How to determine if headlights are properly aimed

It's best to have your headlights adjusted by a shop that has the equipment to do the job. Head light aiming equipment takes into account how level the car is before adjustments. The cost of a ticket for misaligned headlights is more than getting them aimed properly.

Take it to a shop that has aiming service. There is a complicated device that attaches to the headlight and it will tell the technician which way to move the headlight for proper aim. You can't guess how to do it.

i presume you are posting HONDA to a Toyota forum?
how to, who can, what are specs. what is the question?
what country?
double posted too.
the FSM covers this, and the rules vary by country.
some are auto adjusting. (Europe)(complex rules)
others have L/R -U'/D adjustment and others only up/down

USA HL ADJUST.
less photos from FSM .

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Make sure the tire pressures are correct.
3. The driver or someone who weighs the same should sit in the driver's seat.
4. Clean the outer lens so that you can see the center of the headlights.
5. Park the vehicle in front of a wall or a screen.
6. Turn the low beams on.
7. Determine if the headlights are aimed properly.
8. Measure the vertical adjustment height of the headlights (A). The lights should reflect 2.1 in (52 mm.) below headlight height (B).
9. If necessary, open the hood and adjust the headlights by turning the vertical adjuster.
10. end

p, li { white-space: pre-wrap; } Determine Aiming Points


Locate a vertical surface to reflect the headlights against. This can be a wall or a darkly painted sheet of plywood set up on its side.


Park the vehicle on a level surface 10 feet away from the wall or darkly painted sheet of plywood. The vehicle must be positioned so that its centerline intersects the wall or plywood sheet at a 90-degree angle.


Determine the centerline of the vehicle and draw a vertical line corresponding to it on the wall.


Push up and down on the front of the vehicle until the suspension begins to rock. Then allow the suspension to settle. This will ensure that the headlights are at the correct height.


Measure the distance between the center of the headlight and the ground on each headlight.


Mark the height of each headlamp on the wall and draw a horizontal line between them.


Measure the distance between the center each headlamp and divide by two.


Measure on the wall, starting from the centerline, along the horizontal line the distance you calculated in the above Step on either side of the centerline. The horizontal line represents the distance from the ground, and the mark you are making in this step represents the distance from the centerline of the vehicle to the center of the headlamp. Where those two lines on each side of the vehicle intersect is where you will be aiming your headlights.

Aim the Headlights Remove the four screws that secure the headlight trim bezel to the grille.


Remove the headlight trim bezel.
Turn the headlight high beams on.
Adjust the headlights. Use the adjustment screws located along the outboard side and the inboard lower corner of the headlight bucket. Adjust the headlights until the beams project directly onto the marks you made on the wall.
Push the car up and down on the front suspension until it begins to rock, then allow it to settle.
Check the headlight alignment against the marks on the wall to make sure they remain consistent.
Replace the headlight trim bezel.

AIMING THE HEADLIGHTS

On 1989-91 vehicles, the headlights can be aimed using the adjusting screws located above and to the side of the headlight bulbs. A rough adjustment can be made while shining the headlights on a wall or on the rear of another vehicle, but headlight adjustment should really be made using proper headlight aiming equipment.
On 1992-98 vehicles, the aerodynamically styled headlights necessitate the use of headlight aiming kit 107-00003 or equivalent. The adjustable aimer adapters provided in the kit must be used to aim the headlights. Adjustment aimer adapter positions are moulded into the bottom edge of the headlight lens. Set and lock the adjustable adapters, attach each adapter to its mechanical aimer and aim the headlights according to the instructions in the kit.
Headlight aim adjustment should be made with the fuel tank approximately half full, the vehicle unloaded and the trunk empty, except for the spare tire and jacking equipment. Make sure all tires are inflated to the proper pressure.
The headlights must be properly aimed to provide the best, safest road illumination. The lights should be checked for proper aim and adjusted as necessary. Certain state and local authorities have requirements for headlight aiming; these should be checked before adjustment is made.

CAUTION About once a year, when the headlights are replaced or any time front end work is performed on your vehicle, the headlight should be accurately aimed by a reputable repair shop using the proper equipment. Headlights not properly aimed can make it virtually impossible to see and may blind other drivers on the road, possibly causing an accident. Note that the following procedure is a temporary fix, until you can take your vehicle to a repair shop for a proper adjustment.
Headlight adjustment may be temporarily made using a wall, as described below, or on the rear of another vehicle. When adjusted, the lights should not glare in oncoming car or truck windshields, nor should they illuminate the passenger compartment of vehicles driving in front of you. These adjustments are rough and should always be fine-tuned by a repair shop which is equipped with headlight aiming tools. Improper adjustments may be both dangerous and illegal.
For most of the vehicles covered by this guide, horizontal and vertical aiming of each sealed beam unit is provided by two adjusting screws which move the retaining ring and adjusting plate against the tension of a coil spring. There is no adjustment for focus; this is done during headlight manufacturing.
Because the composite headlight assembly is bolted into position, no adjustment should be necessary or possible. Some applications, however, may be bolted to an adjuster plate or may be retained by adjusting screws. If so, follow this procedure when adjusting the lights, BUT always have the adjustment checked by a reputable shop.
Before removing the headlight bulb or disturbing the headlamp in any way, note the current settings in order to ease headlight adjustment upon reassembly. If the high or low beam setting of the old lamp still works, this can be done using the wall of a garage or a building:

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, with the fuel tank about 1 / 2 full and with the vehicle empty of all extra cargo (unless normally carried). The vehicle should be facing a wall which is no less than 6 feet (1.8m) high and 12 feet (3.7m) wide. The front of the vehicle should be about 25 feet from the wall.

