2014 Rogue LED headlight level

[Leo2005]

I wonder whats involved in replacing halo to led except harness. Im sure that's not gonna be a simple swap since led got about 6 wires coming out from projector comparing to halo/xenon

[Leonard1818]

interesting that the halogens are aimed similarly... would still wonder if there's a problem with it. I've never seen headlights that point UP

[drchompers]

Hi-

I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed this problem? I also have the 2014 SL AWD w/ Premium package- picked it up on Tuesday, and I feel like the lights are aimed way too high. I've had a few people flash their high beams at me, and I feel kind of bad that I might be blinding the oncoming traffic…

Thanks,
Dan

[Rockhound2.0]

I had a bit of a breakthrough tonight. After spending about 30 minutes driving at night this evening, blinding oncoming drivers and illuminating treetops, I decided once and for all to get to the bottom of this. I poked around under the hood and found what I believed to be an adjustment screw, but I didn't have enough space to actually adjust it. Then, a few futile web searches for a '14 Rogue service manual led me down a different path...

A friend of ours recently purchased a new Honda Pilot, and she too said that her headlights were aimed at an upward angle and that she was frequently being flashed by oncoming cars' brights. I began to search Pilot forums and lo and behold, found that there were several threads on the same topic. What I found was a screenshot of the Pilot service manual, indicating the leveling procedure using a phillips screwdriver (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Honda Pilot service manual headlight adjustment instructions:


Looking at our Rogue's headlight assembly, I recognized the vertical adjustment screw that I had already tried (unsuccessfully) to adjust (circled below in Figure 2). If I recall correctly, the screw needs to be turned counterclockwise to adjust the vertical aim downward. It would seem that our Rogue's headlights came adjusted near the top of the vertical travel - a safety issue for the driver as well as oncoming motorists.

In Figure 2, I'm at a bit of an angle, so I drew in some lines to indicate direction. If you insert a phillips screwdriver into the hole with what appear to be gear cogs, the notches on the screwdriver catch the cogs and turn the screw. Note that there is also a horizontal adjustment screw on the headlight housing, and it is found on the outermost portion of the rear of the headlight and has a plastic cap over it.

Figure 2 - 2014 Rogue headlight housing, pictured from above


Lastly, I pulled our Rogue out onto the driveway, approximately 20' from the garage door. I placed some tape at an acceptable level and proceeded to turn the adjustment screws until each headlight was properly aimed. You can see how high the unadjusted driver's side was aimed in this picture.

Figure 3 - 2014 Rogue headlight pattern during aim adjustment


It's a bit puzzling that a vehicle can be sold to the public with the headlights so improperly aimed. Either the adjustment isn't being done properly during assembly, or it's the result of a (failed) pre-sale checklist at the dealership. Browsing the 'net, it would appear that our Rogue is not alone in this regard.

I wouldn't blame anyone for wanting their dealership to make this adjustment, but thought I'd share for those of you who are eager to properly aim their headlights.

[Rogue One]

Nissan Rogue Factory Service Manuals http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nissan ... nuals.html

2014 ROGUE FSM PDF http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Rogue/2014%20Rogue/

HEADLAMP AIMING ADJUSTMENT PDF Page 114

[Leonard1818]

Good work Rockhound and thanks for the links Rogue One.

I really wondered if they had made a headlamp that was not adjustable!! These little clawed screws that you use a phillips-head to turn seem to be standard headlight aiming screws. Did you notice that it took a few good cranks for it to show a difference in angle? In other words (and from my experiences aiming headlights), the beam is not going to go up or down 5" with a 1/2 turn of the screw.

Customlightz.com used to have a really good page describing how to aim headlights but I can't get to their site right now. I believe it was that you made your head-on adjustment by measuring from the center of the projector to the ground, then pulling back like 20 or 25 ft from a wall (level ground) and adjust until the drivers side is 2" or so below the measurement from the projector to the ground. Mark this on the wall then back up another 10 ft. Then another 10 ft. The beam should NOT drop below the mark (or there is some tolerance for how much it can drop at different distances from the wall).

