How to adjust car headlights: do-it-yourself guide

Properly adjusted headlights are a key aspect of driving safety, ensuring visibility at night or in adverse weather conditions. Misaligned headlights can impair vision and dazzle other drivers, putting yourself and others at risk.

This guide will take you step by step through the adjustment of your car's headlights.

Step 1: Know your car's system.

Familiarise yourself with the headlamp adjustment mechanisms specific to your car, generally located on the rear of the headlamp assembly.

• Consult your vehicle manual for the exact location of the screws.
• Look for screws or bolts marked L (left or vertical) or H (horizontal)

Step 2: Park and line up the car.

Carefully position the car so that it is perpendicular to the wall and about 7 to 8 metres away from it.
A garage door will also do.

• Make sure the car is level and the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.
• Position the car about 7 to 8 metres away from the wall.

Step 3: Preparation.

Before starting, you will need a phillips screwdriver, a piece of tape and a flat, level space next to a vertical wall or garage door.

Depending on the screws, the tool used to unscrew/screw them may change.

Tools needed:

• Phillips screwdriver (depending on screws/bolts)
• Wrench (depending on screws/bolts)
• Hex wrench (depending on screws/bolts)
• Tape measure

Now, follow these steps:

1. Adjust the vertical alignment by locating the screw or bolt. The top of the beam should be aligned or slightly below the actual height of the headlight. Use a screwdriver to raise or lower the beam.
   
   
2. Adjust the horizontal alignment by locating the screw or bolt for horizontal adjustment. The light should point directly in front of the vehicle and slightly to the right side of the driving lane. Shift the beam to the left or right using a screwdriver.
   
   

Ensure that the headlights are correctly aligned for optimal visibility while driving.

Step 4: Test e messa a punto

Turn on the headlights and observe the light beam on the wall:

• The brightest part must not shine higher than headlight level and must project straight ahead with a slight cadence.
• If the light beam is uneven or misaligned, continue to align it until it is.
  
  Compare the headlamp adjustment with the illustrative image above.
  
  

Safety Warnings

• Park the car and switch off the engine before starting any headlight adjustment.
• Do not look directly at the light beams when they are on.
• Work in a well-lit area.
• Keep all tools and small parts away from children.

Common problems and solutions

• If one headlamp shines higher than the other, adjust the vertical alignment until they are equal to avoid dazzling other drivers and ensure clear visibility of the road.
  
  
• For misaligned horizontal lighting, adjust until the maximum intensity is straight ahead and slightly to the right of the lane (for left-hand traffic).

Conclusion

Regular maintenance of your car headlights is important for your safety and the safety of others on the road. If you feel uncomfortable or uncertain about making these adjustments yourself, seeking the help of a professional is always a wise choice. By making regular adjustments, you can ensure that your headlights work at their best and contribute to safer driving conditions for everyone.