headlight aiming

[n xntrx volvo]

doing this on the 780. didnt remember seeing info on tbricks about it, so here.

(1) park car in a darkened area with level floor and with a wall having non reflecting white surface.
(2) Mark reference line on floor 25 feet away from and parallel to wall

(3) Position vehicle perpendicular to screen and with headlamps directly over reference line.
(4) Locate middle tape on screen so it is aligned with center line of car.
(5) Equalize all tire pressures.
(6) Rock car from side to side to equalize springs and shock absorbers.
(7) Measure distance between headlamp centers.
(8) Position marker tapes vertically on screen to right and left of middle tape at half this distance.
(9) Measure distance from center of each lamp to surface on which the car rests.
(10) Position marker tape horizontally on screen to cross vertical tapes at measured height of each lamp center respectively.
(11) Remove headlamp doors (if equiped).
(12) Clean headlamps.
(13) Turn headlamps on low beam.
NOTE: Cover the lamp not being aimed.
(14) Turn vertical aiming screw counterclockwise until lamp beam is considerably lower than horizontal reference line on wall
(15) Turn screw clockwise until top edge of high intensity area is even with horizontal line.
(16) Turn horizontal aiming screw counterclockwise until beam is off centering tape.
(17) Turn same screw clockwise until left edge of high intensity area is 2 inches to right of lamp center line

(18) Cover lamp that has been aimed and aim other lamp using same procedure.
(19) Replace headlamp doors.

 

[blarf]

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/images/Aim.pdf (when the site's up that is)

Google cache version.

 

[volvorod85]

Man, talk about the hard way....

1. Find a dark street (well semi anyway)
2. Get your adjustment screwdriver
3. Adjust
4. Get back in car
5. Look at headlight pattern

Re-adjust if necessary following steps 2-5.

Mark
Keepin it simple yo
Worked numerous times

 

[PWRPUFF]

Man, talk about the hard way....

Werd. BTDT this way ... the results are decent enough to not have to get so technical.

Hell, I've even done this in the daytime by how much glare I get starting straight on. Amazingly, this worked out too ... which was good. The zip tie was aleady at its tightest.

-- Kane

 

[n xntrx volvo]

ya, well those are good for rough doing, such as a minor fender bender, where only one was messed up.
fog light aiming
Park the vehicle 25 feet from a wall on a level surface. Measure the distance between the center of the auxiliary light and the ground. Place a horizontal mark on the wall at that height.

Visual aim is made with the top of the fog light beam 4 inches below the lamp center at 25 feet with the lamp facing straight forward.

 

[blarf]

ya, well those are good for rough doing, such as a minor fender bender, where only one was messed up.
fog light aiming
Park the vehicle 25 feet from a wall on a level surface. Measure the distance between the center of the auxiliary light and the ground. Place a horizontal mark on the wall at that height.

Visual aim is made with the top of the fog light beam 4 inches below the lamp center at 25 feet with the lamp facing straight forward.

FWIW, that's 2 inches below the fog light axis (not headlight) if the fog light is below the bumper, 4 inches below the fog light axis (again, not headlight) if it's integrated with the headlight.

Also, Volvo doesn't include any horizontal adjustment for the integrated fogs (DOT or e-codes).

Also also, I would recommend against covering up the lamps (risk of overheating and all). If you've got a car like the 760/960 where each high/low beam is fused separately, pull the fuse. Otherwise pull the connector on the back of the lamp or somesuch.