Headlight Problem - won't aim high enough
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
Likes: 291
From: Ocala FL
Headlight Problem - won't aim high enough
After everything is going back together from painting and all, I have found my old original T3s won't work anymore. So I stopped at O'Reilly's and picked up a set of Sylvania H5001 and H5006 headlights.
Now the previous lights were all set, so I was surprised to find alignment all off. The left headlight is low and to the right. The right headlight is left of center and low. Let's save I am comfortable about 40 mph max in the dark at where they are set, so you get an idea of how low.
Both high beams are low, but the left I could adjust up and left slightly to get about the right spot. The right high beam seems to now come up.
I can see the screws adjusting, but the high beams seem to be at their limits and not really high enough.
It almost is like the plastic/nylon adjuster stems are stretching or something, as I can see the screws adjust into them, but the lights don't really seem to move.
I'm also puzzled why they were so far off.
The headlight units themselves were not removed from the car or readjusted, so they are where they were.
Could the Sylvania lights be really wrong in where they are focused?
Anyone run into anything like this?
Now the previous lights were all set, so I was surprised to find alignment all off. The left headlight is low and to the right. The right headlight is left of center and low. Let's save I am comfortable about 40 mph max in the dark at where they are set, so you get an idea of how low.
Both high beams are low, but the left I could adjust up and left slightly to get about the right spot. The right high beam seems to now come up.
I can see the screws adjusting, but the high beams seem to be at their limits and not really high enough.
It almost is like the plastic/nylon adjuster stems are stretching or something, as I can see the screws adjust into them, but the lights don't really seem to move.
I'm also puzzled why they were so far off.
The headlight units themselves were not removed from the car or readjusted, so they are where they were.
Could the Sylvania lights be really wrong in where they are focused?
Anyone run into anything like this?
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Considering that the original bulbs were in correct aim, I’m wondering if you didn’t get the notches on the back of the bulbs in the cup in the correct place. Almost always… when we see this complaint from customers this is the issue.
If you look at the back of each bulb you’ll see bumps that help align it in the correct position in the cup. If you don’t have these in the bumps in the grooves on the cups the lamps will be all over the place.
IMHO,
Willcox
If you look at the back of each bulb you’ll see bumps that help align it in the correct position in the cup. If you don’t have these in the bumps in the grooves on the cups the lamps will be all over the place.
IMHO,
Willcox
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Problem 1: Depending on how easy your headlight bezel can be removed. You can have an issue with the headlight door being too low...when the door is up. This can be determined by how low is the front edge of the headlight bezel to the top hood surround panel in front of it. IF you bezel is a pain to remove...then headlight door adjustment may be required... which can aid in getting the headlights to be adjusted within prescribed limits of the headlight adjuster. I have encountered this more times than I can count.
Problem 2: If you remove the headlight capsule assembly...and watch out of the spring that aids in holding it in place. I have encountered NUMEROUS Corvettes over the years whose headlight bucket(s) were dented where it contacts the adjusters. These dents can effect headlight adjustment greatly.
Problem 3: Suspension is not correct and the front end is sagging below acceptable limits.
DUB
Problem 2: If you remove the headlight capsule assembly...and watch out of the spring that aids in holding it in place. I have encountered NUMEROUS Corvettes over the years whose headlight bucket(s) were dented where it contacts the adjusters. These dents can effect headlight adjustment greatly.
Problem 3: Suspension is not correct and the front end is sagging below acceptable limits.
DUB
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
Yes I feel the same about my 82. My headlight doors are all the way up and the car sits level and my adjusting screws are bottom'd out for the low beams. It looks like to me the nylon adjusting mounting needs to be shorter so the screw can go in further enabling the headlight to raise some more.
Last edited by alconk; May 13, 2013 at 08:54 PM.
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Considering that the original bulbs were in correct aim, I’m wondering if you didn’t get the notches on the back of the bulbs in the cup in the correct place. Almost always… when we see this complaint from customers this is the issue.
If you look at the back of each bulb you’ll see bumps that help align it in the correct position in the cup. If you don’t have these in the bumps in the grooves on the cups the lamps will be all over the place.
IMHO,
Willcox
If you look at the back of each bulb you’ll see bumps that help align it in the correct position in the cup. If you don’t have these in the bumps in the grooves on the cups the lamps will be all over the place.
IMHO,
Willcox
Have bought a lot of parts from you for my 69 over the past 4 years and it still is not quite there. Please excuse the ignorance, but are you indicating that these "bumps" will automatically align the headlights?
I have one shooting up in the sky and one shining the road right in front of the car. I was looking for the, what I call typical, adjusting screws around the bezel.
