Headlight Adjustment, Sorry to beat a dead horse!!!!

[eggyacid]

Okay... i'm still one bit confused about headlight adjustment.

It mentioned turn it counter-clockwise, but it kinda depends on where you stand.

1) if you stand infront of the car, looking at the lights then turning it counter-clockwise means <--------

2) if you are standing infront of the car and looking down at the adjustment gear knob, counter-clockwise is --------->

Okay... sorry for being retarded.please tell me, if it's the Green Direction or Blue Direction.




Modified by eggyacid at 1:37 PM 1/17/2009

[Boss05]

im interested in knowthing this also does anyone know?

[M4T5]

From my knowledge of that, the item you are turning it into, would explain that. In theory, counter-clockwise would be the same as unscrewing a bolt or screw out of something. Makes since to me. The service manual lacks in info for about everything.... I have not been finding it very useful really.Here's what the service manual tells you about it....not much info either:

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/M/2007_M45-M35/lt.pdf

Look under headlight adjustment or aiming...I forget. I doubt it will help, but oh well...

J

[lawman12]

You want to turn it in the "blue" direction.

First set up:

Try to see if you can mark with a pen, colored marking pencil, etc where your stock setting is (where the cog is currently set)- that way you have a base and can also tell how many turns you make. Make sure you mark a straight line in front of the cog, on the cog and behind the cog, don't just mark the cog/wheel thingy - make a line on three parts.

Your car should be parked on a flat surface, lights on a wall. Mark the cut off line with something so you know where the stock cut off line currently is. That way when you turn you can tell if you are moving the cut off mark up or down and how high you have moved it.

Now with the adjustment:

The photo above shows a regular screwdriver - you can do it this way, but you could run the risk of stripping the grooves,

The "correct" way is to use a phillips screw driver. There is a hole right behind the regular screw driver in the photo above (can't see in photo - screw driver head is blocking view)- that green arrow is actually pointing to the area.... If you look at your engine you will see a little hole right next to that cog. The hole will have a cog in it as well. Stick the phillips screw driver straight down into that hole and turn - as if you are screwing in a screw. As you already marked with a line you will see the cog (shown in the photo) turn. keep a eye on the lights cut off pattern and adjust to how you want, keeping in mind that you don't want it too high to blind on coming drivers. I have read that even if adjusted all the way up using this adjustment the light is still not that high....

good luck

[jankenpo30]

Yeah, I did mine and didn't notice a huge difference. My wife has been complaining about it being too low since I've lowered the car.

[ddynasty1120]

How do you even get a screw driver to fit in there? The plastic piece in the picture to the left of the screw driver is in the way.

[jankenpo30]

How do you even get a screw driver to fit in there? The plastic piece in the picture to the left of the screw driver is in the way.

My Phillips head went in easily in the slot where the green arrow is pointing.

[ddynasty1120]

I couldnt get it cause of those plastic pieces left of screw driver in pic. I will have to figure something out.

I found what you are talking about, but it definitely does not make a big difference. How much does it actually turn?

I will try it again another day when its warmer.
Modified by ddynasty1120 at 9:49 AM 12/29/2009

[mexillis]

if your looking down on the adjustment, you can see a little groove in the shape of a U place your phillips screw driver in there and start spinning it and it should turn the thing for you. Be carefull cause they do break.

[jankenpo30]

I just looked at this again...no wonder it did nothing for. The pic above shows the adjustment for the High beam "bright" lights not the normal head lamps. That adjustment is tucked under the frame to the outside with a blue hex cap on it.

I'll take a pic this weekend while I'm replacing my headlamps

[M45sNhappy]

I tried turning my 'blue' bolt that adjusts the low beam; it doesn't seem to want to turn freely. Does anyone know why? Is there a locking mechanism here, or I am I just not supposed to 'touch'? Maybe, there is something I am not aware of that keeps the nut from turning. Help me out......

[cruzad3r]

i thought these cars come with auto-leveling. so help me understand what exactly we're trying to do?

[cruzad3r]

i have doubt that the AFS system works as advertise by infiniti but that's another story. also i love your line of saying

"I'd suggest finding yourself a different screwdriver with a larger and longer handle to provide more torque to the bolt. If that doesn't work, use a hammer against the screwdriver."

use a HAMMER lol on a frikin light adjustment nut is a little EXCESSIVE man LOL - good one though

[LVdennis]

To answer the first question. You always assume you're in the drivers seat. If it's a car plane or boat, always from the drivers seat.
Good Luck

[rgb129]

i have doubt that the AFS system works as advertise by infiniti but that's another story. also i love your line of saying

Works great for me. I have never had any problems with it.

