Headlight adjustment
GT
I've tried the black plastic hexagonal adjustor thingy above the wiring on
the central bulb connection and I've tried the white hexagonal plastic
adjuster thingy behind and below the central bulb wiring connection, but
nothing moves!
Thanks,
GT
Catman
Well, on the 116 it's a sort of fluted knob. On the GT I press a button.
Can't recall what you drive ;)
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS GT 3.2 V6
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
SteveH
> GT wrote:
> > OK, I give in - where is it? Need to adjust vertical beam - higher please!
> >
> > I've tried the black plastic hexagonal adjustor thingy above the wiring on
> > the central bulb connection and I've tried the white hexagonal plastic
> > adjuster thingy behind and below the central bulb wiring connection, but
> > nothing moves!
>
> Well, on the 116 it's a sort of fluted knob. On the GT I press a button.
>
> Can't recall what you drive ;)
A 156, as I recall.
Thought they all had electric adjusters.
--
SteveH
Catman
156 does indeed. Or at least both mine did.
SteveH
> SteveH wrote:
> > Catman <cat...@rustcuore-sportivo.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> >> GT wrote:
> >>> OK, I give in - where is it? Need to adjust vertical beam - higher please!
> >>>
> >>> I've tried the black plastic hexagonal adjustor thingy above the wiring on
> >>> the central bulb connection and I've tried the white hexagonal plastic
> >>> adjuster thingy behind and below the central bulb wiring connection, but
> >>> nothing moves!
> >> Well, on the 116 it's a sort of fluted knob. On the GT I press a button.
> >>
> >> Can't recall what you drive ;)
> >
> > A 156, as I recall.
> >
> > Thought they all had electric adjusters.
>
> 156 does indeed. Or at least both mine did.
Both of ours did (have), too.
--
SteveH
GT
news:hkclvu$dqv$4...@news.eternal-september.org...
> GT wrote:
>> OK, I give in - where is it? Need to adjust vertical beam - higher
>> please!
>>
>> I've tried the black plastic hexagonal adjustor thingy above the wiring
>> on the central bulb connection and I've tried the white hexagonal plastic
>> adjuster thingy behind and below the central bulb wiring connection, but
>> nothing moves!
>
> Well, on the 116 it's a sort of fluted knob. On the GT I press a button.
>
> Can't recall what you drive ;)
Ah - that would have been useful info! Sorry its a 2002 156 2.0JTS. Facelift
interior. Old exterior.
Electric adjusters - how do I use them please! I have the standard adjuster
on the dash "0-1-2-3" for adjusting when car is heavy and pointing at the
sky, but I have not other cockpit adjusters.
SteveH
> Electric adjusters - how do I use them please! I have the standard adjuster
> on the dash "0-1-2-3" for adjusting when car is heavy and pointing at the
> sky, but I have not other cockpit adjusters.
Which setting are you using?
--
SteveH
Catman
Indeed. 0 being the highest, 3 being the lowest. Counter intuitive, a
bit, but weight in the back forces the front up, thus the lights need to
come down.
GT
> SteveH wrote:
>> GT <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Electric adjusters - how do I use them please! I have the standard
>>> adjuster
>>> on the dash "0-1-2-3" for adjusting when car is heavy and pointing at
>>> the
>>> sky, but I have not other cockpit adjusters.
>>
>> Which setting are you using?
>
> Indeed. 0 being the highest, 3 being the lowest. Counter intuitive, a bit,
> but weight in the back forces the front up, thus the lights need to come
> down.
I'm set on zero already. Can't I adjust the headlight beam pattern under the
bonnet somehow as well? (As in the allignment adjustments for MOT)?
Catman
Possibly, yes. Damned if I know how though, I'm afraid :( Is it not in
the manual?
GT
> GT wrote:
>> "Catman" <cat...@rustcuore-sportivo.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:hkcrc3$tsm$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> SteveH wrote:
>>>> GT <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Electric adjusters - how do I use them please! I have the standard
>>>>> adjuster
>>>>> on the dash "0-1-2-3" for adjusting when car is heavy and pointing at
>>>>> the
>>>>> sky, but I have not other cockpit adjusters.
