edm headlight aiming issues (pictures)

theflystyle · Post by **theflystyle** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 2:55 am

i got a pair of edm's from ben earlier and they looked great, just recently fixed the gap issue with the corners and took some pics.. since ive been using the parents garage and have finally used my headlights at night ive come to find the aiming sems to be really off. i took pics of what i am talking about, but i cant post them till i get back home. until then im hoping someone might have an idea.

the rear of the edm's, heres a picture from bens ad where he is selling them. rear of headlight

the top left white adjuster aparently adjusts the horizontal and the screw on the back of the electric motor adjusts the vertical. the horizontal when i turn the screw does move, but when i try to adjust the height of the beam nothing happens. the screw just turns and turns and the little knob right below the screw can be seen rotating.

i took a test drive on a local road (boonies) and the beam is shooting way up and to the right. as i said i will get the pictures up that i took shining onto the garage door, but until then anyone have any advice??

thanks

Aerotech · Post by **Aerotech** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:12 am

How far did you try turning the adjuster? Maybe try it with a power screwdriver?
Check that your lower mount points are all the way in.

Are both headlights doing this? The electric levelers are really designed to lower the light beams to compensate for heavy trunk loads, not raise them to light up the roof...

theflystyle · Post by **theflystyle** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:50 am

yeah i used a power screwdriver and nothing happened. i have not an idea.

i want to wire the adjusters but i dont want to cut the wires, im trying to get a harness together. i wonder when they were removed from the car what setting they were left at

theflystyle · Post by **theflystyle** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:53 am

now here are some pictures of what im talking about.. taken from 25 feet away

jefferson · Post by **jefferson** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:33 am

I had to take my adjusters off the lights and found that the gear was not turning with the shaft. Corrosion and plastic deterioration had taken their toll. The gear would turn fine as long as no load was placed on it, but the minute even the slightest load was applied it stopped. I used jb weld to make the gear do it's job. You will need to clean the shaft up real good and be very careful with the jb weld as you only want to attach the gear to the shaft and nothing else. It doesn't take much.

Jeff

jefferson · Post by **jefferson** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:38 am

I reread your post and the adjusters I had problems with was the horizontal if I remember right. The ones off the electric adjusters were fine. Still wouldn't hurt to remove them and see what is up.

Jeff

Aerotech · Post by **Aerotech** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:58 am

It looks like it's only the left side thats REALLY out of whack, the right side is about where it should be...

If you're unable to get it close to where it's supposed to be, start investigating the sheetmetal for previous collision damage. Your old headlights may have been compensating for something bent.

theflystyle · Post by **theflystyle** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:23 pm

even if the little plastic knob turns when i turn the screw on the electric motor, could that still mean the gears are not moving?

also, i noticed on the headlamp there is a peice that is on the passenger headlight that is not on the driver side. its at the top of the headlight, on the inside and looks to be a shield. i have a picture i will upload later, i wonder if that has anything to do with it.

thanks again for everyones help. i really appreciate it

legacy4ever · Post by **legacy4ever** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:52 pm

Hey Ali sorry to hear that the headlight doesn't work right

Did you check if the inside reflector is attached to the left lower shaft? There is a ball joint and sometimes it happens the reflector comes off that connection. Just take the bulb out and try to pull the lower part of the reflector towards the engine. If you feel/hear a click it jumps in its place.

also, i noticed on the headlamp there is a peice that is on the passenger headlight that is not on the driver side. its at the top of the headlight, on the inside and looks to be a shield. i have a picture i will upload later, i wonder if that has anything to do with it.

I'm curious, both headlights are identical and definitely there's no shield. Please post the picture.

theflystyle · Post by **theflystyle** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:41 pm

i took out the bulb and was able to freely move the reflector, but didnt see or get how it can click back in.

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:05 pm

Oh yes.....I've experienced everything you guys have posted

It brings back horrible memories.

The damn reflector likes popping off the adjuster ball. What I did was take a wooden dowel and wrap a towel around it with rubber bands. This gave me a little more leverage to pry/pop the reflector back on.

Regarding the aiming.....the electric gears get messed up and crack. Luckily, I had some spares motors, and swapped stuff around so the gears worked.

The JB Weld method sounds pretty good. It wouldn't hurt taking the motors off and cleaning everything up and regreasing things.

theflystyle · Post by **theflystyle** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:24 pm

i am having a hard time understanding what you guys mean... all i seem to be doing is just bouncing the reflector around. i dont see how the reflector pops back in

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:11 pm

Pull the electric leveler motor off and you'll see what we mean. There's three screws holding it to the headlamp case.

theflystyle · Post by **theflystyle** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:53 pm

i got the pass side to pop in pretty easy, it doesnt move up and down freely anymore... the driver side is being a bit more stubborn.. guess i will have to remove the motor on that one..

theflystyle · Post by **theflystyle** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:55 pm

just wanted to give an update so this may help out someone if it ever occurs to them..

here is the picture of the motor removed from the back of the headlamp with the long silver control arm shown with the ball joint at one end...

here is the picture of the ball joint in the reflector housing inside the headlamp. when the screw on the motor turns one way or another it moves the adjuster arm in or out, which caused it to pop out and not aim correctly. it still pops out when its pulled in to far but i found the equalibrium between the two.

i still have to fine tune the aiming but it is way sharper, brigher and more defined then the usdm. i def recommend them

farfrumwork · Post by **farfrumwork** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 5:07 pm

Just be carefull when using a power drill/screwdriver for adjusting these.

I cracked one of the motor housings when using my drill. If it goes to the end of the adjustment range it places load on the housing. I fixed it with JB weld (what Can't it do!?!?!?!?! haha) and they are adjusted well. I don't use, and never plan to use, the electric levelers (although they ARE cool).

just a cautionary tale....

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edm headlight aiming issues (pictures)

edm headlight aiming issues (pictures)

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