How To Adjust Kia Sorento Headlights

  • Read the owner’s manual. Some automobiles don’t have a headlight adjusting feature. To find out whether your specific make and model allows for adjustment, examine the owner’s handbook. To find out where the adjusting screws are located, you need also consult the handbook. Similar to a carpenter’s level, certain automobiles contain leveling bubbles that aid in headlight adjustment. You may find the kind and placement of the adjustment screws in your owner’s handbook.
  • Put the automobile on a level spot. Find a flat area where you may beam the headlights on a wall or a garage door. Make sure the car’s tires are properly inflated, that the petrol tank is at least halfway full, and try to simulate the weight that you would typically carry inside the automobile. Turn on the headlights while applying pressure to the car’s four corners to assist in balancing the shocks.
  • Establish a central axis. It is better to complete this following stage at dawn or dusk. The distance between the car and the wall should be six feet. the low beam setting on your headlights. As the beam shines on the wall, use the masking tape to identify the horizontal and vertical axes of the beam. The tape should be placed such that it forms a cross.
  • The difference between the two headlights should be measured. Check to determine if both headlights have the same measurement by using the measuring tape to measure the lines. The tallest centerline should be lowered to be the same height as the lowest centerline mark if the measurements don’t line up. Some cars have incorporated crosshairs in the headlight that make it simple to locate the beam’s center. This information can be found in your owner’s manual.
  • Car is being backed away from the wall. Measure the area using the measuring tape at the approximate 25-foot distance suggested by your owner’s manual. Back the car up until the front wheels are at the 25-foot mark while maintaining a level surface. Turn on your headlights and observe where the marked area on the garage wall is struck by the brightest portion of the headlight’s beam.
  • Get ready for the change.
  • Remove the headlights’ ring or bezel to make way for the adjustment, keeping the pieces safely stored away. Make sure you have a screwdriver on available, along with some dark cardboard or fabric. Know where the vertical and horizontal adjuster screws are located. The actual adjustment operation is made easier with a helper inside the vehicle.
  • Vertical field should be adjusted. Have the helper turn off the headlights while you are standing in front of the vehicle. Next, have the assistant switch on one headlight while you cover the other with the dark cloth or cardboard. Locate the adjusting screw and slowly move it in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction to change the height of the lights. Ensure that the most intense portion of the headlight beam strikes at or just below the vertical centerline you marked with tape on the wall when you make your adjustment.
  • the horizontal field, as necessary. To move the headlights inward or outward, turn the screws in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Just to the right of the middle tapeline, the headlight beam should land. After making the necessary vertical and horizontal adjustments to the other headlamp, block out the modified headlight.
  • Adjustments should be refined. Once the center axis of the headlight beam coincides with the tape marks on the wall, continue fiddling with the vertical and horizontal adjustments. Take the car for a test drive when you’re satisfied with the modifications, and if one of the headlights isn’t quite up to pace, repeat the steps above.

Q: How Far Should Your Headlights Shine While on Low Beam?

A: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that low beam headlights can illuminate a space for up to 160 feet. You won’t be able to blast out light hundreds of feet in front of you without picking up a few middle fingers or a ticket along the way, regardless of how modern LED and HID lighting systems differ in performance.

Q: How Far Do High Beams Shine?

A: High beams have a reach of between 300 and 400 feet, which is significantly greater than low beams. Again, depending on the features of your car, your headlights might work better or worse.

Q: How High Should Your Headlights Be Aimed?

Use a tape measure to determine the distance from the ground to the center of the light beam when your automobile is parked 25 feet from the wall you’re using to align them. Then calculate the distance between the center of your headlight unit and the ground. The region that is lit needs to be at least slightly lower in height than the headlight assembly.

Some cars come equipped with a handy built-in level so you can see the position without parking and taking measurements.

Q: My Headlights Are Dim. What Can I Do?

A couple things can be happening if your headlights are dim. Depending on the type of light, you might need to repair or replace a malfunctioning bulb or lighting unit. It’s possible that your battery or alternator is deteriorating and not providing each light with the appropriate amount of electricity.

You could also just have a dirty or hazy headlight lens. The plastic used in headlight housings of old cars may start to seem foggy, tarnished, or yellowed. Using a straightforward headlight restoration kit, you may clean it.

At 25 feet, how high should your headlights be?

Your vehicle’s ride height can be subtly altered by suspension issues or a large cargo load, which may also cause one or both headlights to move. Your lights may become out of alignment as a result of a collision or running over a road obstruction.

Parking the car on a level surface and shining the headlights on a wall or garage door 25 feet in front of you can help determine whether the headlights are accurately aimed (some cars may require a different distance). For the majority of vehicles, the top of the low beam that shines on the wall should be at or just slightly below the height of the center of the headlight lens. You can anticipate that the light pattern will be lower on the driver’s side to avoid blinding other cars and higher on the passenger’s right side to highlight traffic signs. This should help you determine whether the beams on both sides are pointed in the right directions.

Another approach is to park the car five feet from the wall and then mark the wall’s vertical and horizontal light beam centers with masking tape. Reposition the car 25 feet back. The light beams should be around the same height both vertically and horizontally with the help of the tape line.

For adjusting headlight height, vehicles typically feature a screw or bolt on the headlight assembly. Some vehicles additionally include a screw for adjusting horizontal aim. A bubble level is also included in some cars to aid in modifications.

Without taking apart components like the battery, you might not have much room or even be able to reach the adjusters on some vehicles. Additionally, the vehicle must be perpendicular to the surface you’re shining the headlights on, be on properly level ground, and have no damage to the suspension system, flat tires, or baggage that would impact the ride height.

The owner’s manuals of many vehicles offer scant or no advice on headlight aiming. Ask a repair business to check if you’re unsure. A dealership may inspect the headlight aim and align it for free if the car is still under the basic warranty.

View the video below for a visual representation of everything mentioned above. Additionally, remember to regularly clean your headlights.

How are the headlights changed on a 2020 Kia Soul?

Turn the driver (1) in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to aim the high and low beams left or right. Turn the driver (2) up or down to adjust the position of the low and high headlights.