Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

Simple Headlight Adjusting??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 07-24-2008, 10:22 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Docj78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Simple Headlight Adjusting??

Please don't torch me for starting this thread, as I have read through several others, and there seems to be several opinions on how to do this...

I had new HID's installed at the dealer under warranty, and they are aimed way low(maybe 2 car lengths worth of illumination).

I have read that I need to remove the fender skins to access the adjustment bolt, that the wheel should be removed, amongst many other methods.

I see that the housing is actually visible from the inside of the engine bay after simply popping the hood, and that the phillips screw driver "adjuster" is accesible as well. Can the up/down simply be adjusted from under the hood??

Also, could someone explain what the manual means when it talks about 1st tightening, then loosening so that the headlights don't continue to loosen on their own while driving???
Old 07-24-2008, 06:43 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Outkast187's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Augusta, Ga
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Yea, should be able to adjust under hood, havent checked though...never seen a vehicle that didnt adjust like that though. Dont worry bout the tightening/loosening deal. Pop the hood and take a look, its all pretty basic common sense stuff. Wait till dark, then pull up so you have a wall 10+ft away so you can see how much you are adjusting...a little goes a long way.
Old 07-24-2008, 07:12 PM
  #3  
Lubricious
 
Nubo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Docj78
I see that the housing is actually visible from the inside of the engine bay after simply popping the hood, and that the phillips screw driver "adjuster" is accesible as well. Can the up/down simply be adjusted from under the hood??
YES. That little toothed adjuster is what the phillips fits into.



Also, could someone explain what the manual means when it talks about 1st tightening, then loosening so that the headlights don't continue to loosen on their own while driving???
Ok, so you have the shop manual. What I think they mean is:

Always end your adjustment with a "tighten" (clockwise) turn. If you need to make a "loosening" adjustment, overshoot a bit so you can end with a tighten.
Old 07-25-2008, 09:34 AM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Docj78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Nubo
YES. That little toothed adjuster is what the phillips fits into.





Ok, so you have the shop manual. What I think they mean is:

Always end your adjustment with a "tighten" (clockwise) turn. If you need to make a "loosening" adjustment, overshoot a bit so you can end with a tighten.

That is how I interpreted the instructions as well, but wanted to be sure that is what they meant.
Old 07-25-2008, 10:20 AM
  #5  
Culpam Poena Premit Comes
 
DrewMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i tried to adjust mine but it just clicks in place. am i missing something?
Old 07-25-2008, 12:43 PM
  #6  
Lubricious
 
Nubo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by DrewMan
i tried to adjust mine but it just clicks in place. am i missing something?

You could be using too small of a screwdriver. It takes a fairly large phillips head to fully engage the teeth and not slip. Other than that, maybe it's already at the limit of adjustment. Does it turn the other way?
Old 08-02-2008, 05:14 PM
  #7  
Registered User
 
tj7723's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: D.C.
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thanks for posting every one, i just had new headlights put in under warranty and are way to low
Old 10-12-2008, 10:04 AM
  #8  
Master Shr3dd3r
 
lopezian2004's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colleyville, TX
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Maybe that's why my HIDs look like crap right now... i don't see the philips head adjuster though.. in the picture is it right above the taped wires.. that tiny black circle? The exterior section didn't help much.. maybe the technies can help with my problem!!!!

EDIT: Here are the pics of what it looks like








With fogs



Without fogs








Last edited by lopezian2004; 10-12-2008 at 10:12 AM.
Old 10-16-2008, 09:39 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
Jbill21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't think it should look like that. Mine are bad too. I plan on trying to fix it this weekend...GL
Old 10-16-2008, 09:42 PM
  #10  
Registered
 
Rote8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Boosted...
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I think these cars have a headlight leveling sensor near the rear axle.
Could it be the issue?
(work on the back to fix the front)
Old 10-16-2008, 09:59 PM
  #11  
The anti-ricer
iTrader: (1)
 
Transam kid 01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hillsdale, NJ
Posts: 1,888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My headlight leveling sensor is shot. Is there a way to adjust my lights without the sensor?
Old 10-18-2008, 07:51 PM
  #12  
Registered Noob
 
GaMEChld's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Long Island (Suffolk), NY
Posts: 808
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
wow, from those pics that were posted, those lights are completely out of alignment, definitely low.
Old 10-18-2008, 08:44 PM
  #13  
Master Shr3dd3r
 
lopezian2004's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colleyville, TX
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah the bulbs weren't seated properly. I wanted to make sure they were seated before I start adjusting anything with the adjuster.. 95% better now... i still think one of the bulbs is kinda messed up. i'll post updated pics later on
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Shankapotamus3
Series I Trouble Shooting
28
03-14-2021 03:53 PM
fourwhls
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
7
02-20-2019 05:16 PM
Evan Gray
Series I Trouble Shooting
4
11-24-2015 01:00 AM
jasonrxeight
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
2
09-30-2015 01:53 PM
drlubell
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
0
09-26-2015 11:58 PM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Simple Headlight Adjusting??



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:30 AM.