>>>> Which setting are you using?
>>> Indeed. 0 being the highest, 3 being the lowest. Counter intuitive, a
>>> bit, but weight in the back forces the front up, thus the lights need to
>>> come down.
>>
>> I'm set on zero already. Can't I adjust the headlight beam pattern under
>> the bonnet somehow as well? (As in the allignment adjustments for MOT)?
>
> Possibly, yes. Damned if I know how though, I'm afraid :( Is it not in the
> manual?
Can't find it in the manual - it just talks about the 0-1-2-3 on the dash.
It must be possible because the local garage that serviced it recently
adjusted the allignment to a much lower level than the alfa garage has done
for the previous 6years. Now, country roads are really dark and I can only
see for about 15m in front of the car! Hence my recent enquiried about HID -
which I haven't yet got around to - been out of country etc etc.
Catman
No idea then, mate. Sorry.
David A Stocks
news:00d0c348$0$11580$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
On my 156 it's the black adjuster thingy. If your helpful MOT tester has
wound it down too far it may have gone off the end of the thread. Every year
the tester winds the lights down, and at the first opportunity I wind them
back up again ...
DAS
Catman
Sounds like a plan :)
GT
> David A Stocks wrote:
>> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:00d0c348$0$11580$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>>> OK, I give in - where is it? Need to adjust vertical beam - higher
>>> please!
>>>
>>> I've tried the black plastic hexagonal adjustor thingy above the wiring
>>> on the central bulb connection and I've tried the white hexagonal
>>> plastic adjuster thingy behind and below the central bulb wiring
>>> connection, but nothing moves!
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> GT
>>>
>>
>> On my 156 it's the black adjuster thingy. If your helpful MOT tester has
>> wound it down too far it may have gone off the end of the thread. Every
>> year the tester winds the lights down, and at the first opportunity I
>> wind them back up again ...
>
> Sounds like a plan :)
I tried turning that one, but it was very stiff and didn't make any
difference - is there a lock somewhere to prevent the lights from moving
when the car goes over bumps etc. Perhaps i have to 'unlock' things before I
can turn this screw? Also, how much pressure do you normally have to use to
turn the screw - finger tight or plyers?
cupra
If there's any similarity to my departed 147, the plastic bit moved freely
but didn't actually do anything..... the adjustment was made with a hex
(allen) key in the centre of it. On the other hand it's probably nothing
like the same!
R C Nesbit
> On my 156 it's the black adjuster thingy. If your helpful MOT tester has
> wound it down too far it may have gone off the end of the thread. Every year
> the tester winds the lights down, and at the first opportunity I wind them
> back up again ...
My MOT man, every year, could not get my Galant lights low enough, so he wedged
them down with some folded cardboard, which at the first opportunity I removed.
Do you think the current MOT spec for headlight aim might be a bit stringent?
--
Rob Pearson
156 1.9jtd sportwagon (now)
164 V6 Lusso (gone)
GT
SUCCESS!
Thanks to David's reassurance that I was turning the right screw, I went at
it with vigor! I was being far too gentle with it - I had carefully
persuaded it just a half turn 1 way, then back again, then a little more the
other way and when nothing changed, I decided to leave well alone as it felt
like such a fragile plastic 'knob'. Now I know its the right 'thingy', about
3 squeeky, bendy full turns one way has brought the lights back up to their
former glory! If they are too high, then I can adjust them from the drivers
seat, but too low is just nasty.
Still want Xenon HID tho, but they'll have to wait until next month - SWMBO
just started a driving school and all my money (and hers) went on the little
Kia Picanto she is now using. I have 12p left this month (I exaggerate not).
Not bad for the money tho - under 5k for a 6 month old car aint bad. The
MiTo and the fiat 500 are desirable, but silly money for ADI insurance!
