Headlamp Aiming (Screen Method)

Description:

First locate the vehicle so that it is square with the screen and with the front of the headlamps, directly over a reference line which has been painted on the floor.

Next locate the center line on the aiming screen so that it is in line with the center of the vehicle. This can be done by marking the center of the front and rear windows with narrow strips of masking tape. Use these "sights" to locate the center line of the aiming screen directly in line with the vehicle axis.

Equipment Needed
^ A marked screen and adequate test area. Aiming Area Required

It is desirable to have a specific aiming area in a darkened location. This room should be sufficient for the vehicle and an additional 7.6 m (25 feet) measured from face of lamps to the front of the screen.

The floor on which the vehicle rests must be flat and level with the bottom of the screen. If the floor is not level, compensate.

Aiming Screen
The screen should be 1.5 m (5 feet) high x 3.6 m (12 feet) wide with a matte white surface well shaded from extraneous light, and properly adjusted to the floor on which the vehicle stands. Provisions may be made for moving the screen so it can be aligned parallel with the rear axle and so a horizontal line drawn perpendicularly from the centerline of the screen will pass an equal distance midway between the two headlamps.

The screen shall be provided with a fixed vertical centerline, two laterally adjustable vertical tapes, and one vertically adjustable horizontal tape.

If regular commercial aiming screen is not available, the screen may consist of a vertical wall having a clear uninterrupted area approximately 1.8 m (6 feet) high and 3.6 m (12 feet) wide. The surface should be finished with a washable non-gloss white paint.

After the aiming screen has been set up in its permanent location, it is necessary to paint a reference line on the floor directly under the lens of the lamps to indicate the proper location of the headlamps when they are being aimed.

Headlamp Aiming Procedure
1. With vehicle properly located and loaded, switch headlamps to low beam and observe left and top edges of high intensity zone on the screen. The edges of the high intensity zone should fall within the specifications.
2. If adjustments are needed: Horizontal adjustments may be made with the inner adjustment screw, Vertical adjustment may be made with the upper adjustment screw.