Headlamp: Adjustments
3.39 Headlamp, Check Setting, Adjust if Necessary
Basically all procedures describing headlight adjustments and checks apply for all countries. National guidelines or regulations of the country must be observed.
Checking and Adjusting Conditions
- Tire pressure must be OK.
- Lenses must not be damaged or dirty.
- Reflectors and bulbs OK.
- Vehicle must be properly loaded.
Load: Vehicle must be loaded with one person on the driver's seat, weighing 165 Ibs (75 kg), otherwise vehicle must be empty (curb weight).
The curb weight is the weight of the vehicle ready for operation with completely filled fuel tank (at least 90%), including the weight of all equipment items carried for operation (e.g. spare wheel, tool, vehicle jack, fire extinguisher etc.).
If the fuel tank is not at least 90% full, adjust the weight as follows:
- Read fuel level from fuel gauge. Calculate additional weight needed using the following table. Place extra weight in luggage compartment.
Tank Filling Table
Fuel level according to fuel gauge 1/4
Front wheel drive additional weight 121 lbs
All wheel drive additional weight 132 lbs
Fuel level according to fuel gauge 1/2
Front wheel drive additional weight 77 lbs
All wheel drive additional weight 88 lbs
Fuel level according to fuel gauge 3/4
Front wheel drive additional weight 44 lbs
All wheel drive additional weight 44 lbs
Fuel level according to fuel gauge Full
Front wheel drive additional weight 0 lbs
All wheel drive additional weight 0 lbs
Example: If tank is filled halfway on a front wheel drive vehicle, you must place an additional 77 Ibs (35 kg) of weight in the luggage compartment.
Note: For additional weight use containers filled with water. A container filled with 5 liters of water weighs approximately 11 Ibs (5 kg).
Vehicle must be rolled for several meters or the front and rear suspension must be bounced several times so that the springs settle.
The parking brake must be released to avoid tension in suspension.
- Vehicle and headlamp adjuster must be on a level surface. Refer to operating instructions for headlamp adjuster.
- Vehicle and head lamp adjuster must be aligned.
Make sure the headlight adjuster is about 30 cm in front of headlight.
- Inclination must be set.
Inclination measurements are stamped in "%" at top of headlamp. Headlights must be adjusted according to this information. Percentage information is based on a projection distance of 10 meters. For example, with an inclination measurement of 1.0% (on vehicles with head lamp range adjuster), this converts to 10 cm.
Vehicles with Manual Headlamp Range Adjuster:
- The headlight range adjuster rotary knob must be in basic setting -0-.
Vehicles with Automatic Headlamp Range Control:
Note To check/adjust headlights, they must always be placed in the basic setting with the Vehicle Diagnosis, Testing and Information System -VAS 5051-.
- Basic Setting, Performing with the Vehicle Diagnosis, Testing and Information System
- Connect Vehicle Diagnosis, Testing and Information System -VAS 5051- using the Diagnostic Cable -VAS 5051/5- with ignition switched off.
- Switch ignition on.
- Select "Guided Fault Finding"
Enter vehicle information; all control modules are interrogated.
- Press the following selections in the order shown:
- GoTo
- Functions and component selection
- Body
- Electrical Equipment
- 01 - On Board Diagnostic (OBD) capable systems
- 55-Dynamic Headlamp Range Control
- J 431-Dynamic Headlamp Range Control, Functions
- J 431-Headlamp Range Control Module, basic setting
- Press button "->"
Follow the steps of the tester and confirm the entry until the following text appears:
J 431-Headlamp Range Control Module, basic setting
- Press button "->"
- Follow test sequence
Headlamps, Checking Using New Test Screen without 150 Adjusting Line
- Observe the following:
- With low beam switched on, horizontal light-dark border must contact hyphenated line -1- of test surface
- Break-away point -2- between left horizontal part and rising part on right of light-dark border must run vertically through central point -3-. Bright core of light beam must be right of vertical line
Note
- To make it easier to find break-away point -2- cover and uncover left half of headlamp (as viewed when looking forward) a few times. Next, check low beam again.
- After correct adjustment of low beams the center point of the main beam must lie on the center mark -3-.
- For the previous test screens with 15 0 setting line, adjust for new test screen. To avoid incorrect settings, ignore 150 setting line.
Headlamps, Adjusting
Left Headlamp
Left headlamp adjustment screws:
1 - Height adjustment screw
2 - Height/lateral adjustment screw
Placement on right headlight is similar.
- To adjust height, turn adjustment screws -1- and -2-with same number of revolutions.
- To adjust laterally, turn only adjustment screw -2-.
Vehicles with Automatic Headlamp Range Control:
- Perform function program J431 - Headlamp Range Control Module, basic setting, to end.
Fog Lamps in Headlamps
Note The adjustment offog lamps is performed automatically when adjusting headlights.
Fog Lamps in Bumper
Inclination figures:
- Fog lamps: 20 cm
- Unclip retaining tabs and remove cover on lower part of bumper.
- To adjust the lamp range, turn the adjustment screw -arrow-. Lateral adjustment is not possible.
Other Additional Lamps
Accessory auxiliary lamp systems must be checked and adjusted according to the guidelines valid for them.