Then, pull alongside the wall as in my picture on p. 1 and check the downward slope angle. There was some measurement that for every XX feet, it should not drop XX inches when looking at it parallel with the wall.

Honestly, what I end up doing to aim my retrofit headlights is to back up 20-25ft from the wall and do the measurements (headlight to ground and on the wall). I mark this and then slowly back up. If it doesn't drop (and it shouldn't) then I pull alongside the wall. I typically find that the drop of the beam pattern when alongside the wall is mere inches over 70-80ft or so. This seems to be about right.

[Rockhound2.0]

Good work Rockhound and thanks for the links Rogue One.

I really wondered if they had made a headlamp that was not adjustable!! These little clawed screws that you use a phillips-head to turn seem to be standard headlight aiming screws. Did you notice that it took a few good cranks for it to show a difference in angle?

Thanks. I knew they had to be adjustable, but just hadn't found the time to poke around under the hood much. I figured the clawed screws must be fairly standard, but I hadn't encountered them before. Kind of embarrassing that I hadn't put two and two together to figure out how to adjust them until I saw the Honda Pilot FSM.

They required many revolutions to drop the cutoff about a foot @ 20' from the garage door. A single revolution of the screw resulted in a very minor adjustment.

Also, thanks Rogue One for the 2014 FSM links. Nissan's adjustment instructions leave a little to be desired as far as how to use a Phillips screwdriver from above (obviously common knowledge to service techs, maybe everyone but me!).

Also interesting that Nissan's FSM states that "by regulation, no means of horizontal adjustment is provided", as it clearly is; it's just another cogged screw behind a flimsy plastic cap.

Hopefully the much more descriptive Pilot FSM illustration and Rogue headlight photo shed some light (pun intended) on the adjustment process for people who stumble on this thread - clearly many Rogues are being sold with crazily un-aimed headlights.

[dimension6]

This is an interesting discussion. We're looking at getting a second car and buying the 3rd-row Rogue (not available in SL trim); does anyone think it will be possible to purchase the LED headlamp parts separately and install them after purchase? We have LED headlights in our Prius and love them. It's not clear if the headlamps are a drop-in replacement or if there are additional electronics/wiring required.

[dimension6]

As an update to my previous post, paging through the EXL manual above it looks like the main difference between the halogen and LED headlamps is in the auto aiming control system that is only found on the LED equipped cars. It's not clear whether the "IPDM" is the same between the two, but I don't see any evidence that it's different. The aiming control system installation/removal is found on page EXL-270. Something tells me that the wiring to the rear sensor is only found on Premium package SL models. The other issue, of course, is figuring out where to obtain the LED headlamp and adjuster assemblies...

[Bmaz30]

Hey! I have a 2014 premium package in white with the LED nighttime headlights. They are auto leveling too and I know what you mean! Although I have been high beamed many times already for them even by transport trucks going the same way down the highway. I've been given the finger once or twice already too. I spoke to the dealer and they said they are fine. Apparently there are sensors in the front and rear wheel area that measure angle for the headlights. Something isn't right because my wife's maxima with HIDs are bright but not NEaRLy as bright as the new rogues LED night time bulb!! If I'm driving through my neighbourhood the cars headlights literally shine up to the 2nd storey of my neighbors homes.

Brendan
Hamilton Ontario Canada

[Rockhound2.0]

I spoke to the dealer and they said they are fine. Apparently there are sensors in the front and rear wheel area that measure angle for the headlights.

Yep, gotta love dealer SOP: deny, deny, deny. They'll change their tune when there's a TSB on this in a few months (no, even when there's a TSB they'll still try to deny it). Yes, there is an auto leveling feature, but it can't overcome the headlights being egregiously unaimed. The leveling feature kicks in when the headlights are first turned on, as you can see the cutoff line quickly rise (and you can hear the servos if you stand outside the car). The manual aiming screws wouldn't exist if the levelers were sufficient on their own.