So... Anyone need patient, female driving tuition in the Kirkcaldy / central
fife area? Manual or automatic. Good startup prices! Advance block
discounts. And no - you can't learn in the 156!!
Cheers for the help everyone,
GT
GT
news:VA.00002ea...@ukrm.net...
> David A Stocks spoke:
>> On my 156 it's the black adjuster thingy. If your helpful MOT tester has
>> wound it down too far it may have gone off the end of the thread. Every
>> year
>> the tester winds the lights down, and at the first opportunity I wind
>> them
>> back up again ...
>
> My MOT man, every year, could not get my Galant lights low enough, so he
> wedged
> them down with some folded cardboard, which at the first opportunity I
> removed.
>
> Do you think the current MOT spec for headlight aim might be a bit
> stringent?
If they are, then they should test some of the french cars more often - when
I'm dazzled by excessively high headlights, 9 times out of 10 its a peugeot.
Same for fog lights left on - always renaults!
Catman
> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:00d0c348$0$11580$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>> OK, I give in - where is it? Need to adjust vertical beam - higher please!
>>
>> I've tried the black plastic hexagonal adjustor thingy above the wiring on
>> the central bulb connection and I've tried the white hexagonal plastic
>> adjuster thingy behind and below the central bulb wiring connection, but
>> nothing moves!
>>
>> Thanks,
>> GT
>
> SUCCESS!
>
> Thanks to David's reassurance that I was turning the right screw, I went at
> it with vigor!
Did you tootle it as well? ;)
GT
> GT wrote:
>> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:00d0c348$0$11580$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>>> OK, I give in - where is it? Need to adjust vertical beam - higher
>>> please!
>>>
>>> I've tried the black plastic hexagonal adjustor thingy above the wiring
>>> on the central bulb connection and I've tried the white hexagonal
>>> plastic adjuster thingy behind and below the central bulb wiring
>>> connection, but nothing moves!
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> GT
>>
>> SUCCESS!
>>
>> Thanks to David's reassurance that I was turning the right screw, I went
>> at it with vigor!
>
> Did you tootle it as well? ;)
All I can say is that I dazzled the young lady who walked past while I was
twisting my knob!
Catman
For your amusement:
Car rental brochure, Tokyo: WHEN PASSENGER OF FOOT HEAVE IN SIGHT,
TOOTLE THE HORN. TRUMPET HIM MELODIOUSLY AT FIRST, BUT IF HE STILL
OBSTACLES YOUR PASSAGE THEN TOOTLE HIM WITH VIGOUR.
and many more....
http://www.alphadictionary.com/fun/mistranslation.html
GT
Heyelp...
Just fitting new HIDs (visa card!!). Which is positive and which is
negative - brown or yellow??? I'm used to black and red!!
(156, 2002, H7r dipped lights)
GT
Phoned the HID people and they said that if you connect it the wrong way,
the light just wont come on.
YELLOW is +ve so connects to RED.
BROWN is -ve so connects to BLACK.
50w HIDs fitted and working! Will adjust beam when it gets dark. Took me
bloody ages to get the passenger side one fitted - my hand simply doesn't
fit in the gap and attaching the little metal clip to hold the bulb in was a
nightmare!
Catman
> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:4b753745$0$29650$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:00d0c348$0$11580$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>>> OK, I give in - where is it? Need to adjust vertical beam - higher
>>> please!
>>>
>>> I've tried the black plastic hexagonal adjustor thingy above the wiring
>>> on the central bulb connection and I've tried the white hexagonal plastic
>>> adjuster thingy behind and below the central bulb wiring connection, but
>>> nothing moves!
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> GT
>> Heyelp...
>>
>> Just fitting new HIDs (visa card!!). Which is positive and which is
>> negative - brown or yellow??? I'm used to black and red!!
>
> Phoned the HID people and they said that if you connect it the wrong way,
> the light just wont come on.
Sorry, I've been without news access, or I could have told you this :)
>
> YELLOW is +ve so connects to RED.
