How To Properly Aim The Headlight and Foglight - Full Tutorial

In this video I will show to how to properly aim the headlight on a vehicle. I will also include information at the end for foglight aiming. Please follow this step by step procedure in this video. This should be performed whenever you change or modify your headlight.
** NOTE: For those viewers who are concerned about the driveway being not completely flat, this video is a tutorial on how to go about aligning your headlight. You are more than welcome to use any flat road surface you can find in your area. I hope you realize you DO NOT need to use the same driveway that I used. So go have fun and align those headlights and drive safely.
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[@capthook53]

Short, concise and straight to the point. Just right. Thanks!

[@s.d.4351]

Yesterday I went to service center as my beams are too low.. like I could see only 20 feet in front of me. Service center guy said there is no motors to headlights and as you have electric adjustment it can't be done manually and I need to change headlight assembly as whole(though it was changed last year and in pretty good shape). I was not in budget so I didn't change. Today I saw this video, first time I tried to work with car myself. I take out whole assembly to observe if there is any screw ... I found it and adjusted beams myself, now it's perfect. Thank you so much for very informative video.

[@misterman124]

So what will you say about that service centre guy

[@ankurpatkulkar5021]

@@misterman124 that is just a scam to earn a few extra bucks. My guy said the same thing to me, but I knew about this tip, so I did it on my own.

[@21cstinch]

Best video I've seen on this topic so far. Nicely down, thanks.

[@alanwylie8960]

Yes, this video is one of the very few that came closest to explaining how to properly adjust headlights, he left out a couple of steps, but it's not like it'd make a big difference. Good job.

[@SammyWinFL]

Just bought a 2018 Civic, was wondering why the hell my headlights were so low. This video helped immensely. Thanks man!

[@musicalokaoficial]

Great video and I will use these steps for my new headlights assemblies. Thank you so much

[@riconaka]

Great step by step and video shots. The Philips screwdriver shot was perfect! I Was using a 8mm to move the bolt....

[@TheOzthewiz]

For the fog light adjustment you don't have to measure the height of the lamp. Adjust the TOP of the fog light beam spot so it just touches the BOTTOM of the low beam spot at 25' from the wall.

[@satxification]

Posted 3 years ago, but still very useful - Thank you.

[@nativeoutdoors1780]

Yep just helped me thanks so much!!

[@philgar7786]

If you have LEDs that do not have a good beam that mimics the halogen OEM, then NO, because that will adjust your fog beam too high. Even if you do have good halogen beams, the 4" rule is standard, and should be used no matter what bulbs you have. Meeting the fog beam into the low beam is a shortcut that is not a good idea. Fog lights are designed for a reason, and should be properly adjusted, just like low beams should be properly adjusted! No matter what, NEVER put HID bulbs in housings that are not designed for them.

[@RoddyRoams]

I wouldn't want my fog light shining above horizontal, because this would increase risk of fog glare shining back at me.

[@rairadrai]

Passenger side is always higher than driver’s side beam. Both beams are never equal when set from the factory. Driver’s side is a bit lower.

[@ariqzachry]

i've been thinking this for months. thanks man for the info

[@TheHouseofChameleons]

I think the drivers side is 2" lower than the passengers side. Thanks to Ray Dar.

[@POgsDar23]

@@TheHouseofChameleons i've heard that they put the driver side a bit lower than the passenger side on purpose to prevent blinding oncoming traffic;specially when your running super bright headlights ( e.g. LEDs & HIDs).

[@miroslavvarga3707]

@@POgsDar23 If we talk about blinding oncoming traffic Led lights are so distructive and anoyingh.

[@eddievazz561]

Wow... Thanks...my driver's side is lower and won't adjust any higher...it know makes sense

[@400080vikkash]

Thank you for saving people's eyeballs!

[@FuriousHondaBoy]

Thanks, simple and short. This how need to look like all DIY video.

[@mangoman1732]

A no bullshit video, thank god

[@daibennett9224]

This is the best and easiest to understand,thanks man

[@javandell8020]

Isn't your driveway on a slope? Wouldn't that result in an incorrect adjustment? Also, the DOT suggests that the driver side be 4" below the marker and the passenger side by 2".

[@SB-xi1pq]

Like the video. Simple straight forward to the point. Thanks

[@nigelnightmare4160]

I'm glad you didn't set the height to the kickup part of the headlight beam as most of the other videos I've seen have. Well done.

[@chill9901]

Thank you for the helpful info. I just replaced my headlights three days ago. Now I can confidently adjust them.

[@mikepetti1179]

Very very thorough, I like it. Helpful.