[cruzad3r]

i'm aware that you have to turn your headlights on not just to auto for the AFS to work and when you turn, the headlights suppose to turn with you to aid visibility. but when i turn, i can't tell if the headlights are turning at all. i mean i still see lights but it's not like what you see from infiniti flash video that they used for their advertisement.

if you guys can help me or teach me how the system suppose to work, that would be great.

[rgb129]

i'm aware that you have to turn your headlights on not just to auto for the AFS to work and when you turn, the headlights suppose to turn with you to aid visibility. but when i turn, i can't tell if the headlights are turning at all. i mean i still see lights but it's not like what you see from infiniti flash video that they used for their advertisement.

if you guys can help me or teach me how the system suppose to work, that would be great.

You should clearly see the light of on the side that you are turning towards move. Especially at slower speeds. When I pull into my driveway, for instance, I see the "light projection" move towards the way I am turning. Double check to make sure the switch for the AFS is on.

[mexillis]

i cant remember which way it is to turn but in park with the car on you can turn the wheel and see ur lights move ( only in that one direction). Maybe one thing you do is try driving with the AFS off and see if you notice a difference in driving visibility while turning. Also for 06/07 models there is another spot to adjust the height and it's on the side of the car next to the fenders from underneathe the hood. If you follow the mechanism for the adjutment shown in the picture above you should find it. It's another spot to get leverage and is helpful if you have two people, one to turn each location. I noticed a big improvement in visibility upon raising the height of the lights, before it seemed to aim straight down.

[M45sNhappy]

Well, I understand how to use the leveling bolt with a Phillips head screwdriver. I can tell that one of my headlights is slightly higher. This is my driver headlight (same light on driver side). The passenger light should be higher if any. So, I was trying to attempt to lower it. I see the leveling screw that everyone is telling me about. I marked it, and then turned it. The mechanism is turning; however, my lights are NOT moving (high beasm or low beam). Now I do know that this car has AFS. So, I examined this headlight a little more. There is also a leveling bolt behind the HID headlight as well. It has a BLUE nut on top of it. It seems to be 12mm. After trying to turn it and noticing that it only turned like 2mm. I stopped so I would not break anything. Then later, I went back to look again. It seems that the original leveling screw that you guys are referring to has a cable going from it to raise and lower the Low beam too at the same time you adjust the highbeam. BUT, my lights are not moving at all. This is why I asked.....

[keithwand]

I did mine when new with a phillips screwdriver. First I marked off the cuurent height with tape on my garage wall (its still there) then adjusted up about 1/2 inch or so.
No one has ever flashed their lights at me in two years.

[M45sNhappy]

Okay, I remembered how to take apart the wheel well and change out my headlight bulbs; I went ahead and just took one side apart yesterday just to see how these bulbs move. Great news. The adjustment screw that is above the HIGHBEAM does move both low and high beam together. 'You guys were right'. However, the mechanism that turns the gear for the highbeam also has a very small wire/cable that is connected to the low beam. It moves them at the same time. You have to turn you screw driver many time because of the ratio size from the screw drive to the gear wheel. I figured that, but wanted to make sure before I went turn crazy. So---Yes, the wheel in the pic above does adjust both. You just have to turn many times to get a great result. Thanks Guys

[axefire]

Hang on a sec - sorry if I'm missing something here but - the pic at the top of this post shows how to adjust the AFS (headlights turning left and right) but not raising/lowering the lights right?

I'd actually like to raise my low beams just a bit - I live on top of a mountian and when I go up and down the hills the low beams are pointed too low - when I hit the highs, I actually see a slight dark line in the road from where the top ofthe lows meet the highs -
So, to raise the lows (or both low and high beams), adjusting that sprocket screw in the pic won't help - will it??? I beleive the blue nut is what I want to adjust - will give it a try and report back, unless someone can correct me? Many thanks if so...

[tulsadavid]

The adjustment shown in the top pic is for the high beams. It is the easiest adjustment to see and operate. The low beam(HID) adjustment looks the same and works the same, but is a bit harder to find. In the very corner where the headlight assembly meets the front fender, take off the rubber cover along the edge of the fender. Look along the back of the headlight assembly and you'll see the low beam adjustment. It has a clear plastic cover over the leveling bolt.

[anotheraznguy]

so i tried aiming headlights yesterday and it was a major fail. tried w/ flat head and a few different phillips screwdrivers.. it seemed like there was just too much tension.. anyone have any success?