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93 Headlight adjustments 850 1993

posted by  Shaughnessy on  Tue Mar 1 00:04 CST 2016
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last visit: Fri Oct 3 23:53 CST 2014
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I changed my lenses over the weekend, and I think in the process I must have caused them to become unaligned. I removed the headlight assembly to get the lenses on, and I think I must've nudged, and therefore accidentally adjusted the knobs. I thought I thought I put them back in their original positions, but it seems that they're both a little low.

I've tried looking for some threads about it, but seem to run into threads about later models.

I know where the adjustment knobs are, but I'm wondering what specifications do I use to make them correct?

As in, "at 20 feet, the center line of the drivers side headlight should be X inches above the ground, and the passenger side headlight should be Y inches above the ground".

Is there such a specification?
--
1985 245. 246K Gone..but not forgotten.








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    93 Headlight adjustments 850 1993

    posted by  james_a_sousa on  Sun Apr 3 17:46 CST 2016
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    last visit: Thu Oct 23 18:51 CST 2014
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    You might check if your DMV has an article on headlights.

    What Klaus is trying to tell you is that the highest that the light can aim is level or below the height that the filament is inside the headlight.

    On a car, front lights cannot aim UP - the beam must be level or down. If your car is regularly heavily loaded, you should adjust the beams then.

    If the beams aim up at all, they WILL blind oncoming drivers at a distance.








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    93 Headlight adjustments 850 1993

    posted by  KlausC on  Tue Mar 1 10:27 CST 2016
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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    There is no spec as all cars are at different heights.

    The correct procedure? Drive up to a wall as close as you can - level surface. Tape a piece of paper in front of each headlight and then mark where the hottest low beam light is with a very dark pen. Then back up the car about 20 feet. The light from the headlight should be at the same place as before or 1 inch lower. This is when you make the adjustment.

    You can also check the left/right pointing of each light, it should still point to the same place on the paper.

    But, it seems that the headlights were not positioned correctly when you put them back on. Those 10mm bolts can easily be stripped, so I apply a lot of hand pressure to the front of the glass before snugging down the bolts.

    Each headlight also has a level glass in top for a quick, but not accurate, aiming.

    You cannot adjust your high beams.
    --
    Keeping it running is better than buying new








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      93 Headlight adjustments 850 1993

      posted by  Shaughnessy on  Tue Mar 1 11:19 CST 2016
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      last visit: Fri Oct 3 23:53 CST 2014
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      How about this, on the car in front of me, where should the headlight beams show up?

      --
      1985 245. 246K Gone..but not forgotten.








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        93 Headlight adjustments 850 1993

        posted by  KlausC on  Tue Mar 1 11:32 CST 2016
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        last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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        Same procedure, just don't use black ink that won't wash off the trunk!!
        --
        Keeping it running is better than buying new








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          93 Headlight adjustments 850 1993

          posted by  Shaughnessy on  Tue Mar 1 11:39 CST 2016
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          last visit: Fri Oct 3 23:53 CST 2014
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          What I mean is what height should the beam ideally be?

          Because you can adjust it so it's too low, but still fits in the requirement, right?

          So hows this. At 25 feet, the centerline headlight beam should be X inches off the ground.

          What is X?
          --
          1985 245. 246K Gone..but not forgotten.








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            93 Headlight adjustments 850 1993

            posted by  KlausC on  Tue Mar 1 15:40 CST 2016
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            last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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            Because all cars, makes, and models are of different height, there is NO spec for how high/low the beam is to project unless it points into the oncoming car.

            That is why the paper and backing up 20 feet.
            --
            Keeping it running is better than buying new








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              93 Headlight adjustments 850 1993

              posted by  Volvo From Heck on  Sat Mar 5 17:09 CST 2016
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              last visit: Mon Oct 13 20:56 CST 2014
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              OP wrote--"What I mean is what height should the beam ideally be?" If you're going to adjust them using another car -- do this -- Back your car up to a reasonable (not tailgating) distance -- sit in the target car -- if your lamps blind you in the target car they're too high--adjust accordingly. -- Dave







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