Misaligned Headlamps

[pokie123]

All,

I just bought a 2009 Murano SL 360. It’s been a great driving experience. While driving at night though, I noticed that the driver's side and the passenger side headlights are NOT at the same level. The throw of light cast down the road reaches considerably shorter for the driver’s side than for the passenger’s side. This is disconcerting because, you are not able to see objects appear from the left side of the vehicle as quickly as with the driver's side. Consequently, your reaction time is slower and is a safety concern at the least.

I mentioned this to our Nissan service department yesterday while getting a routine oil check and service. Surprisingly, I got 7 DIFFERENT responses from the technicians, service advisors and the service managers. I was totally confused at this point.

THE TEST:To test this issue, they pulled my Murano into a service bay. Not the Vehicle Inspection bay, but up to a "makeshift" lounge chair (old car bench seat) and shone the headlights on it from 4 feet away. Now, according to one auto technician's opinion, this "test" proves that I was "imagining things". He said, "The headlights are adjusted fine, since it was a new vehicle".

I requested that my Murano headlamps be measured in the Inspection Bay with the professional equipment. They decided to close one of the large metal doors and from about 20 feet, shine the Murano's headlights on it to test the theories.

NISSAN SERVICE RESPONSES:1.There is nothing wrong. The lights are level. You're not looking at them correctly. 2.They ARE set at different levels. This is a Nissan feature so as not to blind the oncoming traffic from the driver's side.3.This is not a feature, but you can adjust them to WHATEVER LEVEL YOU LIKE by using a Phillips screwdriver.4.There is no adjustment that can't be made.5.There is an adjustment to fix this issue, but they can't find the adjusters.6.Take it to the Nissan Body shop where they have the proper tools to adjust them.7.Take it to the Nissan Body shop and have them install shims (washers) to force them to level.

I escalated this issue to the Service Manager. After mentioning these claims to him, (his original statement is #6), he huffed and deferred me to the advice of the Shop Manager.

Now the attending Shop Manager adamantly claimed that this is a Nissan feature (after retracting his original statement #1), because on the big metal door, THEY DO SHOW the difference in adjustment) and that he can prove it by bringing in another "brand new" Murano (same model/year) from the lot and they would be leveled the same as mine. Stating that ALL 2009 NISSAN MURANO headlamps are leveled the same way...as a Safety Feature for oncoming drivers!

When he brought another Murano and parked it in the same location where he parked mine for the test. He shone the lights on the same big, metal door and much to everyone’s surprise (get ready)…the opposite level was the case! The passenger side headlamp was projecting lower than the driver’s side. Imagine the look on the technicians and manager’s faces. They couldn’t explain it! Then the original technician now shows up again to add his theory (also #1 from above), that nothing was wrong with the levels which was summarily dismissed by 2 techs and their manager. The shop manager now claims that it’s definitely a “body shop” adjustment, because THEY HAVE THE TOOLS to adjust them.

The Shop Manager called the body shop manager. The body shop manager remarked that “he had never heard of the process of adjusting headlamps on this vehicle” and “did not have any tools for this”. His suggestion was to add the metal washers to raise the height of either headlamp to bring them even.

To end chapter one, it was whispered to me by a service professional to log a call with (800) NISSAN-1 (or 800-647-7261). I'll keep you posted. Note: Murano’s have a headlamp adjustment for BOTH headlights to compensate for vehicle loads. This can be manually adjusted for BOTH headlamps and not individually.

[Macsleuth]

Interesting story. As far as I know, all cars etc, have them adjusted from the factory according to specs set out by D.O.T.Drivers headlight has always been lower than the passengers.Personally feel this is because, Drivers side, any higher and you would be blinding on coming traffic and passengers side is to be able to see and read on coming traffic signs at night.The drivers point in a little and the passengers points to the outside a wee bit.I remember an article years ago in one of the car magazines stating something similar.Now as for the test, I believe it's pointing your car at a flat surface, from 25ft away and measuring the centre of the lights to the ground. Of course, I don't remember what the height is, I suspect it might be different from cars to trucks and now possibly SUVs.I think you can google headlight adjustment and you might find some over head pics of how the lights spread out in front of the car, on the ground.It sounds like yours might be ok (not knowing for sure of course), but as for the second Murano, that one sounds out.Of course, stuff like this where no one is making any money, the dealer is going to try and fluff you off.I would call and try to get a straight answer, but google it as well.Good luck and please keep us posted.

[Wiccat]

#2 is correct. All Muranos (2003+) have uneven headlights, including mine. It's most noticeable with xenons. This has been brought up here before. Your vehicle is fine. Not sure what's up with the other Murano they brought out to compare it with. However, the owner's manual does state "when aiming adjustment is necessary, contact a NISSAN dealer". Cheers.
Modified by Wiccat at 3:29 PM 9/26/2009

[Hmason]

If you have Xenons, there is a small rotating wheel on the liitle panel that has the switches for the gas door and the hatch gate. I has numbers on it and rotating it lowers or raises the headlights. Try that.

[superskunk]

i thought another reason the passenger side light shined higher was to make street signs more visable when driving, thats why JDM lights get such a bad rap for blinding oncoming drivers, because in japan they drive on the side of the road and light beams go to our left which is the side of oncoming traffic....