Headlight alignment
Headlight alignment
I recently just started to notice that the vertical part of the cut off for the passenger and driver side headlights do not line up.
Are they supposed to?
__|-|___ it looks kinda like this, the "H" looking part is the two cutoffs.
Are they supposed to?
__|-|___ it looks kinda like this, the "H" looking part is the two cutoffs.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
The alignment on the IS will change after hitting a good sized pothole. I've adjusted mine many times. The headlights can be adjusted with a philips screwdriver (Look in the owner's manual). There are two adjustments for each side, one for height and one for the left/right movement. I find that I only have to adjust the height. There should not be any gap between them. I find a flat parking lot with a wall that I can draw a chalk line on (At night). I back up (Perfectly square) approx 30' from the wall. I measure the distance from the headlight center to the ground and the distance from center to center of the headlights. I then draw a horizontal chalk line at the same height of the center-to-ground measurement with a vertical line at each end of the line. The vertical lines should be perfectly inline with the center of the headlight to headlight center measurement at the ends of the horizontal line. Now you can adjust each headlight so that the center of the beam is vertically centered with the vertical chalk lines (At the ends of the chalk line) and the horizontal height of the beam is centered just below (1/2 to 1") the horizontal chalk line. This will insure the beam is focused at a slight downward angle. This all sounds complicated but it really isn't. I find that my way of adjusting the focus is better then the Stealer's.
Koz
Koz
Thanks KOZ, it seems that all I need to do is just play with it a bit
Extreme - I know that the beam isn't supposed to be flat, I was just trying to show my lights have a "gap" in the diagram, I know it wasn't the best drawing
Extreme - I know that the beam isn't supposed to be flat, I was just trying to show my lights have a "gap" in the diagram, I know it wasn't the best drawing
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
The Stealer/OEM will adjust the driver’s side lower then the passenger’s (Too low). The beam cutoff line can be straight as long as the cut off line is just below the height of the headlight-to-ground measurement.
Koz
Koz
Trending Topics
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
The alignment on the IS will change after hitting a good sized pothole. I've adjusted mine many times. The headlights can be adjusted with a philips screwdriver (Look in the owner's manual). There are two adjustments for each side, one for height and one for the left/right movement. I find that I only have to adjust the height. There should not be any gap between them. I find a flat parking lot with a wall that I can draw a chalk line on (At night). I back up (Perfectly square) approx 30' from the wall. I measure the distance from the headlight center to the ground and the distance from center to center of the headlights. I then draw a horizontal chalk line at the same height of the center-to-ground measurement with a vertical line at each end of the line. The vertical lines should be perfectly inline with the center of the headlight to headlight center measurement at the ends of the horizontal line. Now you can adjust each headlight so that the center of the beam is vertically centered with the vertical chalk lines (At the ends of the chalk line) and the horizontal height of the beam is centered just below (1/2 to 1") the horizontal chalk line. This will insure the beam is focused at a slight downward angle. This all sounds complicated but it really isn't. I find that my way of adjusting the focus is better then the Stealer's.
Koz
Koz
The way you describe is exactly as it should be per the instructions in the owners manual. They should both be exactly even with that line......contrary to what a lot of people say on this site about adjusting one side lower than the other. They don't realize that the reflector already makes one side slightly higher for them. It's designed into the lenses and reflectors.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mick_foley
ES - 1st to 6th Gen (1990-2018)
27
Mar 16, 2010 08:40 PM
