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2007 HID Headlight Adjustment

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by simul8r, Jan 11, 2008.

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  1. simul8r

    simul8r New Member

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    EDIT--(I realized too late that I posted this in the Technical Discussion Forum--sorry!)

    I was looking through the forum on how to adjust the headlights up/down and I didn't come across exactly what I needed. However, after spending a few minutes with the hood up, I found what I was looking for and decided to share with everyone else.

    (I can only testify as to the adjustment of an '07 with HID lights as that's what I've got):

    1. Where: Looking at the back of the headlamp assemblies (while facing the engine) you'll see a knob with a white plastic nut--this is the knob that will adjust the headlight's beam either up or down.

    2. Tool: I used a plain 5/16" boxed-end wrench; however, if you've got a ratcheting one, it will be a perfect match.

    3. Procedure: Staring down at the back of the headlamp assembly, while facing the engine, you can turn the plastic nut either clockwise (CW) or counter-clockwise (CCW) very easily. CW will lower the beam; CCW will raise it.
    I found that it was easiest to adjust the right headlamp standing in the front-middle of the car, and for the left to lean over the left front fender. This way you are not blocking the light you need to make the adjustments.
    (I made the adjustments by shining the headlights onto the outside of my garage door at night.)

    As far as the height of the beams, I just wanted to be sure I wasn't going to blind anyone--so I just used trial and error with my own two eyes and a couple of trips up and down the street.


    I hope this can help someone!
     
    #1 simul8r, Jan 11, 2008
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  2. PRIUS007

    PRIUS007 James Bond -007

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    I don't know how this might affect this, but from my understanding, the headlights 'Auto Adjust' based on current vehicle load. There is a sensor on the left rear suspension that adjusts it based on the level of the vehicle due to passenger and fuel load.
     
    #2 PRIUS007, Jan 12, 2008
  3. diamondlarry

    diamondlarry EPA MPG #'s killer

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    Perhaps the procedure that simul8r described adjusts the base setting?
     
    #3 diamondlarry, Jan 12, 2008
  4. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    How much of a turn to be significant?
     
    #4 lenjack, Jan 13, 2008
  5. simul8r

    simul8r New Member

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    Correct. What I was talking about has nothing to do with the auto-adjusting feature. I was trying to adjust the base position of the lamps.
     
    #5 simul8r, Jan 23, 2008
  6. simul8r

    simul8r New Member

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    I had to turn the knobs quite a few times, mostly because there is not a lot of room to turn a ratchet/wrench.
    I don't know the exact number of rotations, unfortunately; however, it was quite a few (my headlamps were aimed very high).
     
    #6 simul8r, Jan 23, 2008
  7. llajr

    llajr New Member

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    Thanks for help...My 2007 has silver adj knob & can be turned by fingers. Service personel have told me not adjustable. from newby LEO
     
    #7 llajr, Oct 9, 2008
  8. firepilot17

    firepilot17 New Member

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    Simul8r, your headlights were to high? Mine are so low that I worry about hitting something. I'm going to try turning those knobs tonight. Excited about it. I even contemplated removing the fog lamps and putting in my own driving lights.
     
    #8 firepilot17, Oct 14, 2008
  9. firepilot17

    firepilot17 New Member

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    It worked! Turn the knobs counterclockwise to raise, clockwise to lower. In other words, when you are facing the car, turn them to the right. Uses I think an 8mm wrench.
     
    #9 firepilot17, Oct 17, 2008
  10. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    How many turns?
     
    #10 lenjack, Oct 17, 2008
  11. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    Can we clarify? It's not clear which direction does what. Turning the wrench CCW facing the car from the front is not the same as turning the adjuster CCW. What if you think of it as tightening or loosening a screw? I don't mean to be obtuse, but I'm head scratching over this.
     
    #11 lenjack, Nov 9, 2008
  12. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    I hope no one minds, but I'm going to bump this. Thanks
     
    #12 lenjack, Nov 12, 2008
  13. warrior

    warrior New Member

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    wouldn't it be best to use metric tools?
     
    #13 warrior, Nov 13, 2008
  14. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    Yes...8mm is the best fit. Doesn't answer my question.
     
    #14 lenjack, Nov 13, 2008
  15. EZW1

    EZW1 Active Member

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    Simul8r: so sorry for asking, but when you reference CW and CCW, you say CCW will raise the beam and CCW generally 'unscrews' unless you have left-handed threads. So, it your CCW referenced while facing the engine? Generally, when referring to a CW or CCW turn of a piece of hardware, you are facing the hardware, which would mean you are facing the back of the headlight assembly, not the engine. Could you clarify?
     
    #15 EZW1, Dec 21, 2008
  16. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    See my post of 11/9 above. I had the same confusion, but after adjusting it the wrong way, I figured it out. Never mind the engine. Turn it as if you are facing the hardware. "Tighten" the screw to lower the beam, "loosen" the screw to raise the beam.
     
    #16 lenjack, Dec 21, 2008
    cjohnsonmn likes this.
  17. DGH

    DGH Thread Terminator

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    Thank You!
    Now locked into memory banks as, loosen up and tighten down.
     
    #17 DGH, Dec 25, 2008
  18. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    You're welcome. Looked up agnatology...very amusing. I think it's a federally sponsored project!
     
    #18 lenjack, Dec 25, 2008
  19. boomer57tux

    boomer57tux New Member

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    Mine was aiming too high too after I changed both headlights ...It's late now but tomorrow I will open the hood and find that famous "adjuster" that everybody is talking...do you have a pic of this adjuster or where to find it?
     
    #19 boomer57tux, Feb 7, 2013
  20. Sirius

    Sirius Junior Member

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    First picture is the zoomed in picture of the plastic bolt.
    Second gives you some context. This was taken on the driver side. I am standing behind the headlight, closer to the side mirror.
    The passenger side bolt is more difficult to get to as its blocked by some type of hard plastic stuff.

    Edit: My Prius is 2006 w/ HID Headlights
     

    Attached Files:

    #20 Sirius, Jul 25, 2013
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