Headlight Alignment

Seanieke

Hey guys,
Anyone out there have a headlight aiming "machine" (around the Meath area)
that'd do my lights for a few quid? D'NCT is comming up

Thanks
Seán

Tropheus

If you can get down to Blanchardstown, I recommend Dave McCann. He specialises in tyres and wheel alignment, but also has headlight alignment equipment. He's not expensive and very competent so worth the trip.

Esel

I understand it's not Rocket Science...

Slidey

You cannot adjust headlights by using a reference point on a wall.

However, IF, you got your headlights adjusted properly and then parked you car in a flat level place about a foot from the wall. Marked the position of the tyres and then marked on the wall where the level line was and where the flick upwards occurs then you might be able to get it close to right the next time.

Some people use the safe option of low and left when setting them to get them to pass.

The headlight adjuster in the car must also be set to '0'

Personally I adjust them when doing a DoE, it is easier than failing them and having them come back and still be wrong. I wish all manufacturers would stop using the stupid cog that is supposed to be turned using the edge of a philips screw driver.

Seanieke

esel wrote: »

I understand it's not Rocket Science...

Rocket science it aint, but €25 for a retest isn't a luxury I can afford, so say soneone here lets me use their machine for a tenner, thats €15 saving on a retest!

Fishtits

Slidey wrote: »

You cannot adjust headlights by using a reference point on a wall.

However, IF, you got your headlights adjusted properly and then parked you car in a flat level place about a foot from the wall. Marked the position of the tyres and then marked on the wall where the level line was and where the flick upwards occurs then you might be able to get it close to right the next time.

Some people use the safe option of low and left when setting them to get them to pass.

The headlight adjuster in the car must also be set to '0'

Personally I adjust them when doing a DoE, it is easier than failing them and having them come back and still be wrong. I wish all manufacturers would stop using the stupid cog that is supposed to be turned using the edge of a philips screw driver.

If only my local test center would adopt a similarly pragmatic mentality... :rolleyes:

Slidey

Thanks.

I'd also like to add that there is an increasing amount of vehicles presented to test with no beam pattern at all.

*Bulb in wrong, not seated in the lamp correctly
*Lens reflective material flaking off or lens loose in lamp
but the most common one
*Shyte bulbs.

If you buy your bulbs in the pound shop and people start flashing you all of a sudden, well now you know why.

Seanieke

Slidey you can add lads with ill-fitted HID kits too!

Fishtits

Seanieke wrote: »

Slidey you can add lads with ill-fitted HID kits too!

DON'T get me going on that one... :mad:

mickdw

Slidey wrote: »

You cannot adjust headlights by using a reference point on a wall.

Well you can do it using a wall, a flat surface, a level of some sort, a tape & this diagram.

galwaydude18

Can you please explain what all them lines are for? Dont make sense to me. Thanks