headlight adjustment

[axle4]

my offside one is too high, according to the haynes manual it's a volvo workshop job but shows were the adjusters are and which one does what but not which way to turn them, they have like a bleed nipple on top and a allan key type hole under that. anybody know how to adjust them?
Cheers.

[Daim]

Have you got xenon lights? If yes, then your adjustment won't hold for long, as the lights require a calibration. If you have the standard halogen lights, the simply turn that wheel to adjust it.

[axle4]

thanks Daim, didn't know that and don't know what type of blubs are in it, it's a v50 2004 t5, why do they require a calibration and why don't they keep it? i'm intrigued.

[Ninja59]

xenons are automatically self levelling and therefore require calibration by VIDA.

halogens do not self level and therefore do not need that but tbh i would get them levelled by someone with the right levelling equipment.

[Daim]

Originally Posted by axle4

thanks Daim, didn't know that and don't know what type of blubs are in it, it's a v50 2004 t5, why do they require a calibration and why don't they keep it? i'm intrigued.

Well, the way you can tell is simple:

Do you have a manual height adjustment wheel on the light switch? If no: then it is xenon and requires a calibration. If yes, then it is halogen and can be adjusted.

Originally Posted by Ninja59

xenons are automatically self levelling and therefore require calibration by VIDA.

halogens do not self level and therefore do not need that but tbh i would get them levelled by someone with the right levelling equipment.

This is why

[axle4]

Yay, mines got the wheel
now is it the allen key or the bleed nipple that adjusts? and why have two?

[Daim]

Height and angle...

[axle4]

sorry i meant why are there two possable adjusters for both height and angle, thats four each side.

[BenB]

I may be mistaken but IIRC There are two each side, but each of those has two ways of adjusting it.
The centre hole (female) and also a right-angle geared male allen key shape one each.

When I tried the male adjusters (Using a small socket)(designed so they are facing up, so they can be reached with the headlight in place) it's always slipped a gear. Yours may not be so stiff.

I recommend WD40 on the little mechanism first, then adjusting using the female hole (ie using an allen key) with the light out. Annoying, as you have to keep putting the light back in to check alignment.

Another annoyance is that clockwise on one light has the same effect as anticlockwise on the other! (I think) So you have no clue which way you are winding it!
Trial and error!

[axle4]

just adjusted the headlight using the small grease nipple type adjuster at the top for up and down, easy pesy.
thanks for the help guys.