Headlight Adjustment

Topic: Headlight Adjustment (Read 2165 times) previous topic - next topic

Headlight Adjustment

January 23, 2011, 11:47:34 PM

Does anyone know how to adjust the headlights on an 87-88 Thunderbird/Cougar? I'm going to try adjusting them again. I've polished the out of them, repainted the inside reflective material, and they looked pretty good. But in all honestly if I turn my turn signal on, the one on the corners of the header panel shine further than my headlights. I kid you not. Now I don't have a alignment board, and I've asked two shops in town, and they don't either. So I'm not sure I can get them perfect, but at this pint anything would be an improvement.

I searched, but after twenty minutes, I figured It'd just ask. I couldn't

Headlight Adjustment

Reply #1 – January 26, 2011, 08:27:39 AM

anyone? lol I think they are pointed down to the ground too much.

Headlight Adjustment

Reply #2 – January 26, 2011, 08:42:19 AM

Are you asking how to adjust them, or how to aim them. This is what I use to adjust them. Kind of a pain to get to the screws, but this works well: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lisle-14540-Headlight-Adjusting-Ratchet-Ford-/330516719323?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item4cf454e6db To aim them, I just park on level ground in front of a wall where I can see the headlight pattern.

Headlight Adjustment

Reply #3 – January 26, 2011, 09:00:04 AM

Yeah, if you have a wall and level ground, you can aim them yourself.

In general, pull up close to the wall with the lights on, and mark the locations of the lights. There will be a definite demarcation line where the upper part of the beam is cut off. This will be your vertical mark. Also mark the horizontal center of that as well.

Back the car up about 30' (I think) and see where the beams are in relation to your marks. IIRC, you want the marks at 30' to be about 1/2" below the the vertical marks and about 1/2" to the right of the horizontal marks.

This means that the beams are aimed slightly down and to the right.

Headlight Adjustment

Reply #4 – January 26, 2011, 10:15:35 AM

That is what I was looking for. Thank you sir.

Headlight Adjustment

Reply #5 – January 26, 2011, 12:12:20 PM

OK, well I was off on the measurements a bit, but this should help.

http://www.coolbulbs.com/HID-VISUAL-HEADLIGHT-AIMING-PROCEDURE.pdf

Headlight Adjustment

Reply #6 – January 26, 2011, 02:17:17 PM

Thank you again.