[@sbuitrago45]

This video was perfect, thank you.

[@josequintana5559]

Watched this before I replaced my headlamps & took my truck out. Not once did anyone throw their high beams on me. Got it right the first time. Thanks for sharing your info.

[@dial2fast]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@wg6377]

Great info , just install new headlight housings and I do need some adjustments, cheers

[@gittalittle3834]

Great DIY video. Thanks!

[@bicnarok]

excellently explained, best vid on the topic I´ve seen

[@dial2fast]

Thanks for your comment!

[@crimzonr9371]

Was this for a projector lens ... probably be same concept .. Great video

[@TheOn3LeftBehind]

Excellent tutorial!

[@anyvlog3613]

So helpful thank for the knowledge

[@iseesomethingilike8115]

good simple explanation , with out any technicalities. Just one point, I believe the passenger side headlight should be about 4 inch higher than the driver side from the center point

[@rachelhazelton8544]

Thank you 👍

[@panucharanpaila]

Sir, Thanks a lot. Pls instruct for horizontal beam alignment.

[@unitedcolors2920]

Good job, big 👍👍👍👍,, thanks for knowledge,,, form india

[@BojanBojovic]

Thanks, very useful. Just not sure why your beam pattern is flat, my lights have the right side raising.

[@bilalnachabeh]

thank you this is very helpful

[@Rubbernecker]

Excellent video!

[@wecanallski]

what a brilliant video. thanks

[@phillipyee4748]

i dont understand why the dislike? anyway great explanation

[@lukewalker4089]

Very good video, thank you!

[@octane2099]

Nice thank you so much straight into business this is by far the best video on teaching how to adjust.

[@JavaManRules]

Great information

[@kfdaddy]

The video does a good job of covering the proper technique of setting up the painters tape on the wall, but it doesn't take into account the differences in headlight height for various vehicles, from Prius's to jacked up SUV's. You don't get extra distance just because your vehicle's headlights are higher off the ground. The recommended "reach" of the driver side headlight is 200 feet (2400 inches). You're measuring how much the beam drops at 25 feet (300 inches), so you would multiply the height of your low beam by 1/8 (.125) since that is the ratio of the two distances, 300/2400 = .125 If your headlight is 30" from the ground, the drop would be 3-3/4" at 25 feet. If it's 36" high then the drop would be 4-1/2" at 25 feet. There's not a lot of difference, but it's there nonetheless. The average person can do a decent job on their own if they have the right information to begin with. The whole point of doing this is to give you a decent view ahead of you without blinding oncoming cars. The passenger side should be set for a reach of 400 feet so you can see road signs, pedestrians, etc that would normally be to your right. Typically, the passenger side would be about 2" higher than the setting for your driver side since it won't blind oncoming drivers. The ratio there would be 300/4800 = .0625. You can do the math for your vehicle. In my opinion the degrees that might be marked by your headlight is a waste of time. Who has the equipment to measure degrees that precisely? Certainly not your average driver.

[@adamflax1321]

Thank you for your time.

[@JGM8100]

Great work on the video. Thank you

[@TheWilferch]

Critique.....your driveway is not level and slopes down toward the street, like almost any other driveway would. With the back of the car therefore "low"....aiming it "correctly" for height...means that when the car is level ( rear now higher when it is truly level)....your adjustments end up being too low. Also, you can get away with the passenger side "slightly" higher, and the driver's side slightly lower, to avoid blinding oncoming traffic with the headlight closest to the oncoming car.

[@miroslavvarga3707]

Great explanation.But your explanation means nothing if We are talking about LED lights which are so distructive and anoying.Led lights should be prohibited.Especially if it is fucking dickhead pick up truck driver behand me and tailgaiting....

[@TheWilferch]

@@miroslavvarga3707 .....not entirely true. If you buy quality LED headlights , as I did, to replace H4 bulbs, these are designed to be installed in such reflectors and have a rotational "orientation" that must be done....like any lights.....assure proper reflector design for the bulbs used, ....do the proper orientation, and then properly aim them....like all lights. But yeah, understood if the lights are bright, tall, and not aimed....would like to haul the driver out and throttle him.

[@NeonSuperNovas]

@@miroslavvarga3707🤣🤣🤣

[@sachinnagle]

please share the procedure to set the Left and right of the headlight beam,

[@yazdanalimohseni4208]

Very useful, thanks a lot

[@takeadayofff]

Aiming Japanese-make composite headlamps is done in reference to low-beam with a specific factory-specified pattern that u can find in FSM. If u don’t have that info just take it to a body shop that specializes in your brand of car, should cost ~$100 for a perfect pro alignment. Whereas on North American and Australian makes the sealed headlamps are aligned on hight beam and are easy to aim against any wall: Horizontally they shine level as measured up close and at 15-20 feet. Vertically, the passenger-side headlight shines straight ahead and driver-side slightly towards the centerline of the vehicle. (as measured up close and at 15-20 feet) Plus afterwards they can be conveniently broken with a hammer.