See Figure 6



Fig. 6: Example of headlight adjustment screw location for composite headlamps

1. If aiming is to be performed outdoors, it is advisable to wait until dusk in order to properly see the headlight beams on the wall. If done in a garage, darken the area around the wall as much as possible by closing shades or hanging cloth over the windows.
2. Turn the headlights ON and mark the wall at the center of each light's low beam, then switch on the brights and mark the center of each light's high beam. A short length of masking tape which is visible from the front of the vehicle may be used. Although marking all four positions is advisable, marking one position from each light should be sufficient.

See Figures 7 and 8



Fig. 7: Low-beam headlight pattern alignment



Fig. 8: High-beam headlight pattern alignment

1. If neither beam on one side is working, and if another like-sized vehicle is available, park the second one in the exact spot where the vehicle was and mark the beams using the same-side light. Then switch the vehicles so the one to be aimed is back in the original spot. It must be parked no closer to or farther away from the wall than the second vehicle.
2. Perform any necessary repairs, but make sure the vehicle is not moved, or is returned to the exact spot from which the lights were marked. Turn the headlights ON and adjust the beams to match the marks on the wall.
3. Have the headlight adjustment checked as soon as possible by a reputable repair shop.

Hope thats helped (remember rated this) Good luck.

AIMING THE HEADLIGHTS

The headlights must be properly aimed to provide the best, safest road illumination. The lights should be checked for proper aim and adjusted as necessary. Certain state and local authorities have requirements for headlight aiming; these should be checked before adjustment is made.

CAUTION About once a year, when the headlights are replaced or any time front end work is performed on your vehicle, the headlight should be accurately aimed by a reputable repair shop using the proper equipment. Headlights not properly aimed can make it virtually impossible to see and may blind other drivers on the road, possibly causing an accident. Note that the following procedure is a temporary fix, until you can take your vehicle to a repair shop for a proper adjustment.
Headlight adjustment may be temporarily made using a wall, as described below, or on the rear of another vehicle. When adjusted, the lights should not glare in oncoming car or truck windshields, nor should they illuminate the passenger compartment of vehicles driving in front of you. These adjustments are rough and should always be fine-tuned by a repair shop which is equipped with headlight aiming tools. Improper adjustments may be both dangerous and illegal.
For most of the vehicles covered by this guide, horizontal and vertical aiming of each sealed beam unit is provided by two adjusting screws which move the retaining ring and adjusting plate against the tension of a coil spring. There is no adjustment for focus; this is done during headlight manufacturing.
Because the composite headlight assembly is bolted into position, no adjustment should be necessary or possible. Some applications, however, may be bolted to an adjuster plate or may be retained by adjusting screws. If so, follow this procedure when adjusting the lights, BUT always have the adjustment checked by a reputable shop.
Before removing the headlight bulb or disturbing the headlamp in any way, note the current settings in order to ease headlight adjustment upon reassembly. If the high or low beam setting of the old lamp still works, this can be done using the wall of a garage or a building:

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, with the fuel tank about 1 / 2 full and with the vehicle empty of all extra cargo (unless normally carried). The vehicle should be facing a wall which is no less than 6 feet (1.8m) high and 12 feet (3.7m) wide. The front of the vehicle should be about 25 feet from the wall.

Fig. : Location of the aiming screws on most vehicles with sealed beam headlights




Fig. : Dual headlight adjustment screw locations-one side shown here (other side should be mirror image)



Fig. : Example of headlight adjustment screw location for composite headlamps

1. If aiming is to be performed outdoors, it is advisable to wait until dusk in order to properly see the headlight beams on the wall. If done in a garage, darken the area around the wall as much as possible by closing shades or hanging cloth over the windows.
2. Turn the headlights ON and mark the wall at the center of each light's low beam, then switch on the brights and mark the center of each light's high beam. A short length of masking tape which is visible from the front of the vehicle may be used. Although marking all four positions is advisable, marking one position from each light should be sufficient.

Fig. : Low-beam headlight pattern alignment



Fig. : High-beam headlight pattern alignment

1. If neither beam on one side is working, and if another like-sized vehicle is available, park the second one in the exact spot where the vehicle was and mark the beams using the same-side light. Then switch the vehicles so the one to be aimed is back in the original spot. It must be parked no closer to or farther away from the wall than the second vehicle.
2. Perform any necessary repairs, but make sure the vehicle is not moved, or is returned to the exact spot from which the lights were marked. Turn the headlights ON and adjust the beams to match the marks on the wall.
3. Have the headlight adjustment checked as soon as possible by a reputable repair shop.