This is clearly a safety issue for Rogue owners and oncoming drivers alike. Prior to properly aiming ours, our Rogue's lights barely lit up the roadway ahead; instead they illuminated nearby trees, rooftops and overhead road signage.

Luckily aiming yourself them is quite easy.

[lettcco]

I am almost ready to pull the trigger on a 2014 Rogue, but I want the family package and LED headlight (which as you might know, is the difference between SV and SL). So I asked the part department how much is a 2014 Rogue SL headlight assembly, and they quoted me $800....each. Seems wait too high. But I am still intrigued to see if it's even technically feasible. If anyone has a part number or part breakdown diagram I would appreciate it.

[mag318]

When I picked up my 2014 Rogue SL AWD on Monday I was concerned because I put the headlight on and could barely see the reflection in my dealer front windows. My concern was that they wouldn't be a bright as the HIDs I was use to in my 2008 Rogue and 2013 Altima 3.5 SL. While come Monday evening my fears were proven wrong, these new LEDs were brighter than my HIDs. My initial response was "WOW these things are bright", flipping the brights on even lit up the countyside even more. I read a thread here about some Rogue owner saying the new LEDs were aimed to high, so I was concerned about blinding oncoming drivers. But now after 2 nights no one has flashed their lights at me so these auto leveling LEDs must be aimed properly. Another thing I like are the LED running lights which look really neat day or night. Way to go Nissan.....

[JLD94]

People flash their high's at me at least a couple of times a week, I never thought that maybe the lights were aimed wrong.

[RobGinPeabody]

Well, to them you have your brights on and you are blinding them so that is why they are flashing you. To you, you don't have your brights on and wonder why they are flashing you. I didn't even think you had to aim headlights any more.

[StreetPrecise]

new to the forum. i would also like to know the part number, for factor led setup. for my personal rogue.


don't care about sensors or wires. im sure ill figure out an acceptable setup.


just have to sensitive the electronics are on this car (all new Nisan for that )

weird lights, codes, malfunctions .

i just did some lighting work for a client of mine.
headache and ahalf.

[RyleyinSTL]

Have you checked the Field Service Manual for the part numbers/required parts?

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Rogue/2014%20Rogue/ Should be in EXL I'd think.

[StreetPrecise]

Sorry about the earlier post. was doing it on my phone in a rush so im sure you noticed the spell/errors

.

anyway , i just quickly glanced through it.
looks like its on EXL pdf.


see alot of info but not part numbers.

and with the quick glance at the diagram on both LED/Halogen .. i hope there is`ent an extra module.

if any one gets a part number... greatly appreciated.

until then looks like if i go Cree led or hid aftermarket ill need a can-bus kit and a separate relay ,

[mag318]

I picked up my 2014 Rogue AWD SLw/Premium Package a few weeks ago. I use to think the HIDs on my 2013 Altima SL were bright until I drove the Rogue at night for the first time. But I feel my headlights are properly aimed and that the auto levelers work properly. I have yet to be flashed by oncoming traffic. My guess is that perhaps the earlier Rogues had improperly aimed headlights and it was corrected in the later ones.

[hoosier_girl1384]

I felt like my headlights were aimed a bit too high after driving at night... and after reading this thread I'm going to head over to the dealer and have them check them.

In response to someone's question about more than one bluetooth in the car... You might be able to pair up to 5 phones.. but it only allows one to be synced up at a time. Kind of annoying. When my fiance and I get in the car, we never know who's is actually connected.

