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Fog Lights: Can they be aligned?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by andrewsilver, Jan 6, 2010.

  1. andrewsilver

    andrewsilver Enthusiast

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    I installed HID's in my fog lights on my 2007 Prius Touring, as well as the bypass mod so I can turn on the fog lights without the headlights.

    However with the brighter HID fogs I'm noticing that the left side shines higher than the right.

    Are there any adjustments I can make on the fog lights to align them correctly?

    thx in advance.
     
    #1 andrewsilver, Jan 6, 2010
  2. Aegison

    Aegison Member

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    Yes, they can be adjusted up and down -- here's how per a repair manual:

    Working from underneath the front bumper:

    • Insert screwdriver into front fender liner foglight service hole.
    • Rotate screw to adjust foglight.
    • Clockwise: Foglight Bean aims higher
    • Counterclockwise: Bean aims lower
    I'm about 90% sure it's a phillips-head screw driver. Each fog light has its own access hole.

    The manual also specifies all sorts of conditions you should satisfy before adjusting, like:

    • full gas tank
    • oil at full level
    • engine coolant at full level
    • Inverter/transaxle cooland full
    • Tire pressures correct
    • No luggage or cargo
    • Driver only, no passenger. Driver weight 68kg (150 lb.)
    From what I've heard, however, in lieu of these conditions, some have simply adjusted the fog lamp beam height in relation to low beam brightness cut-off level. Essentially, the fogs shouldn't be aimed higher than the low beams, and maybe not even that high.

    I had PIAA bulbs put into my fog lights, and raised the aim, and they're still not up to the performance the fogs on my Sebring give -- which is more light straight ahead, and considerably more light cast to each side.
     
    #2 Aegison, Jan 9, 2010
  3. andrewsilver

    andrewsilver Enthusiast

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    Many thanks Aegison. When it says "Working from underneath the front bumper", do you know if it means that the adjustment is accessed from the back side of the lens (i.e. from inside the bumper pointing the screwdriver forward)?

    I don't see a service hole on the front of the lens from the outside. thx.
     
    #3 andrewsilver, Jan 9, 2010
  4. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    There is a hole in the bottom rear of the foglamp assy. You insert a phillips #2 screwdriver in the hole, and turn clockwise to raise and counterclockwise to lower the foglamp aim. It appears the screwdriver phillips "flutes" engage tabs on a washer to turn the screw, which is actually horizontal (you are inserting the screwdriver vertically from below).
     
    #4 David Beale, Jan 10, 2010
  5. Aegison

    Aegison Member

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    I've uploaded a scan of the repair manual page which shows both a schematic of the fog light assembly and the [overdone] directions for adjusting them. A full size picture of that page is in the Pictures section of the website.

    This supports David Beale's post, which said "There is a hole in the bottom rear of the foglamp assy. You insert a phillips #2 screwdriver in the hole, and turn clockwise to raise and counterclockwise to lower the foglamp aim. It appears the screwdriver phillips "flutes" engage tabs on a washer to turn the screw, which is actually horizontal (you are inserting the screwdriver vertically from below)."
     
    #5 Aegison, Jan 10, 2010
  6. andrewsilver

    andrewsilver Enthusiast

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    Thanks David and Aegison. Found it. The splines are white, and the shaft of the phillips screwdriver needs to be at least 4" to reach it. Thanks again.
     
    #6 andrewsilver, Jan 10, 2010
  7. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    That sounds like a BRIGHT mod...what did you get, and where did you find it???

    PM me if you want, or a quick reply here would be appreciated. You have piqued my curiousity, as well as a need for MORE LUIMNS at night drive time!!!
     
    #7 KK6PD, Jan 10, 2010
  8. andrewsilver

    andrewsilver Enthusiast

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    I got the HID Xenon kit (including the Xenon bulbs and ballasts) from a place on ebay for $55.99 including shipping (HIDXtra was the name of the company), in 5000k which is supposed to be the OEM white color. They are slightly blue compared with the Prius HID's. The intensity is so much greater compared to the non-HID fog bulbs - with the regular bulbs I could not even tell they were on. The HID's in the fog lights really work. I was so impressed that I installed another set on my wife's 2006 Honda Odyssey as the main headlights - and it made an even bigger difference. Obviously don't expect the Prius fog lights even with HID's to light up the road as well as headlights - they aren't a replacement, just a supplement.

    The place I bought them from now offers the kits for only $41 including shipping for return customers. So I ordered another set in the 3000k color, which is supposed to arrive shortly, we'll see if they more closely match the Prius HID's. I've often wondered why the Toyota HID's cost around $1800 to replace when these aftermarket ones are only $41 - but I won't go there. Next time I wouldn't get the HID's from Toyota - would instead just use a set of these in the main headlights. They offer bi-Xenon bulbs as well (for hi and low beam), they cost a little more.

    The bypass mod obviously enables you to run the fog lights without the headlights being on. I've done the modification twice. It's really a simple thing to do - it's just so hard to get access to the wires that you need to splice. But it works great now.

    Only thing is when you switch from high beam back to low beam and the fogs are on, you get the HID ignition flash each time - since the fogs are off when the high beams are on, then come back on again when you go back to low beams. I think it's actually kinda neat, but if you switch between high beams and low beams a lot with the fogs on, it could get a little annoying.
     
    #8 andrewsilver, Jan 10, 2010
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