How to Adjust High Beam Headlights?

[McAugust]

To adjust the high beam headlights, follow these steps: Turn on the high beams, then use a hex socket to adjust the height and left-right alignment screws of the high beams. To activate the high beams, push the light control lever outward. The purpose of high beams is to enhance visibility and expand the field of view. The functions of automotive lights include: 1. Headlights: Illuminate the road and objects ahead to ensure driving safety; 2. Position lights: Indicate the vehicle's width to alert oncoming and following traffic; 3. Fog lights: Make the vehicle more visible to oncoming and trailing vehicles; 4. Turn signals: Alert surrounding vehicles and pedestrians.

[JuliannaLee]

Adjusting the high beams is actually quite simple. I did it myself on my old SUV at home. First, find a flat wall, park the car about 5 meters away, and turn on the low beams to check the headlight height. The adjustment screw for the high beams is usually at the back of the headlight housing, and you can turn it with a Phillips screwdriver. The key is to adjust based on the light pattern on the wall—the center of the high beam pattern should be about 10cm higher than the low beam. Remember to test it on the road after adjustment, and make sure the beam doesn't shine into the eyes of oncoming drivers. Once, I adjusted it incorrectly, and an oncoming car kept flashing their lights at me, so I had to pull over and readjust. Be extra careful if you've modified your headlights—some LED lights require special tools.

[OGraham]

When my friend first opened his auto shop, he taught me the standard procedure: turn off the engine, shift to neutral, and position the car head-on to a wall. Prepare a tape measure to check the headlight height from the ground, then mark the low-beam cutoff line on the wall with tape. The high-beam adjustment knob is under the hood—some have gear-like teeth, others hex holes. The key is to align the high-beam center point three finger-widths above the low-beam cutoff line. We tested over a dozen cars—German models usually require removing trim covers to access adjustment holes, while Japanese cars let you reach them directly. For night testing, pick an unlit road section to check if beams spread parallel. Never copy those who blindly adjust against trees.

[MacOlive]

Last week, while adjusting the high beams on my wife's hatchback, I discovered a little trick. Park the car in an underground garage at night, and the wall instantly becomes your adjustment board. Focus on two light patterns: the low beam has a clear cutoff line, while the high beam forms an oval-shaped light cluster. Use a screwdriver to turn the adjustment bolt on top of the headlight (the one near the windshield)—turning it clockwise will raise the beam. Remember to adjust each light separately, covering the left one while adjusting the right. SUVs should be adjusted lower, while sedans can be set normally. After adjusting, pay extra attention on the drive home—if oncoming cars frequently flash their lights at you, it means your beams are still too high.