> BROWN is -ve so connects to BLACK.
>
> 50w HIDs fitted and working! Will adjust beam when it gets dark. Took me
> bloody ages to get the passenger side one fitted - my hand simply doesn't
> fit in the gap and attaching the little metal clip to hold the bulb in was a
> nightmare!
Mine weren't that bad. Hope you like them.
GT
> GT wrote:
>> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:4b753745$0$29650$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>>> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:00d0c348$0$11580$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>>>> OK, I give in - where is it? Need to adjust vertical beam - higher
>>>> please!
>>>>
>>>> I've tried the black plastic hexagonal adjustor thingy above the wiring
>>>> on the central bulb connection and I've tried the white hexagonal
>>>> plastic adjuster thingy behind and below the central bulb wiring
>>>> connection, but nothing moves!
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> GT
>>> Heyelp...
>>>
>>> Just fitting new HIDs (visa card!!). Which is positive and which is
>>> negative - brown or yellow??? I'm used to black and red!!
>>
>> Phoned the HID people and they said that if you connect it the wrong way,
>> the light just wont come on.
>
> Sorry, I've been without news access, or I could have told you this :)
no probs.
>>
>> YELLOW is +ve so connects to RED.
>> BROWN is -ve so connects to BLACK.
>>
>> 50w HIDs fitted and working! Will adjust beam when it gets dark. Took me
>> bloody ages to get the passenger side one fitted - my hand simply doesn't
>> fit in the gap and attaching the little metal clip to hold the bulb in
>> was a nightmare!
>
> Mine weren't that bad. Hope you like them.
I'm not as immediately impressed as I expected to be - they certainly dont
seem 3x brighter than normal bulbs, as they were advertised, but the light
colour is just like daylight! (I went for 5k colour).
I'll find out how good they are for driving next week on my way home from
Glasgow - country roads and no street lights. Only been round the block so
far.
Cheers,
GT
GT
> "Catman" <cat...@rustcuore-sportivo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:hl440n$55m$3...@news.eternal-september.org...
>> GT wrote:
>>> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:4b753745$0$29650$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>>>> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:00d0c348$0$11580$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
[snip]
>>> 50w HIDs fitted and working! Will adjust beam when it gets dark. Took me
>>> bloody ages to get the passenger side one fitted - my hand simply
>>> doesn't fit in the gap and attaching the little metal clip to hold the
>>> bulb in was a nightmare!
>>
>> Mine weren't that bad. Hope you like them.
>
> I'm not as immediately impressed as I expected to be - they certainly dont
> seem 3x brighter than normal bulbs, as they were advertised, but the light
> colour is just like daylight! (I went for 5k colour).
>
> I'll find out how good they are for driving next week on my way home from
> Glasgow - country roads and no street lights. Only been round the block so
> far.
Brilliant. Likey muchy. Was worth all the swearing, tantrums and 3-way
finger bending to fit the bloody things (passenger side). Driving home last
night... Country road, dark, bit foggy = looked like daylight! Glad I went
for the 50w ones over the 35w. Recommend. Now, whats next... turbo chargers,
upgraded brakes, maybe a big beer shelf on the back - no that would be just
silly - I don't want my aerodynamics to be slowing me down!!
Actually, a serious point - after 7 years of 'gritty' driving, I have lots
of very fine scratches on the windscreen where the wipers have wiped away
dirt and grime? Not a problem during the day, but oncoming lights really
difract (?) all over the windscreen and dazzle when they shouldn't. Has
anyone else experienced this in an older car and is there a solution?
Obviously a new windscreen would sort out the problem and I'm sure I could
arrange for a large stone to fly through it on my way home one day and ask
the insurance people to fit me a new one, but I've read that a replacement
windscreen never quite seals as well as the factory original. I would only
follow this route if I knew the result would be good!
Can a windscreen be polished / buffed to remove fine scratches? Machine or
manual process?
