When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Has anyone done this? I researched the Lexus TechDoc manual (Ct200h/ ZWA10). Its very technical Just wondering if there’s an easier way or best way to adjust the the aim.
Yeah there's "technical" ways to aim them, but generally what I do is eyeball it. Either point the car 30-50 ft straight onto a wall/garage and make sure the headlights slightly trend downwards but are generally straight out. Also pull up along side a wall (like a long alley) to check as well. Then drive and see if it works for you. Season to taste. You generally don't want your lights pointing perfectly straight into infinity and certainly you don't want them pointing up. They should trend down slightly over distance.
Cool thanks i just followed your tips. It only took a few turns to slightly raise the top cutoff low beam. I lowered the my ct 1” and switch to LEDs bulbs low beam & fog lights. Although the brightness is night/ day from stock halogens. The distance illuminated wasnt very far. Think 30ft maybe 40. Seems like 50ft is the ideal distance. I test drive tonite
I wish all cars came with this. We don't have that in North America I think.
Another tip for adjusting headlights without the "proper" method which you can find online for any car, is to simply put your car side by side with another car that has unadjusted headlights, facing a wall, and match yours to the other.
I actually recommend against doing it "properly" because it isn't sufficient. My headlights are adjusted slightly higher than normal because they simply don't throw light far enough down the road.
Also, just for laughs, not only does the manual not mention how to adjust the lights, but the dealer didn't know either. They kept saying if they adjust them, they will reset after each start of the car. They were actually trying to adjust the auto-leveling LED system instead of the headlights themselves....
I wish all cars came with this. We don't have that in North America I think.
Another tip for adjusting headlights without the "proper" method which you can find online for any car, is to simply put your car side by side with another car that has unadjusted headlights, facing a wall, and match yours to the other.
I actually recommend against doing it "properly" because it isn't sufficient. My headlights are adjusted slightly higher than normal because they simply don't throw light far enough down the road.
Also, just for laughs, not only does the manual not mention how to adjust the lights, but the dealer didn't know either. They kept saying if they adjust them, they will reset after each start of the car. They were actually trying to adjust the auto-leveling LED system instead of the headlights themselves....
Yup you can do that too. This factors into "my" method as well. Whenever I drive a new car or have owned new cars, they follow the pattern as I described. My Lexus IS from the factory actually was aimed aggressively downwards, more so than any other new car I've driven recently including a new NX. So I had to raise the IS's headlights lol. Human beings (think grandmas) that aren't car people adjust the headlights at the factory by turning an electronic screwdriver until the computer tells them to stop. And there's a bit of a wide range of "when to stop" so sometimes it's higher sometimes it's lower. The car is constantly moving and the loads in your car are constantly changing, so it's not exact science. My 2002 BMW had auto-leveling headlights which would adjust based on the load in the car, say if you had stuff in the trunk. You could sit in the trunk with the car/lights on and see the lights adjust dynamically. Really mind blowing feature in the year 2002 (it actually came out in 99!)
I've never seen that auto leveling **** on the CT. That must be a feature w/ the LEDs. I can't see an adjustment needed for halogens.
And yeah the 1st gen LEDs in the CT and Prius (same unit) are known for insufficient distance but they do have good width and foreground.
OP careful with the aftermarket LEDs. Not all are created equal. If you drive your car at night a lot, you need to rely on your low beam headlights. Since they are always on, those LEDs tend to get hot and require a passive and active cooling system. The ones with active cooling such as a fan, tend to mean the bulb outputs a lot of light, however it relies on that fan not burning out. So just make sure you have a back up plan in place in case the low beam bulbs fail.
Personally I run aftermarket LEDs in my high beams because I know any instance I'd use them won't require full-time on and thus little risk at over-stressing them.
my previous vehicle prior to ct200h ownership.. SUV 2004 Infiniti QX4/ nissan pathfinder. had that adjustment feature on the HID lamps. 3 positions to adjust for weight differences 4x4 driving, extra payload, towing, etc. i could see the changes while driving when switching positions. big switch up from suv to compact hybrid. no regrets....yet so far lol.
After adjusting headlights I like to pay close attention to how they're directed in relation to other cars on the road. I like to make sure the beam is just under their side view mirrors, and don't ever go over them with regular road conditions.
Its the worst when peoples headlights are shining into my mirrors or even into my rearview mirror in the cab. And almost always those cars have aftermarket lights.
Ever notice too that if a car had burnt out bulb(s) theyre aftermarket?
Playing with lights is fun, I do it. But don't forget our responsibility to other drivers. Whoa that sounds so lame but its true.
Yeah definitely do your best to make sure the static height doesn't point in anyone's mirrors or faces.. but often times with normal hills, undulations, grades, you'll find your lights blinding people just as i often find myself getting blinded by stock/brand new cars. Also most cars on the road are taller than our CTs (trucks, SUVs, crossovers) so we're like little motorcycles... so maybe a little blinding of others isn't the worst thing in the world? For visibility's sake
01-12-21 | 11:34 AM
Headlights aiming, adjustment (halogen lamps) 2014
