Aiming headlights

[TravisC]

I was wondering if there was any other way of aiming my headlights other than going to the dealership. I have a '92 Sport that I just purchased and it's got a lift on it. Well when I'm driving at night I can't see a whole lot of what's right in front of me because my headlights are too high. I know the dealership will do it but I really don't want to pay for anything that I can do myself. Can anyone help me out here?

Thanks

 

[ahhjaws]

I'm pretty sure there is some tool you can use that adjusts the headlights. I just can't think of it right now.

 

[dogfriend]

Its probably not factory approved, but I have adjusted my own headlights by parking about 25ft or so from a solid wall so you can see the pattern and then adjusting pattern up/down left /right as appropriate. This was several years ago on a Toyota PU, I believe I used information in Haynes manual to determine distance from wall and location of beam etc.

I have also seen a reasonably priced tool for adjusting headlights from this company http://www.hopkinsmfg.com , but I don't see it on their website, just the more expensive pro versions. I don't know if the one I saw would work for composite headlights (like on the Explorer) or if it was for the older sealed beam headlights only.

 

[Robert]

By the way if your Explorer's headlight adjustment is anything like my '97s and my Wife's '93 Mercury Sable, the special tool is called a 5/32" socket on a nut-driver handle. Most auto parts stores also carry what they call a "Ford headlight adjusting tool". It is a socket of the correct size on a "T" handle about 3" long. There is nothing difficult (or wrong) about adjusting your headlights yourself. Your manual might even have the proper height, but if not both a Chiltons and a Haynes manual will. The procedure involves parking a certain distance from a wall and turn your headlight adjuster up or down until your headlights hit the wall at the proper height. I have found that parking on the street in front of my house and adjusting them up or down so they shine where I want them to works just as well for me. I put my headlights right where I want them.

 

[TravisC]

Thanks for the replies, I'm going to give it a try today. I don't see any reason for paying someone else to do it when I know it's not going to be that hard. Thanks again.

 

[xlt-sport]

travisc

have you considered a pair of fog lights?

you can spend a little or a lot for them.

btw we now have 3 members here in the hurricane area!

we'll have to hook up with joshc for a get together.

it looks like we have all 3 generations of explorers.

peter

 

[TravisC]

xlt-sport,
JoshC is my brother, he's the one that got me into all fo this. I used to have an Explorer a few years ago but couldn't afford the gas and now I've got one again. We will have to look each other up and go get a little muddy. But yeah I have considered foglights but right now the funds aren't there and the simple fact that I'm blinding everyone that passes me. So I was just wanting to fix that part of it.

Thanks