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.
In This Article...
Why are the headlights on my Nissan Altima dim?
The low-beam headlights on 2013–2018 Nissan Altima vehicles are allegedly too dim for owners to drive at night, according to a class action lawsuit.
The Nissan Altimas’ halogen headlights feature reflecting parts that are supposedly flawed. Headlights lose their brightness when the reflective surface ages. When this occurs, police may stop moving vehicles to check the headlights.
Nissan is accused of being aware of the headlight issues since at least 2013, but failed to alert customers. Nissan doesn’t provide free replacement parts; instead, customers must pay up to $1,200 for costs associated with the headlamp assemblies.
The reflector cup inside the assembly supposedly cannot survive the heat produced by the halogen light bulbs and loses its capacity to reflect, which is why customers claim that changing the headlight bulbs does not solve the issue.
The projector cup’s reflecting coating burns off, leaving behind burned material that eventually covers the headlights’ lens and weakens the beam.
The reflector cup cannot be changed or the haze removed since the headlight assembly is sealed. The seals do not adequately guard against moisture, which can harm the cups.
How can I raise and lower my headlights?
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.
What is the cost of changing the headlights?
Headlamp alignment adjustments typically cost between $40 and $51. Between $40 and $51 is the expected labor cost range. Taxes and other costs are not included in this range, nor are your particular vehicle or geographic area taken into account.
Is AutoZone going to replace my headlight?
AutoZone can assist you in replacing a burned-out headlight bulb, but only if you bought the replacement bulb from their store and only if the procedure doesn’t involve disassembling the car.
While knowledgeable AutoZone staff members can assist you with a straightforward replacement, the store is not a substitute for a qualified mechanic. To execute a service, they won’t take apart or remove any of your car’s components.
Not all AutoZones will change your headlight for you, to add to that. You shouldn’t rely on your neighborhood AutoZone to assist you service your automobile because different locations may have different policies. Of course, you can always show up and inquire, but for your own protection, you should definitely have a scheduled mechanic appointment.
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How much does it cost to replace the headlight on a Nissan Altima?
Estimated cost to replace the headlight bulbs on a Nissan Altima. Nissan Altima headlight bulb replacements typically cost between $195 and $239. While parts are priced between $139 and $168, labor costs are predicted to range between $56 and $71.
How far should low beam headlights be visible?
This explains their typical placement beneath the headlights as well. The majority of experts advise placing your fog lights between 10 and 24 inches (25 to 61 centimeters) above the ground.
How High Should Your Headlights Be Aimed?
The type of vehicle you drive will determine what defines correctly directed headlights because a coupe and an 18-wheeler will not have the same ideal angle. To determine the appropriate height to aim your headlights, you should refer to your owner’s manual.
However, for the majority of passenger cars, correct aim occurs when the beam is in line with the middle of the headlight lenses.
Check this by shining the light at a wall that is 1.5 meters or 5 feet away and marking the area it hits.
Mark the spot once more and move the automobile back 25 feet (7.6 meters). Your headlights are properly directed and aligned if the marks are all in the same region.
You might be interested in reading up on whether LED headlights are superior, how long LED headlights last, and what headlights to use in fog if you want to learn more.
Conclusion
Your low beam headlights should project between 46 and 61 meters or 150 to 200 feet in front of you. With a height of between 350 and 400 feet, or 106.7 to 121.9 meters, high beams should be around twice as tall. The many situations where each form of light is to be employed benefit from these various values.
How far should high beam headlights be visible?
When it is dark enough to not be able to see enough of the road ahead to drive safely, high beam headlights should be utilized.
Even the most seasoned drivers may find nighttime low visibility frightening. Why is nighttime driving riskier? A driver’s acute vision—which includes depth perception, color identification, and peripheral vision—is responsible for 90% of their reactions, all of which are significantly impaired at night. Headlights with high beams shine at an angle, illuminating the road 350–400 feet in front of the vehicle, or nearly twice as far as low beams. (Remember that 100 feet per second is equal to 68 miles per hour. Low lights may only offer you a few seconds to react to a hazard when driving at highway speeds at night.)
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High lights can help keep you safe but, if used improperly, they can also put other drivers in risk. Whenever there is a chance that you might blind other drivers, you are required by law in every state to lower your high beam headlights. In general, high beam headlights cannot be utilized within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle or within 200 to 300 feet of a vehicle you are following. The exact distance varies from state to state.
What distance should your high lights be visible?
A brilliant glow is produced by high beam headlights that can be seen up to 350–400 feet in front of your car. That roughly equals the length of a city block. High beams are excellent for nighttime driving in rural regions or on dimly lit highways because they are pointed directly in front of you.
High beams aren’t the best option for city driving, either, as their brightness and location can lead other vehicles up to 150 meters away from you to get blinded.
Does the Nissan Altima have a headlight recall?
This class action complaint claims that halogen-headlamp-equipped 2013–2018 Nissan Altimas (the “Class Vehicles”) have a flaw that causes the internal reflecting surface of the headlamp to deteriorate, which causes the low beam headlights to fade.
Nissan North America, Inc. (“Nissan”) has consented to a class action Settlement despite vigorously disputing all charges of misconduct and culpability. All genuine Nissan replacement parts have been produced with a new design from December 2018.
It is only a synopsis on this page. For further information, click the sections above. To all current and previous owners and lessees of Class Vehicles, the Settlement offers the following sorts of relief:
(1) Headlamp replacement reimbursement before October 25, 2021: Prior to October 25, 2021, you may make a claim for compensation if you spent money replacing your headlamps because they were dimming. The reimbursement claim submission deadline is April 25, 2022. For further information about reimbursement, see the FAQs.
(2) 3-Year Extension of the Manufacturer’s Warranty Covering Headlamp Dimming Due to Delamination: Nissan will offer a 3-year extension of the manufacturer’s warranty covering headlamp dimming due to delamination, for a total of 6 years of coverage, starting on the Settlement’s Effective Date, which is anticipated to be on or after January 20, 2022. The same conditions that apply to the normal warranty also apply to this transferrable warranty. Bring your Class Vehicle to a Nissan Authorized Dealer during the extended warranty term to receive replacement headlamps.
(3) The choice to get an immediate replacement from a licensed Nissan dealer and receive payment: You can pay out-of-pocket for replacement headlamps from an Authorized Nissan Dealer and submit a claim for reimbursement if you are currently inside the 6-year extended warranty period and do not wish to wait until the Effective Date of the settlement. The deadline for reimbursement claims is April 25, 2022.
(4) One-Time Replacement for Class Vehicles That Are or Will Be Outside the Extended Warranty as of the Effective Date: If your Class Vehicle will not be covered by the extended warranty on January 20, 2022, you will be eligible to receive a single set of headlamps as soon as the settlement is finalized.
Class members who are not covered by the 6-year extended warranty will receive a special postcard notice from the claims administrator when the Settlement becomes effective. Members of the class are thus notified that they have 65 days to submit a form requesting free replacements. After that, a six-month opportunity will open up for you to get free replacement headlamps from a Nissan dealer. Keep a look out for the postcard notice anytime after January 20, 2022, as this is time-sensitive.