Hope helped with this information. Good luck (remember rated this help).

two screws on each headlight control the direction the headlights are aimed. One screw, usually at the top but sometimes below the headlight, adjusts the headlight up and down. The other screw, located to one side, controls the headlight from right to left. Turning the appropriate screw one direction or the other will change the direction the headlight points.
In order to aim your headlights you need to have a flat vertical surface you can aim your headlights at in front of a level surface on which to park the car. If your driveway is level your garage door is the perfect place to aim your headlights.
The tools you will need for this job are simple. Masking tape is used to mark where the headlights are to be aimed and a screwdriver is needed to adjust the headlights. A tape measure will be necessary to measure the distance of the vehicle to the surface you're using to check the aim and to measure the up and down distances from your marks.
To start you will want to pull your car quite close to the surface you are using to aim your headlights. This is done to allow you to mark, with the masking tape, where the headlights are on the car. With the car right up against the vertical surface, and your low beam headlights on, the center of the beams will be directly in front of the headlights. Use your masking tape to mark straight across where the headlights are shining. Use short pieces of masking tape to mark vertically the center of the low beams.
, back your car about 25 feet away to check the alignment of the headlights. The brightest spot on your low beams should be about two inches below the masking tape and slightly to the right of the vertical marks. Use the adjustment screws to move the beams up and down, and right and left, until the headlights are aimed properly.
If your car only has two headlights, that's all you need to do. With the high beam lights integrated into the single headlight there is no further adjustment possible. If you have a four-headlight system you will next need to adjust your high beams. Switch to your high beams and adjust them so they shine just below the line and are centered between your two vertical marks.

good luck

AIMING THE HEADLIGHTS
The headlights must be properly aimed to provide the best, safest road illumination. The lights should be checked for proper aim and adjusted as necessary. Certain state and local authorities have requirements for headlight aiming; these should be checked before adjustment is made.

CAUTION About once a year, when the headlights are replaced or any time front end work is performed on your vehicle, the headlight should be accurately aimed by a reputable repair shop using the proper equipment. Headlights not properly aimed can make it virtually impossible to see and may blind other drivers on the road, possibly causing an accident. Note that the following procedure is a temporary fix, until you can take your vehicle to a repair shop for a proper adjustment.
Headlight adjustment may be temporarily made using a wall, as described below, or on the rear of another vehicle. When adjusted, the lights should not glare in oncoming car or truck windshields, nor should they illuminate the passenger compartment of vehicles driving in front of you. These adjustments are rough and should always be fine-tuned by a repair shop which is equipped with headlight aiming tools. Improper adjustments may be both dangerous and illegal.

For most of the vehicles covered by this guide, horizontal and vertical aiming of each sealed beam unit is provided by two adjusting screws which move the retaining ring and adjusting plate against the tension of a coil spring. There is no adjustment for focus; this is done during headlight manufacturing.


Because the composite headlight assembly is bolted into position, no adjustment should be necessary or possible. Some applications, however, may be bolted to an adjuster plate or may be retained by adjusting screws. If so, follow this procedure when adjusting the lights, BUT always have the adjustment checked by a reputable shop.
Before removing the headlight bulb or disturbing the headlamp in any way, note the current settings in order to ease headlight adjustment upon reassembly. If the high or low beam setting of the old lamp still works, this can be done using the wall of a garage or a building:

Park the vehicle on a level surface, with the fuel tank about 1 / 2 full and with the vehicle empty of all extra cargo (unless normally carried). The vehicle should be facing a wall which is no less than 6 feet (1.8m) high and 12 feet (3.7m) wide. The front of the vehicle should be about 25 feet from the wall.

Fig. Example of headlight adjustment screw location for composite headlamps

If aiming is to be performed outdoors, it is advisable to wait until dusk in order to properly see the headlight beams on the wall. If done in a garage, darken the area around the wall as much as possible by closing shades or hanging cloth over the windows. Turn the headlights ON and mark the wall at the center of each light's low beam, then switch on the brights and mark the center of each light's high beam. A short length of masking tape which is visible from the front of the vehicle may be used. Although marking all four positions is advisable, marking one position from each light should be sufficient.

Fig. Low-beam headlight pattern alignment




Fig. High-beam headlight pattern alignment

If neither beam on one side is working, and if another like-sized vehicle is available, park the second one in the exact spot where the vehicle was and mark the beams using the same-side light. Then switch the vehicles so the one to be aimed is back in the original spot. It must be parked no closer to or farther away from the wall than the second vehicle. Perform any necessary repairs, but make sure the vehicle is not moved, or is returned to the exact spot from which the lights were marked. Turn the headlights ON and adjust the beams to match the marks on the wall. Have the headlight adjustment checked as soon as possible by a reputable repair shop.
Hope helped with this (remember rated this help) Good luck.

of course you can...try fixing it during night time in a place that is dark. in a street that is no traffic is the best place. pop the hood and look behind the headlight assembly. you will see two long screws that can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the screw for up and down adjustments and left and right adjustments

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