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Headlight adjustment JK

138K views 85 replies 50 participants last post by  the_saint 
#1 ·
I'm sure there are those here that have personally (not done by dealer, lift installer, etc) adjusted the headlights on their JK. Would be interested in first hand comments and instr. regarding headlight adjustment. I have noted that each headlight has two(2) adjusters that are plainly visible when viewing the mounted headlight from the outside. SO, adjustment is with them I gather. So, how and with which adjuster, etc. ?? I am in the USA so only be being doing and only concerned with up down adjustment. Thanks in advance for you input!
 
#2 ·
It is ridiculously easy. There is a screw by each head light that is tan colored, sticks out from all the rest, use a torx 15 driver to turn it counter clock wise to adjust to a lower position. Simple as that. Unclip the grill to make it easier, only takes a minute.
 
#4 ·
Just got done doing mine. Torx #15.
I done it in the driveway and used the garage door. Back the jeep away from the door about 25 feet. Take some tape and mark the door at about 3 feet up from the ground. Use the torx driver to adjust the headlights to the tape on the door. Took all of 30 minutes. Drive it around the block to check them. I ended up adjusting the headlight back up just a little. Now I have good light on the road and nobody flashes me, even with the fog lights on.
 
#5 ·
I just had a 2.5" TF lift put on my JKUR and I made sure and marked my garage in the center of the beam with black electical tape BEFORE the lift was done, noting the distance my Jeep was from my garage (I think about 10 feet). I then made sure I was in the same spot and adjusted the lights down so the tape was again in the center of the beam using a t15 torx driver. It took literally 2 minutes.
 
#6 ·
OK ......... standing in front of the headlight, facing the headlight I see two different notches / recesses that allow you to get a tool in to make an adjustment. One adjuster is in the 10 oclock region and the other is in the 2 oclock region.

SO, you guys saying the adjuster i want is the one that has the female that will accept the torx?? Anyone know what the other adjuster is for at 10 oclock region?

Also, I will be adjusting the foglights. I believe there is only one (1) female adjuster that accepts torx on the foglight.
 
#9 ·
passenger side adjustment is at 10 o'clock
driver side is at 2 o'clock
thats the only adjustment for the lights
 
#10 ·
Ok, Wayne.. I see the torx adjuster is passenger side at 10 o'clockand driver side at 2 o'clock. There is another adjuster present though. Do you know what that mystery adjuster is for? Anyway, you say just use the one adjuster that accepts torx, passenger side adjustment at 10 o'clockdriver side at 2 o'clock. Ok, thanks!
 
#12 ·
Yup, and just trying to avoid the "OTHER one" :happyyes:

From experience with past vehicles I figured the one I wanted was the avail torx at front of each headlight. Just wanted exact info an reassurance. So, will do the adjustment when vehicle has full tank of gas that you should have when you do the adjustment. Will also do the foglights that have one adjuster each.
 
#18 ·
just watch the light you can see it go up or down lol.
 
#19 ·
JK Headlamp Alignment:

Using a narrow shaft, T15 Torx driver, turn headlight adjuster #1, counter clockwise to lower the headlight beam. Turn the same adjuster (#1) clockwise to raise the headlight beam. Note: Those owner's residing in the USA, leave adjuster #2 (horizontal alignment) alone.

Remember, full tank of gas or add 6.5 lbs. of weight over the fuel tank for the estimated gallons of gas missing in the gas tank. Also, tire pressures should be adjusted to psi that you normally use when driving on the streets.












Making your own head lamp adjuster screen set-up:

 
#22 ·
Indeed there is also a horizontal adjuster on ALL, JK head lamps regardless of whether the JK is in the USA or in another country.

Owner's in the USA will only concern themselves with the Torx Adjuster (#1 in diagram) that dictates vertical alignment and not the other non Torx head adjuster (#2 in diagram) that dictates horizontal alignment..
 
#25 ·
it would be nice if there was a torx screw to adjust horizontal adjustment. I have trucklites and it is important to get the horizontal adjustment set for optimum results. I used shims to get it set. This was on a 13 and a 14. Makes a huge difference in night time driving.
 
#29 ·
There are.

Mopar part # 55078114AA Screw, headlamp horizontal; you'll need 2. They cost me under $5 from the dealer.

I put these on my 2014 so I could adjust my JW Speaker lights horizontally.

Remove the grille and headlight assembly. Carefully remove the black headlamp ring/bucket by pulling straight out. Unscrew the pivot stud, thread in the new adjustment screw, push the ring back on, and put the light back in.
 
#26 ·
Crazy... the TJ had a vertical and a horizontal adjustment, and now the new ones don't?! That's like going backwards in technology...
 
#27 ·
hey if Chrysler spent the extra 25 cents per wrangler on the Horizontal adjustment screw they would have to skimp on the quality headlights they come with.
 
#28 ·
Hello. New 2013 Jeep Wrangler looking for some advice. A (small) rotted tree branch fell while I was driving and hit my front passenger headlight. There is no damage and the headlight still works. However, the headlight is now pointing very high. If you push on the driver's side lamp it doesn't go anywhere. If you push on the passenger side lamp it moves in at the top about a half inch but reverts back to it's original position when you let it go. However the aiming is off and it isn't as solid as the driver's side lamp. Any ideas? Thank you.
 
#35 ·
Would not suggest that the casual weekend warrior attempt this. The part indeed pulls out, the three locations circled above snap in. However, unless you are able to pull all three straight out at the same time you will break the tabs on one of the locations - at least I did. Now I have to dig find a replacement, the nearest stealership is quite a drive, off to the web to...
 
#36 ·
Update: Mopar sells only the entire assembly with the junky headlight, at the low low cost of $179. Anybody knows how to get the plastic part only?

The number stamped to the front is 600050 B but that does not turn up anything on Google. On the back there is a plethora of numbers:
1) 51128C - does not return any hits
2) DOM 55078148AC - hits back to the headlight assembly
3) LHD 55078150AC - this is the entire assembly at $179.
4) RHD 55077920AB - nothing relevant to Jeep

EDIT: Fortunately Amazon has them at $45. Still, clutzy weekend mechanics beware
 
#37 ·
Perhaps its obvious to everyone already But, headlight aiming and the "internet instructions" are for a typical headlight. Quite a different story with some of the new beam patterns produced by multiple porjector sources. Finding center and a Hotspot on some of these beam patterns is not that easy. Couple that with aiming to fill medium and long range empty spots when you have headlights and Fogs....
I would say that those who did it 30 minutes and found it an easy process may have either gotten lucky or they really aren't looking that closely at the detail evident in even minor adjustments.
 
#40 ·
If your adjusting stock headlight it won't make any difference they are junk. I have a mag lite that throws more light.
If your going to drive at night your going to need some real headlight not some cheap bulbs but real headlights. I bought Truck-lights want to spend more JW speaker are a little better.
Or just fool yourself into thinking the stock jeep light are good enough until you hit something you didn't see.
 
#41 ·
I went and bought replacement screws, cannot see how those little plastic studs will come out (without just snapping them off), and used some thin stiff foam filler on one side of the driver's headlight instead. I hate doing that, but the light needs to shine to the left a little and adjusting it up and down won't really fix it. :)
 
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