Headlight aiming

twocrifasis · 01-17-2006, 12:59 PM

Is it possible to aim the Prius' headlights. I remember reading a post from another member that his lights appear to be pointing too low on the ground. I am having the same issue. Is it possible to point the lights up a bit so that I get better night vision?

**Tideland Prius** · 01-17-2006, 02:54 PM

I think the manual tells you how to aim it. Otherwise, you can always take it to the dealer.

jayman · 01-17-2006, 06:14 PM

My Prius was delivered with headlights aimed so high that on low beam, the tops of trees were lit up and street lights would turn off. Manitoba Public Insurance requires electronic headlight aiming, and after aiming I'm quite pleased with the beam pattern.

I forget if the machine was European or America, here is one that looks similar to the one they used:

http://www.hopkinsmfg.com/oha.html

**Tideland Prius** · 01-17-2006, 08:32 PM

Pg 302 of the 2004 Owner's Manual

Before checking the headlight aim:
1. Be sure that the body around the headlight
is not deformed.
2. Park the vehicle on a level spot.
3. Get into the driver’s seat and put the
vehicle in a state ready for driving
(with a full tank).
4. Bounce the vehicle several times.
5. Remove the lid on the radiator support
cover.

ADJUSTING THE VERTICAL AIMING
Turn the bolt in either direction using a
Phillips–head screwdriver.

kenkneeb · 01-27-2006, 12:13 PM

There's no philips screw adjustment for the 05 Prius, nor are there any instructions in the 05 manual. Any other information.

Thanks, Ken

Quote:

Originally posted by Tideland Prius@Jan 17 2006, 08:32 PM
Pg 302 of the 2004 Owner's Manual

Before checking the headlight aim:
1. Be sure that the body around the headlight
is not deformed.
2. Park the vehicle on a level spot.
3. Get into the driver’s seat and put the
vehicle in a state ready for driving
(with a full tank).
4. Bounce the vehicle several times.
5. Remove the lid on the radiator support
cover.

ADJUSTING THE VERTICAL AIMING
Turn the bolt in either direction using a
Phillips–head screwdriver.

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littleprius · 01-28-2006, 11:36 AM

Would somebody be kind enough to SHOW and EXPLAIN HOW and WHERE to readjust aiming headlights for 2005 Prius?

galaxee · 01-28-2006, 12:12 PM

littleprius, if you had searched you'd have found this.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=15426&hl=

jayman · 01-28-2006, 12:14 PM

Sorry. I took a very high resolution picture of the adjusting bolt, but apparently I'm low on "global space" and fear if I lose any more resolution, you won't see it. I'll try now.

jayman · 01-28-2006, 12:22 PM

First of all, I drew a jagged red circle around the star wheel/bolt in question. No, I don't have the DT's, I'm just not very artsy-fartsy and couldn't draw a line to save my life.

OK, while in the condo parking I played around with it. An 8mm socket will fit on the adjuster, or just use the philips on the star wheel as the manual suggests. Actually, for the driver side, that's about the only way you could possibly adjust it.

I had a tech do mine, but I watched. It doesn't take much to adjust the aim. I forget if turning the star clockwise will raise or lower the beam.

When you park in your garage, turn the lights on and put a 12 inch strip of masking tape along the beam cutoff. Prius headlights have a very sharp cutoff, so this is easy to do.

Carefully adjust the beam cutoff, no more than 1/4 inch higher or lower. Do this at night, so you can go out for a quick spin to see if you have the desired results.

Another option is to find an unused country road, or a very long driveway. Throw a blanket or jacket over one headlight, then carefully adjust the other headlight until you like the beam pattern.

It's always safe to adjust slightly lower, to avoid dazzling other drivers. Also, like most cars, the headlights should be adjusted when the "normal" load is in, say a driver and a passenger.

Note: if you have HID, which has auto-level adjust, I'd leave it to the pros.

jimnjo · 02-19-2007, 07:25 AM

We have driven our 06 Prius for about year, mostly *not* at night. But when we do, there are frequent 'winks' from oncoming traffic, presumably because they think we are on high beam. When I asked the dealer about this at a routine checkup I was told that these don't adjust in any traditional manner, and it requires (I no longer remember what) major changes in the vehicle. After another evening drive I looked in the forum and low and behold, my dealer seems full of , um, well this is a family forum right?