[@aredd92]

This is a great tutorial. However, what isn't mentioned is this should always be done on a relatively smooth and level surface, with the lights shining onto a perpendicular surface when possible. This can work in a driveway, but the smoothness and angle of inclination of the driveway would have to stay consistent from 3ft to 25ft away. If the angle/level of the driveway is different at 25ft vs 3ft, then your results will not be accurate. You should also rock the front of the car up and down to settle the suspension.

[@jeffhicks2070]

He explained it good enough to be able to adjust them, if they that stupid and can't figure that out ,then they don't need be doing it anyway

[@philgar7786]

@@jeffhicks2070 No, he did not explain it well enough. Most driveways, from the garage door, the first 2 sections are still at too steep an incline upward, backing up to the third section will put the beam to an even higher level at 25 feet, meaning, "the smoothness and angle of inclination of the driveway would have to stay consistent from 3ft to 25ft away". "this should always be done on a relatively smooth and level surface, with the lights shining onto a perpendicular surface" if you want a very good adjustment! Since you "can't figure that out", you "don't need be doing it".

[@BC-je4ym]

4:22 I thought that was the open door chime!

[@MortenM80]

On all cars I've looked at, when you open the hood, there will be a mark on top of the headlight that tells you how much downward angle the low beam should have. For example 1,2%

[@crisluria346]

Whats the height in terms of that percentage?

[@MortenM80]

@@crisluria346 The beam should drop 12cm at 10 meters distance

[@911Privacy]

Excellent job ........ 👍

[@vi_EviL_iv]

Its best to use a socket to turn the bolt. The screw driver will sometimes damage the teeths.

[@mw5905]

wtf haha

[@godlike0630]

Lol...

[@neils-running-journey]

These are adjusted at the factory with a screwdriver. I know that because I work at the civic factory and is a job I do.

[@dyardsale5475]

good video. Others have tried to explain this concept, buy their version was too cumbersome.

[@dial2fast]

Thanks for your comment, and good that you appreciate the information I provided. Cheers!

[@christiankelly1981]

The mark on the headlight is for your high beam, your low bean protector lens is slightly higher. So your first pen mark at 25 inches should probably be around 26/27 inches

[@philgar7786]

Find and show one single professional that agrees with you.

[@diycast6914]

Great technical explanation and illustrations BUT correct me if I'm wrong...it didn't look like your car was on a leveled surface during the entire procedure,

[@dial2fast]

Could be how the camera angle made it look uneven, but my driveway is pretty flat. Also I am not asking people to use my driveway so don't worry about it too much. The main take away is to show you the steps involved in properly aligning your headlight. You will need to find your own flat piece of land, and just follow the steps shown in the video.

[@964rohit]

VERY IMPRESSIVE hello friend Im from india and i liked your video and i need your help i have ecosports titanium and Im Stuck introuble My Suv headlight is stock and i need to give its focus original alignment please tell me High or Low Beams measurement ? thankYou

[@franksalsa9342]

I'm late but.... THANK YOU

[@Jawadagha]

Lovely best video ever

[@ChauhanDynasty]

Sir, did you installed Led bulbs in your projector...???

[@trueheart5666]

I thought when the headlight center is less than 36 inches like in cars, you don't need to add 2 or 4 inches below the center. The center is as is if headlight center is below 36 inches.

[@marlocx1864]

..light should be directed to the road, not perpendicular : )

[@alaminpolash6725]

Thanks bro

[@lefang1]

great explaination great car!!!! honda!!

[@brittbrittingham9871]

Can you go into more on the fog lights

[@Martinuzm4]

Superb

[@adnanalsalitty3130]

Great job thanks man

[@dial2fast]

Thank you for your comment!

[@LinhUnicorn]

use Similar triangles to determine the far of light field you want, then you can calculate the hight of cut off line on wall you want to, easy marth

[@sohailawan3572]

Good information, thumbs up ❤

[@unitedcolors2920]

Thanks sir

[@yutao1982]

learned!

[@timothylessing4774]

What about the left to right? I want to adjust my driver side headlight cuz it points to the ditch on the other side and leaves the road directly ahead of me completely black

[@arth.4196]

Thanks a lot. I bet the dealer wants $65.00 for this work.

