Can you guys point me in the right direction. I need to adjust the point of aim on the headlights on my C5..
Thanks

 

a) remove the black plastic bucket trim on your headlight. There are 3 phillips screws per side. Note how the trim comes out because you'll have to install the plastic tab on top the same manner when you put it back together.

b) Note the "golden rod". They have a 6-point star tip and there are 2 per side. One is vertical adjustment the other is horizontal. You can use a socket wrench to adjust these. You may need to remove the headlight cover (4 torx-15 screws) to access the other adjuster.



IMPORTANT NOTE: If you car is 2002 or older, I HIGHLY suggest spraying the adjuster gears with WD-40 or similar or you will break off your adjusters.

 

I have a 01 C5. I will spray the adjusters before I work on them.
Thanks

 

Heres a How To I put together from the manual

Aiming Stock Headlights

Preparation

Choose an appropriate aiming area, then prepare the aiming screen.

The aiming area should be darkened and large enough to accommodate the vehicle and an additional 25 feet (7.62 m) measured from the face of the headlamp capsules to the front of the screen. The floor on which the vehicle rests must be flat with the bottom of the screen. If the floor is not level, compensate as necessary. The aiming screen should be at least 5 feet (1.52 m) high by 12 feet (3.66 m) wide with a matte white surface well shaded from extraneous light, and properly adjusted to the floor on which the vehicle stands. The screen should be marked with a vertical centerline, 2 laterally adjustable vertical tapes, and 1 vertically adjustable horizontal tape.
Mark the centerline

Measure the height from the floor to the center of the headlight capsule
Mark a horizontal aiming line on the screen

Measure the distance between the centreline of the right headlight module and the center of the left headlight module.
Position the vertical tapes this distance to the right and left of the screen centreline

Lubricate the adjustment screws before adjusting


Adjustments

Raise the hood
Raise the headlights
Remove the headlamp adjustment screw plug
Turn on the low beam headlights and block the light from projecting onto the screen from the passenger headlight



Check the horizontal aim

Adjust the horizontal aim adjusting screw to align the left edge of the high intensity zone with the headlight vertical centreline
The left edge of the beam should lie within 4” to the left and 4” to the right
of the vertical centreline.

Check the vertical aim

Adjust the vertical aim adjusting screw to align the top edge of the high intensity zone with the headlight horizontal centreline
The left edge of the beam should lie within 2” above and 2.5” below the lamp horizontal centreline.

Reinstall the headlamp adjustment screw plug

Repeat for the other headlight

Turn off the lights and close the hood

This is the pattern you're looking for

 

That MAY or MAY NOT suffice. The problem usually is that the spray can't actually penetrate to where it's needed. There's a little internal gear-drive mechanism involved.

Important! If you attempt to make any adjustments, especially one involving the up/down adjuster and it doesn't move, or you meet a lot of resistance, stop right there. Do NOT attempt to force things. You will ABSOLUTELY break the long "goldenrod' (gold colored rod about 3" long). This is not an "if" or "maybe". Do NOT force it by twisting your wrench/nut-driver harder and harder. Once broken, these pieces are NOT available as a separate repair piece from GM. They will only sell you the entire headlight assembly.

If yours are frozen up, do a search on this issue. Many many posts about it. "Goldenrods" is one if the terms that may be helpful when doing a search. There IS a way to unfreeze the gear-drive mechanism but it involves removal of the headlight assembly to get access.

 

Just how far does the front of the car need to be from the screen?

25 feet?

Thank you......Tom Woodgeard - C5 newbie

 

Yes 25 feet would be fine.

 

I edited the How To to add some more detail to the marking out process.

 

Great advice

 

my 2000 was quite stubborn. I sprayed DW40 and rocked the mechanisms by turning a little bit clockwise then a little bit counterclockwise repeatedly until they freed up.

 

I need to do this! Thanks guys!

 

How much stuff do you have to remove in order to see both of the goldenrod mechanisms so I can spray them and see that I have actually hit the right spot? And do the fog lamps need the same treatment before adjusting them? thanks

 

Remove the black surround at a minimum and the headlight cover if you must, no major issues in adjusting the fog lights. I'd remove the black surround without removing the plug as retrieving them from the inner fender is a PITA. I know this from personal experience, as I just completed it less than 2 hours ago.