Looks like I need to tinker with it myself...

Jim

01-28-2006, 12:22 PM	#9
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 11,576 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 35 Thanked 189 Times in 171 Posts Friends: 12	First of all, I drew a jagged red circle around the star wheel/bolt in question. No, I don't have the DT's, I'm just not very artsy-fartsy and couldn't draw a line to save my life. OK, while in the condo parking I played around with it. An 8mm socket will fit on the adjuster, or just use the philips on the star wheel as the manual suggests. Actually, for the driver side, that's about the only way you could possibly adjust it. I had a tech do mine, but I watched. It doesn't take much to adjust the aim. I forget if turning the star clockwise will raise or lower the beam. When you park in your garage, turn the lights on and put a 12 inch strip of masking tape along the beam cutoff. Prius headlights have a very sharp cutoff, so this is easy to do. Carefully adjust the beam cutoff, no more than 1/4 inch higher or lower. Do this at night, so you can go out for a quick spin to see if you have the desired results. Another option is to find an unused country road, or a very long driveway. Throw a blanket or jacket over one headlight, then carefully adjust the other headlight until you like the beam pattern. It's always safe to adjust slightly lower, to avoid dazzling other drivers. Also, like most cars, the headlights should be adjusted when the "normal" load is in, say a driver and a passenger. Note: if you have HID, which has auto-level adjust, I'd leave it to the pros. __________________ 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 5AT "C", Sun Fusion

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01-17-2006, 12:59 PM	#1
twocrifasis Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Cali Posts: 17 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Is it possible to aim the Prius' headlights. I remember reading a post from another member that his lights appear to be pointing too low on the ground. I am having the same issue. Is it possible to point the lights up a bit so that I get better night vision?

01-17-2006, 02:54 PM	#2
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	I think the manual tells you how to aim it. Otherwise, you can always take it to the dealer.

01-17-2006, 06:14 PM	#3
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 11,576 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 35 Thanked 189 Times in 171 Posts Friends: 12	My Prius was delivered with headlights aimed so high that on low beam, the tops of trees were lit up and street lights would turn off. Manitoba Public Insurance requires electronic headlight aiming, and after aiming I'm quite pleased with the beam pattern. I forget if the machine was European or America, here is one that looks similar to the one they used: http://www.hopkinsmfg.com/oha.html

01-17-2006, 08:32 PM	#4
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	Pg 302 of the 2004 Owner's Manual Before checking the headlight aim: 1. Be sure that the body around the headlight is not deformed. 2. Park the vehicle on a level spot. 3. Get into the driver’s seat and put the vehicle in a state ready for driving (with a full tank). 4. Bounce the vehicle several times. 5. Remove the lid on the radiator support cover. ADJUSTING THE VERTICAL AIMING Turn the bolt in either direction using a Phillips–head screwdriver.

01-28-2006, 11:36 AM	#6
littleprius Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 48 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Would somebody be kind enough to SHOW and EXPLAIN HOW and WHERE to readjust aiming headlights for 2005 Prius?

01-28-2006, 12:12 PM	#7
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,676 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	littleprius, if you had searched you'd have found this. http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=15426&hl=

01-28-2006, 12:14 PM	#8
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 11,576 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 35 Thanked 189 Times in 171 Posts Friends: 12	Sorry. I took a very high resolution picture of the adjusting bolt, but apparently I'm low on "global space" and fear if I lose any more resolution, you won't see it. I'll try now.

02-19-2007, 07:25 AM	#10
jimnjo Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 90 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	We have driven our 06 Prius for about year, mostly not at night. But when we do, there are frequent 'winks' from oncoming traffic, presumably because they think we are on high beam. When I asked the dealer about this at a routine checkup I was told that these don't adjust in any traditional manner, and it requires (I no longer remember what) major changes in the vehicle. After another evening drive I looked in the forum and low and behold, my dealer seems full of , um, well this is a family forum right? Looks like I need to tinker with it myself... Jim