[@galupa518]

This is a very thorough explanation. However, on a Toyota Camry, clockwise will lower the lamps.

[@BC-je4ym]

That dog in the background barked in every scene

[@sureshlingabathina]

Good

[@patrickpeterman4890]

GOOD VIDEO !! HOWEVER THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT NEED,S TO BE LOWER BY 4" AND 2 INCHES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE- ESPECIALLY IN TODAY,S SUPER L.E.D.,S ETC;

[@dial2fast]

Thanks for your comment!

[@TheKraken2019]

That’s incorrect information. The way he has them aimed is how they are supposed to be aimed by law period. That’s a 2 inch drop at 25 feet. That’s what the law is. Aiming it down 4 inches does nothing but limit his visibility and makes driving at night dangerous for him. The reason people will flash the lights or thing the lights are not aimed properly on cars with the blue headlights is because the human eye is very sensitive to blue light and that is why everybody flashes cars with blue headlights. I know all of this personally because I work in the automotive industry testing a ton of prototype vehicles for all manufactures and I work with them on there headlight designs and functions. If people would take the time and properly adjust their headlights like in this video then people wouldn’t be getting blinded on the roads.

[@LinhNguyen-ev8wq]

@@TheKraken2019 I don't have a wall to do the adjustments like many of the tutorial videos on KZbin. My driveway is steeper than the one show on this video. Will doing the adjustments work on steeper driveway?

[@TheKraken2019]

Linh Nguyen personally I would not do the adjustment on a steep driveway. I would drive around town to find a parking lot that’s flat with a wall and use that to adjust them properly. I’ve found that a target or walmart parking lot works most of the time. Or if that won’t work you could find a flat parking lot and have a friend hold a big piece of cardboard or big white construction board 25 feet from the front of the car and take your proper measurements and mark with tape on that cardboard or construction paper and then aim them that way. Heck I’ve even come across flat parking lots and had to use the side of a white pickup truck to adjust them before as well. Now I will say the reason why doing it on a steep driveway is a very bad idea is because the weight of the vehicle would be shifted more on the rear of the car causing the front end to site higher causing the adjustments to be off. This is why it’s always best to use a flat parking lot or parking garage. Hope this helps.

[@LinhNguyen-ev8wq]

@@TheKraken2019 thanks

[@daflyinhawaiian2]

Most Driveways (Like Mine) and looks likes yours, have a slight incline. I guess that doesn't have a factor when backing up 25 feet?

[@dodgeme1986truck]

as long as the surfaces used are flat the driveway may be inclined as the incline causes a negligible differentiation from true

[@MrAmit2808]

What is the position of lever inside the car during this process

[@dimvas7850]

How I can adjust it horizontal?

[@jojoleyson5992]

Are you adjusting with the beam with it set on high or low beam?

[@LilGamez21]

I wish I had a driveway and garage door or wall so I can do this in.

[@josephinesmith3402]

I have a question? Driver side low beam headlight has a darker glare aiming toward the side. When I put them high beam the glare is better. Sometimes, on a darker road, I can't see the glare. Does my headlight need adjusting or is there a defect with this light? I also put in new bulbs, still the same with the driver side. Passenger side work great. Need help, please!!

[@dial2fast]

If you already tried replacing the bulb (assuming it's halogen bulb), then you have a reflector type headlight. The chrome reflector inside directs the light in a specific pattern. If your light output is bad with a reflector headlight, there isn't much you can do to fix it. The only other thing is check the headlight lens cover and make sure it's not old and oxidized which will reduce light output.

[@Mikelaury_world]

This is great video. But here's a problem I'm having I have these led in a 2009 Toyota Sienna XLE they're very pretty lights they're I can't seem to have that nice straight line pattern like the rest of the high-end cars like BMW Mercedes Infiniti even Toyota Corolla.lol ??? is it because of the housing on this Minivan? the light need to adjust to get that nice straight line across at night while driving?

[@officervladimir1874]

I thought you pull the car up as close as to the wall as possible without hitting it and put the tape at the step then go back 25ft? Am I wrong? Another thing. The marking in the headlight you used was for the HB now the actual main light

[@marora729]

How do I aim the fog lights on my Honda Accord 2013 please help

[@rudolfhuijs4526]

Dial2Fast. Indeed your driveway has a slope. It seems to be around 2º. If your headlights are 1 meter from the wall you have to compensate +2.62 cm (check google for slope calculator) and then substract proportionally those 2 inches @ 25ft. I don't know if Honda cars have the %of adjustment engraved on the headlight housing. In European cars (not SUVs) it is between 0.8 to 1.2%. As for the adjustment you did, your beams will point lower than ideal and also add your weight, which was indicated in the checklist but not while adjusting. An 80kg guy lowers the beam level 2-3mm @ 1 meter depending on suspension setting. All in all, the low beams must have a reach of around 60 - 70 meters. With HID projectors the range is up to 90 - 100 meters (cut-off line). Sorry for the metric numbers, I hope to throw some light into the matter here.

