The last thing you want when driving after the sun sets is for your headlights to blind oncoming vehicles or alert extraterrestrials from another galaxy. You may not mind if your cosmic counterpart pays you a visit, but at the very least, show some consideration for other drivers and adjust your headlight beams. No of the model year, your Tacoma has a pair of adjustments on each headlight assembly to assist you in providing that courtesy.
Setting up your Tacoma such that you can adjust the headlights appropriately is the most difficult part of the process. Find a level parking space with a wall or building that you can access to get started. You must have a clear line of sight to the wall and be able to park 25 feet away from it.
In This Article...
Items you will need
Your front tires should be aligned as you approach the wall. Find the pointing nipple that is right in front of the headlight bulbs by looking at the lenses of your headlights. Calculate the distance between the ground and the nipple’s center. The distance between the left and right headlights’ central aiming nipples should be recorded.
Create two 2-inch circular marks on the wall in the exact locations of the center aiming nipples. Make sure the marks are the same height and spacing apart as the center marks on the headlight lenses by using the measurements you took in the previous step. Make a 7.94-inch horizontal and vertical line that passes through the circles and intersects at their centers. Four 3.97 by 3.97-inch cubes should be drawn around each circle by boxing in the cross you just made.
Mark the concrete at 25 feet from the wall. Back up until the front bumper tip of your Tacoma is directly over the concrete mark you established while maintaining straight wheels; at this point, you can begin making changes.
The adjustment gears or screws on the back of the headlamp assembly should be identified. The vertical adjustment screw is located at the 8 o’clock position on the driver-side headlight and the 4 o’clock position on the passenger-side headlight, if you are looking squarely at the back of the headlight assembly. The driver-side headlight’s horizontal adjustment screw is located at 11 o’clock, while the passenger-side headlight’s is located at 1 o’clock.
Tips
- For the horizontal and vertical adjustment screws, some Tacomas use a 4mm bolt, while others use a little gear that you spin with a Phillips screwdriver.
- Small rubber caps may be used to cover the screws. To reveal the gear or 4mm screw head, merely remove the caps.
Turn on the headlights after removing the electrical harness from one of them. The headlight beam can be adjusted vertically by turning the screw either clockwise or counterclockwise. The four corresponding squares you created on the wall should contain the top of the headlight beam. Once the height is chosen, rotate the horizontal screw in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to adjust the headlight beam inward or outward.
To lock in the adjustment, each adjuster must be turned completely counterclockwise.
Put the headlights off. Connect the wire harness to the other headlight after disconnecting it from the headlight whose wiring you’ve just changed. Repetition of the correction process Before connecting the wiring harness, turn off the headlights. Any rubber covers that might have been on the adjustment screws should be replaced.
How do I manually change my headlights?
You’ve now realized that your headlights need to be adjusted, but how? Locate your headlight adjustment screws first, then crank them clockwise or counterclockwise with a screwdriver until they are level.
Where are the headlight adjustment screws?
Since every vehicle is unique, you need consult your car’s manual to find the location of the headlight adjustment screws.
You’ll need to remove the trim surrounding the headlight in the majority of cars, and you should be able to find them inside the housing for the headlights. If you can’t find them, they can be behind the battery, in which case you should have your headlights adjusted by a specialist.
You can start making adjustments once you’ve found the screws. Cover the headlight you aren’t adjusting with a blanket or piece of clothes. In order to adjust the headlamp to the desired level, turn off the lights and turn the screws with a screwdriver. Restart your headlights to check if any additional adjusting is necessary.
The lamp should have two screws: one for vertical adjustment and the other for horizontal alignment. One at a time, make each modification.
It’s always a good idea to consult the manufacturer’s instructions, since they may include information on how to remove the headlamp casing and the height at which your headlights should aim.
How should my headlights be pointed?
- 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.
What is the ideal distance between headlights?
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 far should your low beam headlights project?
Depending on the headlights you’re using, your headlights should shine a certain distance. High beams or brights should shine 350 to 400 feet in the distance, while low beams or dipped lights should shine roughly 150 to 200 feet away. For maximum effectiveness, fog lights must be positioned at a specific height; they do not need to illuminate the road in front of them.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about how far your headlights must shine, including how to examine each type, align them, and more!
How Far Should Your Headlights Shine While on High Beam (Brights)?
High beam headlights, sometimes referred to as brights, should illuminate the road in front of you for approximately 350400 feet (107122 meters).
High beams are advised for when you’re travelling quickly, thus this is roughly twice the distance needed for conventional headlights.
What is the cost of changing the headlights?
Headlamp alignment adjustments typically cost between $41 and $52. Between $41 and $52 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.
Step 1: Parking Light Adjustment.
You must alter the parking lights to a setting that you are comfortable with before adjusting the headlights. Therefore, turn on your headlight switch before the parking light.
Now, change the parking light’s angle like you would in a regular vehicle for nighttime driving. Turn off the parking light once the angle has been determined.
Step 2: Headlight Adjustment.
It’s time to adjust the headlights after you’ve adjusted the parking lights.
You must use a wrench and an adjustable wrench or a socket wrench and an adjustable socket set to adjust the headlights.
The bolts may also need to be loosened and tightened with the aid of another person.
Step 3: Headlight Beam Adjustment.
There are two different headlight beam patterns to choose from: a wide beam and a small beam pattern.
Wide beams are brighter because they cover a larger area, and narrow beam patterns are more focused because they scatter less light.
Just as you did in the preceding step, you must turn on your headlights and modify the beam pattern with the adjustable wrench.
Step 4: Headlight Aiming.
The three-point method is a technique that can be employed if you want to properly aim your aftermarket headlights.
It is a standard that automakers use to determine the direction of the headlights on new vehicles. Utilizing a tape measure, you must place it on the screen or headlight lens holder.
Use a tape measure to check that the uppermost portion of the screen/lens holder is aligned with the center of your headlights.
Step 5: Aiming for the First Time.
To get the best results when aiming your headlights for the first time, you must follow a specific process.
Use a tape measure to determine the difference between two headlights, for example, if one is currently being used with a 15-degree angle and the other one has a 10-degree angle.
You should also be aware that your headlights must be pointed at a 30 degree angle if you are doing so for legal reasons.
Step 6: Maintaining Your Headlights Properly.
If you want the aftermarket headlights to survive as long as possible, whether or not you adjust them correctly, you still need to maintain them.
As a result, you will need to regularly replace the batteries in your car and wash down the headlights with a towel or wipes made specifically for cleaning headlight lenses.
Step 7: Using an Automated Electrical Adjustment Device.
You can save yourself the hassle of manually changing your headlight if you are driving a car with an automated electrical adjustment unit.
Even if you have aftermarket headlight kits, it’s worth a try as long as the headlights are factory installed because they should function just well with aftermarket headlights.
Step 8: Headlight Height Measurement.
There are primarily three methods for determining the height of your headlights: using a conventional ruler, measuring with both feet on the ground, and using an aiming rod while driving.
Step 9: Headlight Height Adjustment.
You will need a wrench or an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts on the mounting bolts for your aftermarket headlights so that you can adjust them.
Once they are sufficiently free, you can make the required adjustments using an adjustable socket wrench or a socket set. After that, simply tighten them once more, and you’re done.
Step 10: Bulb Replacement.
If you want to utilize one of the aftermarket headlight kits, you will need to get your original headlight bulbs replaced because some of them include headlights while others do not.
Using a grille removal tool, you must take off your car’s grille in order to replace the old bulbs correctly.
Next, remove the required cables with a pair of pliers so that you can swap out the old light bulbs for the new ones.