Do any of yall know how to align the headlights on an 01 Non sport? I've asked Dodge to do it 3 times now and they haven't. > Also, do you know how I should adjust them. Like set it up on a level surface and point it at a garage and set the middle of the beams to a certain distance apart. My truck is on 305/70/16's with a 2" lift in front. I'm getting ready to put a set of 315/75/16's on it. Thanks for the help yall.

 

BigBlue:

Don't know if this will help but here is a link that shows how PIAA recommends their lights be set:

www.piaa.com/Lamps/LightAimingGuide.html

When I adjusted the headlights on my 98 all I could find was a vertical adjustment - no horizontal - unless I just missed it.

John (DH)

 

Where are the adjusment screws? If there's one thing I need, it's the horizontal alignment.

 

Be very careful. Those screws are tight and you will strip the torx head out if you aren't careful. I believe the allignment for the lights is done 50 feet from a flat wall. I just did mine. The vertical has been off since the truck was new.

 

It's not necessarily the vertical that is off so bad on my truck as it is the horizontal. My passenger beam points off in no man's land.

 

Blue,

If you open your hood, the horizontal adjuster is plainly visible to the grille side of the headlamp.

PS They're plastic, 15 torx.

Magnum

 

Blue, Just for thought, cuz I don't want to irrigate anyone.
According to most manufacturers and most auto body manuals, of which I teach.....

Headlamps should be aimed from 25 feet away.

Measure from your truck lamp height, put the line on your garage door at the same height.

The headlamps should not drop any in 25 feet.

The horizontal adjustment is the same, use the width of your headlamps and make another mark. There should now be an + on your garage door......line em up 8)

 

Here's the procedure according to Dodge:

LAMP ALIGNMENT SCREEN PREPARATION

(1) Position vehicle on a level surface perpendicular to a flat wall 7.62 meters (25 ft) away from front of headlamp lens (Fig. 20).

(2) If necessary, tape a line on the floor 7.62 meters (25 ft) away from and parallel to the wall.

(3) Up 1.27 meters (5 feet) from the floor, tape a line on the wall at the centerline of the vehicle. Sight along the centerline of the vehicle (from rear of vehicle forward) to verify accuracy of the line placement.

(4) Rock vehicle side-to-side three times to allow suspension to stabilize. (Not with my shocks!) :P

(5) Jounce front suspension three times by pushing downward on front bumper and releasing. (Again, not with my shocks!) :P

(6) Measure the distance from the center of headlamp lens to the floor. Transfer measurement to the alignment screen (with tape). Use this line for up/down adjustment reference.

(7) Measure distance from the centerline of the vehicle to the center of each headlamp being aligned. Transfer measurements to screen (with tape) to each side of vehicle centerline. Use these lines for left/right adjustment reference.

VEHICLE PREPARATION FOR HEADLAMP ALIGNMENT

(1) Verify headlamp dimmer switch and high beam indicator operation.

(2) Verify headlamps are set for low beam operation.

(3) Correct defective components that could hinder proper headlamp alignment. (Duh)

(4) Verify proper tire inflation.

(5) Clean headlamp lenses.

(6) Verify that cargo area is not heavily loaded.

(7) Fuel tank should be FULL. Add 2.94 kg (6.5 lbs.) of weight over the fuel tank for each estimated gallon of missing fuel. (Or break for a beer)

HEADLAMP ADJUSTMENT

Headlamps can be aligned using the screen method provided or alignment tool C-4466–A or equivalent can be used. refer to the instructions provided with the tool for proper procedures.

A properly aimed low beam headlamp will project top edge of high intensity pattern on screen from 50 mm (2 in.) above to 50 mm (2 in.) below headlamp centerline. The side-to-side outboard edge of high intensity pattern should be from 50 mm (2 in.) left to 50 mm (2 in.) right of headlamp centerline. (Fig. 20)

The preferred headlamp alignment is 1” down for the up/down adjustment and 0 for the left/right adjustment. The high beam pattern should be correct when the low beams are aligned properly.

To adjust headlamp aim, rotate alignment screws (Fig. 21) to achieve the specified high intensity pattern.

This whole procedure sounds complicated and time consuming, but once you have your garage wall marked, the next time is a lot quicker.

 

Rattle, Sorry, just was trying to give Blue the condensed version. Everything you wrote is correct and I agree with.

I do, however, disagree about having a full tank of fuel. Every manual and alignment system I have ever used states that the only load on the vehicle should be 1/2 tank of gas/fuel, unless specifically stated otherwise by the manufacturer.

Magnum

 

[quote author=Magnum link=board=5;threadid=23778;start=0#msg224681 date=1071619395]
Rattle, Sorry, just was trying to give Blue the condensed version. Everything you wrote is correct and I agree with.

I do, however, disagree about having a full tank of fuel. Every manual and alignment system I have ever used states that the only load on the vehicle should be 1/2 tank of gas/fuel, unless specifically stated otherwise by the manufacturer.

Magnum
[/quote]

I would tend to disagree too but as I said in the first line. It was "according to Dodge" The reason, I guess, is that if the lights are adjusted with less than a full tank, the lights will aim higher after a fill-up.

 

Simple is as simple does.

Take a drive at night.

If lights appear too high, turn the lower screw a couple turns in whichever direction seems to make the lights go down.

If lights appear to far left, turn the side screw whichever direction moves the light to the right.

Take another drive and compare.

Repeat process till it "looks right"


Way back when I was in High School auto class, we had some "headlight aimers".
Units suction cupped them selves to the front of the headlights.
Had a circular or rectangular attachment, depending on the type of headlight.
They had a carpenter level (water bubble) with marked lines for supposed degrees.

I'm thinking they were supposed to be set 20 degrees down and 20 degrees to the right or something like that.


I like my method easier.


Right now, my headlights hit the car in front of me dead center in the rear view mirror ;D
Too darn cold out to mess with them, especially if the screws are plastic

phox

 

[quote author=Magnum link=board=5;threadid=23778;start=0#msg224507 date=1071601753]
Blue, Just for thought, cuz I don't want to irrigate anyone.
According to most manufacturers and most auto body manuals, of which I teach.....

Headlamps should be aimed from 25 feet away.

Measure from your truck lamp height, put the line on your garage door at the same height.

The headlamps should not drop any in 25 feet.

The horizontal adjustment is the same, use the width of your headlamps and make another mark. There should now be an + on your garage door......line em up 8)
[/quote]

Dodge says it a little differently on the drop. They say the preferred drop is 1" in 25'.

 

Rattle---Remind me never to disagree with you again. UNCLE!

Next time, I'll copy out of the text >