Headlights Aimed Too Low?

same situation here. i have 2008 model

 

Look at the back of the headlights for a knob that resembles an upside down bottle cap. The "bottle cap" has a white knob on it. Turn it counter clock wise to raise the headlights. Use a wall to gauge how much you are raising the light. It takes quite a few turns to do it. You can use a ratchet socket or you can use a large philips screw driver.

 

My car was in a minor scrape at 400 miles. It now has 1200.

They had to replace a headlight and I was charged for "aiming."

Since then, I ALSO think they are too low. But honestly, I hadn't driven it at night before the accident, so I don't know if they were that way before the body work?

Is there some sort of specification they follow for each car like for 08 Prius 2 degrees to top or something, or do they just eyeball these?

I might go ahead and try adjusting mine...maybe...

 

HID or halogen? (i.e., do you have foglamps?)

 

My 2005 seems to have the opposite problem of headlights too high, as I sometimes get flashed by oncoming cars. This only happened a few times and I thought because they are so bright. But it seems to be more preverlent in Delaware, when down there I am getting flashed all the time. So I too would be interested in some spec.

 

With the HID lamps in the U.S., you should check the auto-levelling feature before you do a manual adjustment. Point the headlights at something where you can see the pattern, then go stand on the rear bumper. The light pattern will rise as you compress the rear suspension. After a few seconds, the auto-leveller should kick in and bring the pattern back down. Get off the bumper and watch it adjust again. If the auto-leveller is working okay, then you can think about a manual adjustment. If it isn't, you may be having trouble with the level sensor on the left rear suspension.

Tom

 

I just took my 2008 in for a low headlight adjustment... Free under warrenty. Still have to drive in the dark to see if it did anything usefull. But the slip said they did something.

 

I have a 2008, same problem. I tried the bumper trick and I hear some whirring but there is no change in the level. I also noticed last time I turned on the lights it seemed that they started out a little higher then lowered. I think I will bring it to the dealer.

 

Need some knowledgeable clarification(from someone who actually has adjusted their lights------please)

Earlier post says -abottle cap thing, with white top and ,,counter clockwise to raise level

My 2007 has a bottle cap type thing, with what looks like a #10 metric socket nut on top. No place for a philips screw driver.

My Clymers manual says clockwise to raise ccw to lower.(I'm assuming viewed from sitting in the drivers seat)

So what is really correct ???
Thanks.

 

This reminds me of a debate that I had with my wife last week. Is counter clockwise and clockwise a relative direction depending on where you are facing -- or is it an absolute?

 

Raise: Counter Clockwise from the driver's seat.

When you turn the screw driver clockwise, the bottle cap looking dial will rotate CCW. Use the philips head screw driver as a gear set. The philips head will index with the bottle cap teeth.

The arrows are where you insert the philips screw driver:

 

i have a 2006 standard headlights and they are aimed too high... weird.

 

Steamboat thanks for the picture.

All of this makes no sense at all. Why the screw driver ?

It just makes sense to turn the #10 nut...does it not.

I was looking for a phillips head screw....

Please see my pic-no place for a screw driver at all..wouldn't work .

 

looking like you need an offsetting socket to me....a ratcheting wrench probably would not work.

 

My 2004 the headlights were so high the low beams were lighting up the top of hydro poles.

 

You engage the philips screwdriver into the slot as shown by the arrows. Not from the back, from the top/side. It would be a very tight fit to get a socket on the adjusting star.

The groves to slip the philips into are very small. Here they are on my FJ, much better designed