Headlight aimers
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 147
From: dalton ma
Headlight aimers
My lights seem to hit the ground about 15 feet in front of the car ! Where are the adjustments ? Couldn't find anything in the owners manual, is it a secret or should I go to a dealer (not) ? Didn't look very carefully a few weeks ago when I changed the bulbs, are the adjusters inside the light shrouds ?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,731
Likes: 1,210
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
I just changed the bulbs in mine and think I noticed the adjusters behind the headlights. Were they aimed down before you swapped bulbs? Any chance they're not seated properly?
Last edited by Jeff T.; Mar 27, 2017 at 04:50 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 233
From: Placitas NM
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
Check this thread out - it should help you out:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...eadlights.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...eadlights.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 969
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
The adjusters are rods with torx heads, cadmium plated in a goldish color. Mine are also MIS-aimed, but I will not be aiming until I can take off the shrouds and the door covers so I can see what I'm doing and for the ease of applying lubricant.
As others have stated, these things are notorious for breaking.
As others have stated, these things are notorious for breaking.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
Take your good old sweet time with those adjustment rods. Spray penetrating oil/lubricant into the adjustment rod gearbox over several days. When you first start to move the rod, turn it slightly in one direction, back off and turn the opposite direction. Do this a few times, they will eventually work loose.
Last edited by MAC5; Mar 28, 2017 at 07:00 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,960
Likes: 342
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
It's very likely if your lights were aimed OK before you changed the bulbs, the bulbs are now not seated correctly in the sockets. Take a look at the front of the lights and see if the tips of the bulbs are centered in the reflector and appear horizontal. If they are tipped up, then the beam would shine low, down at the ground. It's very easy to not install them properly, remove them and do it again.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 428
Likes: 30
I found the best way to easily get close on head light alignment is pull up a couple feet from a white garage door and make vertical/horizontal reference lines with tape centered on the light beams. Then as you back straight away from the door you will see the light patterns move up/down, right/left from the reference marks if they are off. If the adjustment is good the light should stay close to your reference lines. Try it with a vehicle with the correct adjustment, and you will see what I mean. A fairly flat driveway is needed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 969
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I found the best way to easily get close on head light alignment is pull up a couple feet from a white garage door and make vertical/horizontal reference lines with tape centered on the light beams. Then as you back straight away from the door you will see the light patterns move up/down, right/left from the reference marks if they are off. If the adjustment is good the light should stay close to your reference lines. Try it with a vehicle with the correct adjustment, and you will see what I mean. A fairly flat driveway is needed.
Race Director
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From: The Sunshine State
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As everyone has already mentioned. Remove the shrouds and lube the vertical and horizontal adjustment rods. The longer golden rod, especially can snap and break if it hasn't been used for a while.