[andygold]

Stopped down to my local dealer after work yesterday. There were about 7 or 8 salesmen sitting there with no customers. As i was dressed in a uniform eyes were on me as i entered. I had everyone's attention. I asked the salesmen in general whether there was any way to get the LED headlights in a package on the S or SV. Two or three of them chimed in that all of the Rogues have LED headlights. I told them i was referring to the LED headlights and not the running lights. A few of them spoke up saying that the Rogues don't have LED headlights available, but i could get the SL model with HIDs. I told them that every online review and YouTube review speaks of LED headlights as an option. I got a polite argument from a few that the reviews are wrong and that the package offers HID. The rest agreed!!! Finally, one salesman pulled out a brochure ( had to go to a storage room to find one) and looked up the specs, where it shows the premium package On the SL has the LED s with auto levelers.

Utterly amazing that the whole crew had no idea about what they're selling. If i get a better price elsewhere ,I'll make sure to come back and inform the brass at this dealership about their salesman' s ignorance. You'd think that when your job is selling an item, you'd have a rudimentary knowledge of standard, optional, and packaged items. It's a good thing i didn't ask them about the gas engine as they might have all agreed that it was only available in diesel...amazing that i know more than the guy who makes his living trying to sell customers a vehicle. I wonder what other BS they might say while trying to sell the vehicle.

[andygold]

Somebody above mentioned what electrics might be require to convert to the OEM LEDs. The headlight assemblies are totally different. The LEDs use projector optics, while the halogens use a standard fluted reflector without the projector. Instead of trying to purchase all of the items needed to do the swap, you might be better served by purchasing either a decent quality HID kit (i put a Catz kit in my WRX), or you could buy LED replacement bulbs for about $150 for a set. There may be better prices around, but that's an average from what I've seen.

[yi_dennis]

I had a bit of a breakthrough tonight. After spending about 30 minutes driving at night this evening, blinding oncoming drivers and illuminating treetops, I decided once and for all to get to the bottom of this. I poked around under the hood and found what I believed to be an adjustment screw, but I didn't have enough space to actually adjust it. Then, a few futile web searches for a '14 Rogue service manual led me down a different path...

A friend of ours recently purchased a new Honda Pilot, and she too said that her headlights were aimed at an upward angle and that she was frequently being flashed by oncoming cars' brights. I began to search Pilot forums and lo and behold, found that there were several threads on the same topic. What I found was a screenshot of the Pilot service manual, indicating the leveling procedure using a phillips screwdriver (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Honda Pilot service manual headlight adjustment instructions:


Looking at our Rogue's headlight assembly, I recognized the vertical adjustment screw that I had already tried (unsuccessfully) to adjust (circled below in Figure 2). If I recall correctly, the screw needs to be turned counterclockwise to adjust the vertical aim downward. It would seem that our Rogue's headlights came adjusted near the top of the vertical travel - a safety issue for the driver as well as oncoming motorists.

In Figure 2, I'm at a bit of an angle, so I drew in some lines to indicate direction. If you insert a phillips screwdriver into the hole with what appear to be gear cogs, the notches on the screwdriver catch the cogs and turn the screw. Note that there is also a horizontal adjustment screw on the headlight housing, and it is found on the outermost portion of the rear of the headlight and has a plastic cap over it.

Figure 2 - 2014 Rogue headlight housing, pictured from above


Lastly, I pulled our Rogue out onto the driveway, approximately 20' from the garage door. I placed some tape at an acceptable level and proceeded to turn the adjustment screws until each headlight was properly aimed. You can see how high the unadjusted driver's side was aimed in this picture.

Figure 3 - 2014 Rogue headlight pattern during aim adjustment


It's a bit puzzling that a vehicle can be sold to the public with the headlights so improperly aimed. Either the adjustment isn't being done properly during assembly, or it's the result of a (failed) pre-sale checklist at the dealership. Browsing the 'net, it would appear that our Rogue is not alone in this regard.

I wouldn't blame anyone for wanting their dealership to make this adjustment, but thought I'd share for those of you who are eager to properly aim their headlights.

How did you turn the the cogs? Did you use the screwdriver vertically to turn the cogs? The space is very tight to access.

[tsupp9]

Where is the horizontal adjustment screw located? Anyone with a photo?