How to Adjust the Left and Right Headlights of a Cruze?
4 Answers
Open the engine hood and locate the adjustment screws behind the headlights to adjust the left and right illumination height of the headlights as needed. Below is additional information on how to use the Cruze headlights: 1. Daytime running lights are used in low-light conditions. Also known as parking lights, their purpose is to make the four corners of the vehicle visible to others, though they are not as bright as headlights. These lights should be turned on during rain, dim lighting, or in underground parking lots. 2. Switch the lights according to driving conditions and weather. When meeting another vehicle, if we use high beams, the other driver will be unable to see the road clearly or judge the exact position of your vehicle due to the strong light, increasing the chance of accidents. Turn on the parking lights when it gets slightly dark in the evening; use low beams for night driving; avoid using high beams or fog lights when driving on urban roads at night under good weather conditions. 3. To activate the high beams on a Chevrolet Cruze, a prerequisite is that the low beams must be on. High beams cannot be activated in other light settings. Pulling the lever inward to flash the high beams once has no restrictions and can be done even when the lights are off.
I've adjusted the headlights of my Cruze a few times myself, just need a Phillips screwdriver. At night, park the car on level ground about 7-8 meters from a wall, open the engine compartment and locate the adjustment holes behind the headlights. The white plastic knob adjusts left-right - turn clockwise to shift the beam right, counterclockwise to move it left. It's best to have someone sit in the driver's seat to watch the light cutoff line; putting tape on the wall as a marker helps. After adjusting, remember to test drive - too far left makes roadside visibility poor, too far right can dazzle oncoming drivers. The adjustment hole location varies by Cruze model year - older versions have it above the headlight cover, newer ones may require removing a dust cover. Setting the height first makes the process easier.
Last week, I just went to the repair shop to adjust the headlights, and the technician taught me a practical method. You need to prepare a hex key and a level ground. First, measure the distance from the front of the car to the wall, and draw two vertical lines on the wall corresponding to the height of the headlights. When the low beams are on, the cutoff line should align with the inner edge of the vertical lines. When adjusting left and right, be careful not to turn the wrong adjustment screws—the top one adjusts height, and the side one with horizontal grooves adjusts the left-right direction. Check the effect after every half turn; adjusting too quickly can easily overshoot. Remember to adjust when the car is cold for more accuracy, as engine temperature affects the headlight housing position. It's crucial to test the adjustment with a night drive, as misaligned lights on the highway can be dangerous.
As an old Cruze owner, I adjust the headlights myself. After checking the manual to confirm the adjustment hole positions, an underground garage is the most convenient place. Stick a white paper on the wall and draw crosshairs—the center point of the light beam should align with the intersection. A short-handle screwdriver works better for left-right adjustments, as a long one can easily get stuck. If the headlight cover is aged, don’t tighten too hard, or the plastic gears might strip. After adjusting, check if the cutoff line is even—the right beam can be slightly higher than the left to avoid blinding oncoming traffic while maintaining roadside visibility. DIY saves 200 bucks in labor, but if the lights are misaligned, a professional shop must correct them.
