How to Adjust the Distance of Car Low Beam Headlights?
2 Answers
Car low beam headlights can be adjusted by rotating the headlight height adjustment button inside the vehicle. Low beam headlights are designed for close-range illumination, featuring a wide coverage area but a short projection distance. Situations where car low beam headlights should be turned on include: 1. Driving in areas without streetlights at night, or during dusk when it's dim or at dawn when light is just appearing; 2. In foggy, snowy, or heavy rain conditions when visibility is affected; 3. When driving on roads with insufficient lighting. The method to turn on car low beam headlights depends on the switch type: 1. Lever-type switch: Turn the light control switch handle to the low beam position to activate the low beam headlights; 2. Rotary knob switch: Rotate clockwise to the low beam position to turn on the low beam headlights.
I often adjust my car's low beams to extend the illumination range. First, check if there's a headlight height adjustment knob inside the car—usually located near the steering wheel or on the dashboard side—turning it allows fine-tuning the beam. If this feature is absent, open the hood for manual adjustment. Most headlights have two adjustment screws at the back: one for vertical (up/down) and another for horizontal (left/right). Gently turn the vertical screw with a hex wrench, test-rotate half a turn, then start the car to project the beam onto a wall and check if the new position is suitable. I recommend doing this at night in an open area. Park 10 meters from a wall, mark the original beam height—typically, low beams should illuminate the ground 30-50 meters ahead, adjusted not to exceed windshield height to avoid blinding others. Safety first. After each adjustment, take a test drive. If brightness remains insufficient, inspect bulbs or wiring instead of forcing adjustments to prevent part damage. For complex vehicles like SUVs, I opt for professional service to save time and effort.
