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Headlight Adjustment

Headlight Adjustment

Now the JK gets a little more detailed on headlight alignment than the TJ or LJ was.

VEHICLE PREPARATION FOR LAMP ALIGNMENT
1. Check for and correct any burnt out bulbs.
2. If the vehicle is equipped with headlamp leveling, be certain that the headlamp leveling switch is in the 0 position.
3. Repair or replace any ineffective, worn or damaged body or suspension components that could hinder proper lamp alignment.
4. Verify proper tire inflation pressures.
5. Remove any accumulations of mud, snow or ice from the vehicle underbody and clean the front lamp lenses.
6. Verify that there is no load in the vehicle (cargo or passengers), except for the driver.
7. The fuel tank should be FULL. Add 2.94 kilograms (6.5 pounds) of weight over the fuel tank for each estimated gallon of missing fuel.
8. Verify correct vehicle suspension height.

ALIGNMENT SCREEN PREPARATION

Alignment Screen

1. Tape a line on a level floor 7.62 meters (25 feet) away from and parallel to the flat wall that will be used as the lamp alignment screen. The level floor will be used as the horizontal zero reference.
2. An adjacent wall or floor member that is perpendicular to the alignment screen can be used as the vertical zero reference. If there is no adjacent wall or floor member that is perpendicular to the screen, tape a second line on the floor perpendicular to both the alignment screen and the first line, and outboard of either side of where the vehicle will be positioned. This will be used as the vertical zero reference.
3. Position the vehicle so that the side of the vehicle is parallel to the vertical zero reference, and so that the front of the lamp lenses are in the vertical plane of the parallel line taped on the floor 7.62 meters (25 feet) away from the screen.
4. Rock the vehicle side-to-side three times to allow the suspension to stabilize.
5. Jounce the front suspension three times by pushing downward on the front bumper and releasing.
6. Measure the distance between the optical center of one of the lamps being aimed (head or fog) and the floor (horizontal zero reference). Transfer this measurement to the alignment screen with a piece of tape placed horizontally to the floor. This line will be used as the lamp horizontal reference.
7. Measure the distance between the vertical zero reference and the optical center of the nearest lamp being aimed (head or fog). Transfer this measurement to the alignment screen with a piece of tape placed vertically across the appropriate (head or fog) lamp horizontal reference. This is the centerline reference for the first lamp.
8. Measure the distance on center between the first and the second lamp being aimed. Transfer this measurement to the alignment screen with a second piece of tape placed vertically across the appropriate (head or fog) lamp horizontal reference. This is the centerline reference for the second lamp.

HEADLAMP ALIGNMENT
NOTE: Due to the linear nature of the headlamp cutoff, a properly aimed low beam headlamp will project the top edge of the high intensity pattern on the alignment screen from the horizontal line to 50 millimeters (2 inches) below the horizontal line for domestic market vehicles, or to 125 millimeters (5 inches) below the horizontal line for export market vehicles. No horizontal (right/left) adjustment is required for this headlamp beam pattern in domestic market vehicles. Export market vehicles have a second horizontal (right/left) adjustment screw provided. The high beam pattern will be correct when the low beams are properly aimed.

Headlight Adjustment      


1. Turn the headlamps ON and select the LOW beams for vehicles in all markets.
1a. Cover front of the headlamp that is not being adjusted.
2. On all vehicles except those with headlamp leveling, use a screwdriver to rotate the headlamp vertical adjustment screw (1) on each headlamp to adjust the beam height as required. You will need a torx screwdriver.
3. For export markets only, use a screwdriver to rotate the headlamp horizontal adjustment screw (2) on each headlamp to adjust the beam right or left as required.
3a. Cover front of the headlamp that has been adjusted and adjust the other headlamp beam as instructed above.


 

 

FOG LAMP ALIGNMENT
NOTE:
A properly aimed front fog lamp will project a pattern on the alignment screen 100 millimeters (4 inches) below the fog lamp centerline and straight ahead of the lamp

.Fog Light Adjustment

1. Turn the fog lamps ON.
2. Insert a screwdriver through the clearance hole in the underside of the front bumper (1) to rotate the vertical adjustment screw (2) on each fog lamp to adjust the beam height as required.

This page last updated: 16-Apr-2008

Content and Design © 2002-present WanderingTrail,  Ronald Seegert
Common Sense and Safety should always be observed when working on your vehicle or doing modifications. Jackstands, wheel blocks, disconnecting the battery are a few of the basic safety precautions that should be used and may not be mentioned in the write ups on this site. You are responsible for your own installation, these write ups are a helpful guideline and should not be taken as an official installation instruction. My write up may be different from the kits currently out there, so alwasy double check the manufacturers installation instructions when installing anything. I try to keep the site up to date with changes that have occured as I discover them, but may not have the latest unless someone lets me know. If you feel that an install is above your capabilities after reading my write ups, I recommend getting together with a club and getting some help. Only a few times have I needed to employe some actual help from a shop to get something done. Usually welding or A/C work. While I have spent many years working on mechanical systems, I am not an expert, nor do I pretend to be one. I hope these write ups have been useful to you.
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