if it's turned counterclockwise, it raises the beam.

 

im doing this tomorrow night..lol..but awesome write up man..

 

thank you for the writeup