Headlight alignment

[garyf]

Hi all
I fitted a set of new Lucas headlights a couple of weeks ago and have been flashed at loads of times since(lol)
I cant find any pictures of measurements like what is below in the mk4 Cortina Haynes manual
Could someone be so kind and point me in the right direction of a Stag headlight diagram so I can sort them out
thanks
Gazza

20200212_210747.jpg

[DJT]

Do you have a local, friendly MOT garage who could help?

[Bakdraft007]

Here is DVLA's guide... although I haven't had chance to review it yet....

https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk...t-is-changing/

I too need to set mine up post fire and refit..... I will let you know how I get on at the weekend.

Dave

[flying farmer]

I get on a quiet country lane at night and stand in front of each headlight in turn so I can check the beam pattern of the opposite one and adjust as necessary.

Easy for me as I only have to drive 1/4 mile to find a straight bit, more of an issue if you live in a city

You can see the beam pattern if you shine it against a flat wall.

If one is obviously too high you can adjust that one down. If they are both too high wind them both down. You will know when you have over done it as you won't see far enough on dip beam

Neil

[Phil S]

as a fairly good way, park 20 ft from a wall, the beam height should be the same as the centre of the light unit from the ground

[dasadrew]

as a fairly good way, park 20 ft from a wall, the beam height should be the same as the centre of the light unit from the ground

Yep! I thought that was what those lock-up garage forecourts were for - nice level concrete expanse and loads of vertical garage doors at any distance you choose!

Drew

[macstag1]

Yes Drew that's what I thought, my Stag lives in a very well locked lockup garage, but sadly the forecourt falls away in every direction and having very recently fitted new headlamps I will soon book my car in with Halfords at one of their service centres where for £15 they will align them. Yep I will be removing the 5 bits of the grill first.

Cheers Mac

[Ritchie6]

as a fairly good way, park 20 ft from a wall, the beam height should be the same as the centre of the light unit from the ground

That's the way I always used to do mine- very old school but it seemed to work.

Richard

[marshman]

I have always done mine in my garage. Shut the garage door. Push the car as close to the door as you can. Turn the headlamps on, main beam. Mark the beam centres on the door with a cross. Push the car back as far as you can (about 5 ft in my garage). Check that the beam centres are still on the marks on the door. Adjust if not. Final check, switch to dipped bean and make sure the beam is deflected down and to the left and there is a clear defined cutoff. Never failed an MoT on beam alignment doing it this way.

It is not just the beam height that is important but also that they are aiming straight ahead and not deviating to the left or right.

Roger

[jakesmig]

.............. Yep I will be removing the 5 bits of the grill first.

Cheers Mac

You don't need to remove the grilles, there are cut outs where the adjustment screws are located.

[wilf]

Yes - I tried to use those cut outs, unfortunately they don't seem to align with the adjuster screws...............so I don't blame Mac in the least for not letting Halfords try to undo them.

[macstag1]

Absolutely Wilf, I only trust those Halford mechanics up to a point, I had them try to fit a rear wiper to my daily driver and failed. I witnessed a young Halfords guy fitting plastic wheel trims to a customers car, he had got three on and was trying to force the fourth one on as I walked passed, he didn't want to believe me when I pointed out that the space saver spare wheel that was fitted was smaller than the other three wheels. When I left the store he was still trying to get it to fit.

cheers Mac

[Phil S]

correction...edited by moderator

keep it factual or face the big moderator stick

thanks

[StagJonno]

correction...edited by moderator

In fairness to Halford mechs, I've had excellent service on at least 4 x occasions where the guys really knew their stuff and had detail knowledge of my various cars.

[macstag1]

You did notice I spelt mechanics in italics?
Mac