[@dial2fast]

Thank you for sharing the information. Indeed for most DIY person at home, finding that ideal flat road surface long enough for you to position your car 25' back with a vertical wall in front of it can be difficult (depending on what's available in your area). Here in the US, there are lots of people with misaligned headlights that are blinding on coming traffic. Not just people that have installed LED or HID, but people who have replaced headlight housing or have damaged front end. I want to provide the information to people so at least they will know how to adjust the headlight and get the beam pattern close to what it should be. Also with all the measurements one must do with tape and ruler, there will be some percentage of error in performing this procedure, but I think it's better that a car owner try this procedure as best as he/she can, instead of not doing this at all, and drive around in a vehicle with misaligned headlights.

[@rudolfhuijs4526]

dial2fast I missed to comment your video is the most easy to understand and follow step by step I have seen in YT. Indeed it is amazing the number of motorists who drive out there without a single cent of consciousness about their headlights and all those dumbs who install HID bulbs in reflector housings. Here in Europe we have very strict regulations on headlights, position lights, fog lights, DRL. Sadly it's not the case in so many countries. I appreciate your effort to spread some wisdom through your channel and turn night driving into a more enjoyable experience.

[@dial2fast]

@@rudolfhuijs4526 Really appreciate your feedback and comment. Cheers!

[@matrixanimations]

Would this procedure still work on a lifted truck?

[@orange12v]

In the UK we use this method but we adjust it with the lights on full beam

[@cesarcpx386]

You should to use a 98-02 honda accord please

[@rafars2246]

Man I can't believe you, your driveway is elevated, you need a level surface....

[@ذيبالبادية-خ3س]

شكرا

[@rnewling726]

Doubt you were on level surface because rain would puddle under garage doors, which contractors avoid by adding slope to driveway.

[@1bootyaa]

yeah thats the hardest part about aiming the headlights....finding level ground lol

[@Chris-5446]

Ok so this video is super helpful, but the driveway slope is gonna throw my adjustments off. Wondering if i should run a straightline to measure the difference from 25 ft and factor that in when i mark my garage door. How much does a mechanic charge to do this? Ugh... and id have to factor in the angle of the slope.

[@Chris-5446]

I think I'm gonna pull another car next to the one that might need adjusted and line it up that way. It's only a vertical adjustment anyways

[@czapata001]

Hi could you please do a review of the JDM Astar LED bulb 7th Generation? thanks

[@pavelgavrilovskiy7174]

Why do I need to start with 3 ft away from the wall? Where did you get it that fog lights should be adjusted 4 inches lower than the center, not 2 inches?

[@marlocx1864]

..to accurately install the tape, before backing away 24 feet

[@antonios4926]

Thanks for the video the Phillips No2 screwdriver is it 30cm long? From Cyprus

[@lazybeachbum9394]

I replaced my lights and the pattern is way to the left. So I can't center the light then?

[@markbudol9428]

You forgot to put driver in driver side before fo adjust the headlight from driver side because if you drive the car in the street the wieght of vehicle in driver side will get low now the aim of headlight not balance....

[@LostInPhilly89]

The difference will most likely be negligible. Besides, he mentioned early on in the video to do this.

[@favemediabureau]

Can lowering LED beam possible for any cars including old year 2000s Asian car makers, they are all reflector type.

[@lakers165]

Good video man. I have a question. Where did you get those led lights?

[@dial2fast]

The Auxbeam F-T1 is good: amzn.to/2Y781GF

[@jaidavlogss]

is there a chance that the screw or sockets will be lose thread?

[@dial2fast]

Even though these screw threads are plastic, they typically hold up pretty good, unless someone has previously cranked on those screw settings beyond its max/min limit.

[@SatyamevaJayate281]

Is it for all cars??? Or specifically for hondas???

[@dial2fast]

For all vehicles

[@mikeyspeeds1056]

OR! OR! If you never touched them yet from factory, you can change one bulb at a time and match it against the old bulb level and adjust new bulb. Then change the old bulb and adjust matching to the new bulb. LOL

[@mechthangaram9]

we can electrical adjust the aiming please to the video for it broo