Headlight adjustment madness. Please help!

[jaredking733]

Alright guys, I've been wrestling with adjusting the headlights on and off all day and night and I was getting pissed off so I had to take a break.

Anyways, I've always noticed that the passenger side headlight appeared to be "higher" than the drivers side. Tonight I went and got a long #2 screwdriver from Harbor Freight and reading some past posts about how to move the nuts to aim the lights one way or another, I decided to give it a go.

After getting it all nice and screwed up, I am in need of your help.

Does anyone know of a way, or have a method (factory recommended or not) to "reset" the lights so I can start fresh? As in, screw them all the way in, then back out each one X amount of turns? Is there such a thing?

It's not like it can't be driven the way it is, it's just not right and now it's driving me crazy. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[KidVermicious]

How to Adjust Car Headlights: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

 

[jaredking733]

How to Adjust Car Headlights: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Will give it a try.

Thanks so much.

I think there is something else going on that this particular guide may or may not cover, but we will see.

BRB

 

[piecesparts]

First of all, I adjust my headlights on my 4 Runner by using a socket on an air ratchet and that makes it quick and easy. Second the Toyota headlights have a design in the headlight glass that makes the upper right corner of the light extend above the center of the light beam. Park your vehicle about 25 feet away form a smooth flat upright surface and adjust them to where your middle beam is set where you want it, then the part that kicks the light up higher on both lenses will fill in areas above and off to the right to illuminate the edge of the highway as it needs to.

 

[GVL]

I'm pretty sure the passenger side is supposed to be higher than drivers side for down range illumination (done on passenger side since further from oncoming traffic). At least that's the way my last 4 vehicles have come from the factory so assume it's intentional.

 

[jaredking733]

First of all, I adjust my headlights on my 4 Runner by using a socket on an air ratchet and that makes it quick and easy. Second the Toyota headlights have a design in the headlight glass that makes the upper right corner of the light extend above the center of the light beam. Park your vehicle about 25 feet away form a smooth flat upright surface and adjust them to where your middle beam is set where you want it, then the part that kicks the light up higher on both lenses will fill in areas above and off to the right to illuminate the edge of the highway as it needs to.

Well that's the thing that's throwing me off...

I'm getting that little extra above the right side, but its coming...from the driver's side light? Cover up the passenger side light and the part that looks "high" is still there but over on the passenger side.

I can't figure that out. I don't get the same from the passenger side light over on the driver's side.

Anyways, I just went back out and counted the threads on each, made each of them the same as the one on the opposite side, and calling it good. Took it out on the street and the adjustment is fine, but the "high" part that started all of this is still there, but I'm finding out that it's not worth the headache.

Plus, when I install my rigid ditch lights on the brackets from cbi next weekend, it won't matter anyways. :biggrin1:

 

[jaredking733]

I'm pretty sure the passenger side is supposed to be higher than drivers side for down range illumination (done on passenger side since further from oncoming traffic). At least that's the way my last 4 vehicles have come from the factory so assume it's intentional.

I like the way you think. Sounds good to me.

Think of it as a "feature." lol

 

[96 ToyRunner]

Can someone post a pic of their stock headlights and how the beams look because mine riverside is adjusted as much as I could do but its still ground pointed but the passenger side is normal like this but driver side a little higher _-

 

[MyHigh]

I too had a hell of a time trying to adjust my headlight, sadly the PO put in new kdy or something like that in before I bought it. I could never get them to be halfway decent. One thing I noticed for me was the cone reflector inside the lights were al screwed up and pointing in odd directions. To cure this problem I took the bulbs out and then inserted a screwdriver inside the light to move the cone around a bit, couple tries later and they are now halfway straight and doing a better job.