[Porkchop]

If I see one more thread on asking how to aim these im gonna puke.

lol ok not really, but im bored and im here to put the info down.

To adjust your headlights you need to turn the stud that sticks through the support of the retainer connecting your headlights to the header panel. You can either use pliers and strip your stud, or a 4mm socket and wrench, like so:

Each headlight has 2 studs you can adjust, Left/Right and Up/Down. The stud closer to the inner parking lights or inner highbeams (depending on year) adjusts your Up/Down motion. The studs closer to the outer corner signal lights adjust the Left/Right motion.

Here is what you need to do to aim them Up/Down:

• To aim the headlight beam higher turn the stud clockwise.
• To aim the headlight beam lower turn the stud counter-clockwise.

Here is what you need to do to aim them Left/Right:

• To aim the headlight beam towards the center of the car turn the stud clockwise
• To aim the headlight beam away from the center of the car turn the stud counter-clockwise

Now go outside and enjoy your aimed headlights:

I know the following pic isnt about headlights, but you can see how well these foglights light up when you take the time to aim your lighting:

-Mike

 

[conversion02]

The only problem is getting the rachet in there...it's a tight spot if you don't have a 4mm wrench and you have to use a rachet. Time to hit up Sears.

 

[Porkchop]

they are pretty easy to get to if you see the pic in the first post. plus i also have more parts there seeing how i have projector headlights and hid's.

 

[CrystalPistol]

I took a new 4 mm socket, 1/4" drive, and slightly ground the smaller part and drilled a 1/4-20 nut out to where it was a press fit over this cround portion, then pressed it on and just spot welded it in two small spots, so now I have a socket that I can use either a ratchet on, a flex handle, or 7/16" box or open or gear wrench on.

 

[Porkchop]

that or a ratchetng 4mm would be nice lol

 

[ry2lazy4u]

on the 94-5 the headlights are harder to adjust on the driver's side. there are some wires in the way and you kinda have to use a wrench after you adjust it so much. or you can use the ratchet, but then theres no way to get it off if the post is tightened in too much. gotta use wrench for 94-5 drivers side for the L-R adjust. Check the sig, ive adjusted lights on all kinds of birdies.

 

[Porkchop]

yea when i had my 95 i had to move a buch of wires, but it was possible. a wrench would be easier obviously.

 

[ECU_Q]

I was just about to search aiming my headlights when I saw this sticky. Props to you for saving me time lol. Thanks dude.

 

[Porkchop]

no problem, i have a good amount of stickies out there lol

 

[ipsd1]

If you are have any broken light adjusters they sell new ones at the parts store in the Red Help/Ballkamp/Dorman, stuff.

 

[NEURO]

I need to adjust the headlights on my 97 Bird, but we need more info in this thread. I called the Ford dealer who doesn't adjust headlights anymore (the hell?) and they found a tech that used to do them.

I'd like feedback on this and how accurate you think his info is before I proceed.

This what the tech told me:

1) At night, park the car on a flat surface facing a wall about 10' away. Turn headlights on (LOL).

2) Find the distinct centerline in the headlight beams on the wall. This is created by the design of our headlamps/bulbs.

3) Correctly adjusted, the centerline should be about 26" from the ground, against the wall.

4) Beams should stay fairly much within the left/right fender lines. In other words, the beams shouldn't be spreading out so far that, if you were in the center lane of a 3 lane road, the beams should not cross over the left/right lanes of the center lane you're in.

5) When correctly adjusted, at about 30-40' away from the wall, both headlight beams should converge into one beam.

Does this sound correct? I don't know and I haven't been able to find any useful info regarding this in manuals or online. We all know about the adjustment screws for the headlamp assemblies, but I can't find consistent info about distances and beam heights for making proper adjustments.

Hopefully, someone can clear this up. Thanx.

 

[Va89Tbird]

thats what i did to mine about a month ago but i did it 20ft away from a wall.

 

[coggonobrien]

what's the recommended height and distance for aiming the headlights for country driving? i spend very little time in town at night and need max visibility. thanks, Dave

 

[IronChopz]

For those looking for a 4mm ratcheting wrench, on occasion you can find them on eBay. Trying a web search will locate other sellers of the "Lisle Tools 14540 Headlight Adjusting Ratchet for Ford" http://www.lislecorp.com/tool_search_results.cfm?Search=14540

This tool makes the adjusting very easy. I picked one up off eBay for about $16 shipped.

 

[Woodman]

Sorry to dredge up an old thread, but can you post a picture showing which studs to adjust? I can't seem to see what looks like it will adjust my lights.

 

[IronChopz]

Here a couple of photos:

http://s1015.photobucket.com/albums/af275/ironchopz/?action=view&current=1994RHHeadlampAiming.jpg

http://s1015.photobucket.com/albums/af275/ironchopz/?action=view&current=1994LHHeadlampAiming.jpg

 

[Woodman]

Here a couple of photos:

http://s1015.photobucket.com/albums/af275/ironchopz/?action=view&current=1994RHHeadlampAiming.jpg

http://s1015.photobucket.com/albums/af275/ironchopz/?action=view&current=1994LHHeadlampAiming.jpg

Thanks!

So how are the lights actually fastened to the car? My passenger side headlight assembly is very loose in the car, I can move it up and down with my hand... does this mean the up/down adjuster is backed out too far?

I'll try to adjust them one of these evenings.

 

[kpthefatty]

Thanks!

So how are the lights actually fastened to the car? My passenger side headlight assembly is very loose in the car, I can move it up and down with my hand... does this mean the up/down adjuster is backed out too far?

where those adjusting studs are, there are little clips that hold the headlamp posts to the header panel. if one of those is missing, your headlight will be very loose. i know this cause one of mine is missing. they are about $4 a piece from ford

 

[Woodman]

where those adjusting studs are, there are little clips that hold the headlamp posts to the header panel. if one of those is missing, your headlight will be very loose. i know this cause one of mine is missing. they are about $4 a piece from ford

That is probably my problem.
I'll look into it tonight. Looks like I need an MFC as well, blinkers are iffy.

 

[bigmurph15]

nice. i needed this. my headlights are pointed way too far down and i almost hit a deer a month ago. good thing i got a good reaction time