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Adjusting Headlights and Fog Lights

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Old 09-03-2009
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Adjusting Headlights and Fog Lights

Hey All,

After installing my new black headlights and new fogs i cannot seem to position them right. My old headlight casings were missing the piece that adjusts the headlight. Now with my new ones i have all the pieces and everything is on properly. When i adjust the screw ontop of the headlights it moves the light by an inch (all the down or up) It seems as though when its as far up as it can go its not even that high. On my old headlights i stuck a piee of foam between the bottom of the headlight and the frame to make the headlight sit up further.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to aim the headlights higher as i can only see 10 feet infront of me. Also when i turn my fogs on they are at tree level (lighting up the top of trees) I tried adjusting the screw with the spring but no matter how loose or tight i get it the light barely changes.

CRAZYbright
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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i told you before, take to a shop and get them aimed, its not that expensive
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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Yeah i just figured what else would they do differently?

Considering there is not much more that can be done
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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smokin too much weed maybe? its pretty easy to aim headlights...

to answer the question though, what year truck are we talking about here? The owners manual also tells how to aim the headlights i believe.
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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Originally Posted by 08XLT4x4
smokin too much weed maybe? its pretty easy to aim headlights...

to answer the question though, what year truck are we talking about here? The owners manual also tells how to aim the headlights i believe.
Quite possibly yes..

Also i have an 05 ranger edge
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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theres little adjuster bolts. From what i understand (i have no firsthand experience here) those blacked out headlights you get on ebay have crappy adjusters. you should be able to switch in the adjusters from the factory headlights and it will work fine... but your old ones didnt have the adjuster? How did your headlights work at all? lol!

any pics of the foglights? are they OEM in a foglight valance?
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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You need to start with pulling the entire headlight assembly out.. there are three adjusters - lets count them like this:


1.............2
................
...............3

Keep 2 exactly where it is, take 3 - and get yoruself some pliers, and a small metric drive and make the white part loosen up (Twisting left = further away from the headlight). This will cause the bottom of your headlight to push out, which in turn, pushes the beam up higher.

After you adjust the bottom, put it about 3/4 of an inch from the end of the screw. Re-install the headlight, and use a standard screwdriver to re-aim the headlight where you see fit on the number 1 screw, its the readily adjustable one.

This will let you aim your headlights up - a good rule of thumb, and as per standard - every 25 feet it shoudl drop 3 or 4 inches.

In terms of running HID's, double that ratio - at 25 feet it shoudl drop 6 or 7 inches.
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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side view, with headlights off


front view, headlights/fogs on


front view, headlights off


close up


Top View




**************Random but i thought i would take more pictures while i was at it*********************

12' JL Audio Sub (vented)


JL Audio AMP


Head Unit (alpine)
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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Ill post night pics later on tonight. Im going to follow your instructions mike and adjust the other 2 bolts. I was only adjusting the top one with the screw.

Thanks for the info.

ps. i ordered white silverstars for my front turn signals and chrome amber bulb for side markers
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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Here is a good pic of what it looks like from the side
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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Yep, its that bottom screw that gives you a more final adjustment - when I first bought my truck and rolled it off the lot - I was in teh same situation, headlights.. even as far up as they could go, were only like 25 feet in front of the car - popped them out and fully adjusted them and ddi the proper 25' - 3" drop
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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Originally Posted by WowMike2001
Yep, its that bottom screw that gives you a more final adjustment - when I first bought my truck and rolled it off the lot - I was in teh same situation, headlights.. even as far up as they could go, were only like 25 feet in front of the car - popped them out and fully adjusted them and ddi the proper 25' - 3" drop
Yeah my stock ones were the same way. I couldn't figure it out so i finally just used wire and it fixed it. Like i said the point of me buying new headlights was so i didn't have to do this.

Im running into a bit of an issue. I can't seem to find a small enough socket wrench that fits around that bottom screw, ive tried clamping it and then using pliers to twist the white part more towards the top of the screw. It just wont give.

Any Suggestions?
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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Originally Posted by weedandwomen
Yeah my stock ones were the same way. I couldn't figure it out so i finally just used wire and it fixed it. Like i said the point of me buying new headlights was so i didn't have to do this.

Im running into a bit of an issue. I can't seem to find a small enough socket wrench that fits around that bottom screw, ive tried clamping it and then using pliers to twist the white part more towards the top of the screw. It just wont give.

Any Suggestions?
Grip it real hard - When I adjusted mine I didnt have a socket size small enough for it at the time.. I just gripped both ends with a pair of pliers and started twisting - its a pain in the read end.. those things are -really- on there..!


Once you manage to get it near the end (Only if you have a small enough socket) you can actually reach your hand down into the headlights area and put a ratchet onto the end of that and loosen/tighten it.. its a tight fit, but thats how I got my own projectors lined up properly
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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Originally Posted by 08XLT4x4
theres little adjuster bolts. From what i understand (i have no firsthand experience here) those blacked out headlights you get on ebay have crappy adjusters. you should be able to switch in the adjusters from the factory headlights and it will work fine... but your old ones didnt have the adjuster? How did your headlights work at all? lol!
My black head lights came with the adjusters put together backwards. So the part that locked in place with the metal clip was to the inside. I had to take the adjusters apart and reverse the plastic part that actually clipped into place. With out the adjuster reverse the headlights fit, they just couldn't adjust cause they didn't have anything to hold the adjuster.
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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I think i finally fixed my headlights, i got them positioned and everything. they still may be a little 'high' or 'off'

Also for the fogs they are still up to high i need help on adjusting those.

Im going on a quick drive right now to take some night pics and everyone can see what they look like. Be back in 15 min with pics :)
 
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Old 09-03-2009
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Headlights & Fogs


Just Headlights


Heads/Fogs again ( not the same position as the second image, i drove forward alittle)
 
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Old 09-04-2009
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you need to aim those fogs down a tad. You realize how blinding HID foglights are?
 
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Old 09-04-2009
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I need to know if i am adjusting those fogs right. There is a bottom screw with a spring. It seems the only way i can lower my fogs is if i take the spring out?
 
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Old 09-08-2009
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The aftermarket headlights I used had to have the top adjustment screw shortened a little to allow the full upward movement of the assembly.
The top stud hit the radiator brace and still needed the light to be adjusted up approximately 1", so I cut the stud; worked great.

Don't cut too much and be careful not to use too much force if you leave the headlights in the truck while trying to cut the studs.
 
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Old 09-08-2009
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Originally Posted by weedandwomen
I need to know if i am adjusting those fogs right. There is a bottom screw with a spring. It seems the only way i can lower my fogs is if i take the spring out?
Just take teh lower area of the fog light with the stud in it, and pull on it - if it doesnt adjust it means its probably stripped (Happens EASY.. my own are both stripped).. pulling on it will let you adjust it pretty easily.
 
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