C5 Headlight Alignment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 294
Likes: 15
From: South Orange Co. CA
C5 Headlight Alignment
I just installed the APC high intensity lights (yes, the cheap ones) and I very happy with the light. However, I immediately noticed that the left lamp seemed to be pointed down to just in front of the car. So I got into adjusting the low beam to what seemed right, and then noticed that the left high beam was pointing up in the air :confused:
The manual says to make adjustments using the high beam. I did that, and the left low beam was back pointing at the ground. The difference between the aiming direction between the left low and high beams is significantly greater than the difference between the right low and high beams. Is this normal? Or do I have a problem with the left lens?
The manual says to make adjustments using the high beam. I did that, and the left low beam was back pointing at the ground. The difference between the aiming direction between the left low and high beams is significantly greater than the difference between the right low and high beams. Is this normal? Or do I have a problem with the left lens?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 23
From: Newark CA
Re: C5 Headlight Alignment (sunvet)
I have a similar problem with the APC bulbs. The lowbeams are adjusted perfectly, and the APCs are a vast improvement over the stockers. However, the highbeams seem too high. Your problem may be that the left bulb is not properly seated in the housing. Check that first. The bulb should not move up and down or side to side when properly installed. I tried reinstalling the stock highbeam bulbs to see if my problem was with the APCs. Not so; the APCs went back in. If you want to see the real difference in the bulbs, try installing a stock one alongside the APC. Huge difference in color and brightness. When the highbeams are illuminated, the light comes out of the housing on the lowbeam side, too. It appears as though the lowbeams stay on when the highbeams are activated. I think the design of the housing dictates the difference in height of the low and high. Not much can be done besides spending $200 and switching to Euro-spec housings. Then another $60 for good bulbs.
Former Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 0
From: Roseville CA
Re: C5 Headlight Alignment (aces)
I installed at least 6 sets of the APC bulbs, high and low. Every C5 , the low beams were pointing too low. When you adjust the low beams up to the proper level, the high beams are practically shooting squirrels out of the trees. Since the lense housing is one piece, there is no high beam adjustment. Any solutions out there?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,770
Likes: 0
From: Novi MI
CI 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
CI-X Auto-X Champ (street tires)
Cruise-In IX AutoX Winner
Re: C5 Headlight Alignment (SMOKNC5)
I also found that the APC bulbs push the low beams down and the high beams higher. The APC filaments appear to be in the same position as the OEMs, but the bulb envelope is longer on the APCs.