GT
Catman
> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:4b767f28$0$29280$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>> "Catman" <cat...@rustcuore-sportivo.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:hl440n$55m$3...@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> GT wrote:
>>>> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:4b753745$0$29650$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>>>>> "GT" <ContactGT...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:00d0c348$0$11580$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>
> [snip]
>
>>>> 50w HIDs fitted and working! Will adjust beam when it gets dark. Took me
>>>> bloody ages to get the passenger side one fitted - my hand simply
>>>> doesn't fit in the gap and attaching the little metal clip to hold the
>>>> bulb in was a nightmare!
>>> Mine weren't that bad. Hope you like them.
>> I'm not as immediately impressed as I expected to be - they certainly dont
>> seem 3x brighter than normal bulbs, as they were advertised, but the light
>> colour is just like daylight! (I went for 5k colour).
>>
>> I'll find out how good they are for driving next week on my way home from
>> Glasgow - country roads and no street lights. Only been round the block so
>> far.
>
> Brilliant. Likey muchy.
Told ya.
> Was worth all the swearing, tantrums and 3-way
> finger bending to fit the bloody things (passenger side). Driving home last
> night... Country road, dark, bit foggy = looked like daylight! Glad I went
> for the 50w ones over the 35w. Recommend. Now, whats next... turbo chargers,
> upgraded brakes, maybe a big beer shelf on the back - no that would be just
> silly - I don't want my aerodynamics to be slowing me down!!
>
> Actually, a serious point - after 7 years of 'gritty' driving, I have lots
> of very fine scratches on the windscreen where the wipers have wiped away
> dirt and grime? Not a problem during the day, but oncoming lights really
> difract (?) all over the windscreen and dazzle when they shouldn't. Has
> anyone else experienced this in an older car and is there a solution?
I had considered polishing it, but I suspect you'd end up with really
screwed optics.
> Obviously a new windscreen would sort out the problem and I'm sure I could
> arrange for a large stone to fly through it on my way home one day and ask
> the insurance people to fit me a new one, but I've read that a replacement
> windscreen never quite seals as well as the factory original. I would only
> follow this route if I knew the result would be good!
>
How do you know it's not an original? At least one of my 156s didn't
seem to be the real deal IYSWIM. No leaks though. I'd go this route if
it's really bugging you.
David A Stocks
> GT wrote:
>
>> Obviously a new windscreen would sort out the problem and I'm sure I
>> could arrange for a large stone to fly through it on my way home one day
>> and ask the insurance people to fit me a new one, but I've read that a
>> replacement windscreen never quite seals as well as the factory original.
>> I would only follow this route if I knew the result would be good!
>>
gasket, but these days the glass is bonded to the bodywork so there isn't
too much that can go wrong if it's done properly.
My 156 went through two windscreens in a year. They were both replaced under
insurance by the local Autoglass. It's possible that taking the car to a
workshop is better than having it replaced by a mobile unit because you have
to wait an hour or two for the bonding goo to cure, during which the car
can't be moved.
The first replacement was done in a hurry for an MOT re-test - the screen
had cracked the day before the booked service/test - and Autoglass were
worried that the car would be put onto a ramp for the re-test before the goo
had fully cured; it takes a couple of days, apparently. Their concerns were
unfounded because the tester just looked at the new screen and then wrote
the certificate, and there certainly weren't any problems with either of the
installations.
>
> How do you know it's not an original? At least one of my 156s didn't seem
> to be the real deal IYSWIM. No leaks though. I'd go this route if it's
> really bugging you.
>
A sure sign that it's been replaced will be if it's a different make from
the rest of the glass. The original glass on my car was all Pilkington, but
both replacement windscreens were/are Splintex.
BTW this car is being P/Ex'd for a Brera very soon. If anyone wants to make
me a better offer they're welcome. Details are:
156 2.4 JTD reg. April 2000, 91,500 miles, Silver.
Sports Pack 3, which means dark blue leather interior, sports suspension,
side skirts and 16" telephone dial alloy wheels.
David Stocks