Headlight adjustment

Tiny
DARKSHARK88
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 SCION XB
  • 2.1L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
I wanted to know if there is a way where I myself can adjust my headlights on my listed above 2nd gen?

I need to adjust my headlights. The driver side is pointing down too low and the passenger side is pointing too much to the right.

Nobody seems to know. And I don't have a manual for my car.
Saturday, November 16th, 2019 AT 4:05 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
Well it does have an adjustment for vertical position but they do not show any for lateral motion. Has your car ever been in an accident on the right side? Also you might want to check to see if the headlight is installed correctly, there are three screws that hold the lights in, one missing could shift the light. The first picture shows the adjustment screw for the lights. Clockwise moves the light beam down.

The second image is the way the lights are mounted. To get to those screws you need to remove the grill and the front bumper cover as follows
Image 3 - REMOVE NO. 1 RADIATOR GRILLE GARNISH
(a)Remove the 5 clips
Image 4 - REMOVE RADIATOR GRILLE
(a)Remove the 3 clips.
(b)Remove the 2 bolts and radiator grille.
Images 5-7 - REMOVE FRONT BUMPER COVER
(a)Apply protective tape, as shown in the illustration.
(b)Remove the 12 screws.
(c)Remove the 4 clips.
(d)Disengage the 8 claws and remove the front bumper cover.

Checking these first would help you see if the right side is mounted correctly. Being a plastic light housing it could have a broken tab that would move the light in the wrong direction.

Some items to check before you aim the lights.

- Ensure that there is no damage or deformation of the body around the headlights.
- Fill the fuel tank.
- Inflate the tires to the appropriate pressure.
- Sit a person of average weight (68 kg, 150 lb) in the driver seat.
- Empty out anything in the trunk other than the spare and jack.
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Saturday, November 16th, 2019 AT 4:40 PM

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