Headlight aims too high from factory? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

guytdt · 09-12-2011, 10:18 AM

Anybody thinks so?

When I picked up my car and drove home, I notice my headlight shining up and down near the rear mirror of the the sedan in front of me.

rupert08 · 09-12-2011, 10:50 AM

Mine were too high as well and needed adjusting. It gets even worse towing or with any weight in the rear. There was a previous thread about adjusting your headlights with photos that you can search if needed.

***sweeneyp*** · 09-12-2011, 11:24 AM

mine were aimed WAY high with the back unloaded when I first got it. Even worse when i had cargo in the back. I've noticed a lot of toyota's come that way, in particular tundra's, they always seem to be aimed high as they are always shining straight into my eyes at night. If you have an 08-10 HL you can adjust it with the screw on the back of the housing. I'm not sure how to adjust it on a 2011+ year HL

bschurr · 09-12-2011, 12:16 PM

I actually had the exact opposite rpoblem. My lights were pointed way low. There is a 8mm nut on the back of the lights in between where the harness connects to the bulbs. IIRC counter clockwise raises and clockwise lowers the beam.

If performing your own adjustments, please just be sure to measure the heights while using an acceptable guide/method for proper adjustment and dont simply raise or lower with reckless abandon... (PSA over)

guytdt · 09-13-2011, 08:54 AM

Look like it is aimed correctly. The headlight sits at 36 inch (Counting from center where there is a little dot) and at 25 feet, it's about 33.5-34 inch. However, that's still too high. I intend to adjust it down another 2 inches (at 32 from 25 feet). Idea?

***sweeneyp*** · 09-13-2011, 10:08 AM

Well a 2" drop every 25' is correct when it comes to aiming. If you make it a 4" drop your going to lose quiet a bit of distance. Is it still shining into cars in front of you? On my 08 I have a 1" drop every 25 feet on my projectors and they never shine into mirrors/windows unless i hit a bump and the light "bounces" up there. Though my lights are not 36" in the air, I believe mine are a good 3 inches lower. It might just be you will have to make the drop 4" and deal with less distance since toyota decided to mount the headlights so high. That or let it shine a little into into the cars in front, let them know your there

guytdt · 09-13-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweeneyp

Well a 2" drop every 25' is correct when it comes to aiming. If you make it a 4" drop your going to lose quiet a bit of distance. Is it still shining into cars in front of you? On my 08 I have a 1" drop every 25 feet on my projectors and they never shine into mirrors/windows unless i hit a bump and the light "bounces" up there. Though my lights are not 36" in the air, I believe mine are a good 3 inches lower. It might just be you will have to make the drop 4" and deal with less distance since toyota decided to mount the headlights so high. That or let it shine a little into into the cars in front, let them know your there

At 2" drop, it's not shining at rear window, but at side mirror. I guess I will try 3" first and see.

R1ceRocket · 09-13-2011, 11:57 AM

At 25 feet, I have it at a 2 inch drop, so when I'm behind someone, the light doesn't reach their rearview or their side mirrors, but since my lights are weird and curving upwards more to the far outside, it does actually shine on cars in the next lane and oncoming traffic.

I then dropped the light another inch on the drivers side, so hopefully that'll help.

guytdt · 09-13-2011, 07:55 PM

Play with it tonight. I actually drop it at 4" so at 25 feet, the cutoff line is at 32".
Works great but I believe it's still high for many incoming drivers.