Headlight Height Adjustment

[c0l]

With a full complement of drums and hardware in the back, the headlights on my 2003 Avant look more like searchlights! Half the problem is that the height adjuster switch is on its lowest setting even when the car is empty and the lights are pretty much spot on for height. Is it an easy job to tweak the lights down a bit?

cheers

colin

[Crasher]

They need checking for level at an MOT station with the level control set to 0. Does the car squat excessively at the back when loaded?

[c0l]

Hiya,
thanks for the reply. The car is fine when empty, and it doesn't squat excessively when loaded, its just that the drum stuff is bl**dy heavy and it does make a difference.
I take it level 0 is the lowest light setting? If so, mine is set on level 0 when the car is empty and this setting is perfect.
What it does mean though is that I can't turn the lights down when I'm fully loaded. I'd rather have the lights set so that the normal unloaded position is position 1 or 2. Then I could turn them up or down as circumstances dictated. Is this easy to do?

cheers,

col

[Crasher]

Position 0 is the highest and 3 the lowest so at no load you run it on 0 and fully loaded, on up to 3 if required.

[c0l]

Spot on Crasher, I had my numbers the wrong way around. My lights were perfectly adjusted on position 3 when empty which meant I couldn't lower them further when loaded.
Anyway, I've solved the problem. Last night I drove the car up to the garage door - which happens to be white, left the lights on and marked the beam positions with a pencil. I loaded up my drums, then set the beam adjuster to position 1, then, using a hexagonal bit, I tweaked the individual adjusters for both main and dip under the bonnet to set the lights back to the pencil marks. Result! Driving to work this morning, the lights were far better, and I have enough leeway to adjust them up or down using the internal adjuster.

[Crasher]

When your next MOT comes up, they will probably still fail when in position 0.

[c0l]

No worries, now I know they're OK, I'll tweak 'em down a bit more so that they're set right on position 0. I just wanted a bit of temporary leeway,

cheers,

col

[RickT]

just to let you know..

If you open the bonnet theres a hex key adjuster on the top of each headlight so you can manually adjust up or do... (set it when the incar adjuster is on ZERO.)

Rick

[c0l]

cheers Rick,
found 'em thanks. All is well now,
colin

[RickT]

cheers Rick,
found 'em thanks. All is well now,
colin


Good stuff.. Glad i helped.

Rick

[Audidua]

And which one of hex key adjuster is for horisontal and which is for vertical adjustment? There's two of them on top of each headlight!

[pete99]

And which one of hex key adjuster is for horisontal and which is for vertical adjustment? There's two of them on top of each headlight!
also- where do I go when adjuster does NOT work ? Thats the problem I have now .
Hope someone can help !! 'Please' :o

[RickT]

also- where do I go when adjuster does NOT work ? Thats the problem I have now .
Hope someone can help !! 'Please' :o

the thread inside is plastic and the "cream" plastic "nut" which fastens to the end tends to spin..

2 options... get a new unit.. or remove it and try to manually move it.. (its ticky and a pain!!)

Been there... done that as they say..

I ended up using a zip tie to increase the presurre on the plastic piece which connects to the thread.

Rick

[pete99]

the thread inside is plastic and the "cream" plastic "nut" which fastens to the end tends to spin..

2 options... get a new unit.. or remove it and try to manually move it.. (its ticky and a pain!!)

Been there... done that as they say..

I ended up using a zip tie to increase the presurre on the plastic piece which connects to the thread.

Rick
Thanks for advice Rick- I'll have a look tomorrow.
Hey- when you say 'get a new unit' -- is that just the adjuster bar thingy ?. If so- dont suppose you have the part number ??
I hate struggling !!
Cheers, Pete