highbeam problems

[mikebuc]

just got a 2014 explorer limited. the high beams seem to come together in the center and shine up too high. the service dept. says if they adjust the high beams the low beams are out of adjustment and vice versa. any thoughts?

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum mikebuc.:wavey:
I guessing you have the halogen and not the HID lights. Does the pattern match the ones shown in your Owner's Guide? Headlamps can only be adjusted vertically, not horizontally. There are several posts on the headlight issues.

Peter

 

[Dr Plastic]

Yes.... adjusting one affects the other because when you adjust the headlights you are adjusting the housing not the bulb. Plus the high and low beams are the same bulb, just two different filaments so you can't adjust them independently.

 

[jmr061]

They are not different filaments. The bulb only has one. The vehicle has projector style headlights and a shutter controls the light output and no the shutter is not adjustable.

 

[twodogs603]

Mine does the same thing. On high beam the lights project a very distinctive vertical line shining up in the trees. Its really annoying as I want the light to project down the road.
On a side note, I did just install the Sylvania xZe bulbs and its not as bad. They do provide more usable light then the stock bulbs, and the vertical line isnt as noticeable. The only drawback to those bulbs is the short life span.

 

[AlmaNoah]

Mine does the same thing. On high beam the lights project a very distinctive vertical line shining up in the trees. Its really annoying as I want the light to project down the road.
On a side note, I did just install the Sylvania xZe bulbs and its not as bad. They do provide more usable light then the stock bulbs, and the vertical line isnt as noticeable. The only drawback to those bulbs is the short life span.

I have a 2015 Explorer with the same issue. The high beam shines upward and not down in the path of travel.
Any suggestions?

Thanks
Ron

 

[peterk9]

I have a 2015 Explorer with the same issue. The high beam shines upward and not down in the path of travel.
Any suggestions?

Thanks
Ron

Welcome to the Forum Ron.
It actually isn't a repair type issue. It is the way they are. I had the same pattern with my 2017 Platinum. If it really bothers you, they can be adjusted vertically as per the Owner's Manual.

Peter

 

[Hale000111]

just got a 2014 explorer limited. the high beams seem to come together in the center and shine up too high. the service dept. says if they adjust the high beams the low beams are out of adjustment and vice versa. any thoughts?

I have a 2013 Explorer XLT. I have the same problem. I lowered the high beams to where they should be. But that put the low beams about 5 feet in front of the explorer. Need help

 

[peterk9]

I have a 2013 Explorer XLT. I have the same problem. I lowered the high beams to where they should be. But that put the low beams about 5 feet in front of the explorer. Need help

Welcome to the Forum.
The high beams were probably aimed correctly if no one had touched them. When you say you lowered them to where they should be did you use the guidelines in the manual?
EDIT: After reading the post below, I forgot that the Lo and Hi beams on your vehicle are a single bulb that uses a 'shutter'.

Peter

 

[Ironworker40]

The high beams are not adjustable by themselves. There is one bulb and a shutter that flips to change from high too low. You have to set low beams and deal with the too high high beams. Yes a stupid design but they are not the only manufacture to do this. If you flip from high to low while standing outside the vehicle you can hear them clunk. Solution is to get some aftermarket lights for high beams or change from end to 2017 -2019 they have much better lights, but that's a whole nose change including fenders and hood and rewiring.

 

[J_C]

Ahem, seeing a line where the light cuts off, that is above road level, is not evidence that the majority of the light isn't being cast at road level.

Is your rear end suspension sagging? Has it been in a collision that altered the position of the headlamp assemblies? If not, odds are your headlights were fine.

It is true that the halogen headlights with a shutter, use the same bulb filament, so if low beams are shining down the road, high beams are doing so as well. All the shutter does is let light cast higher, does not decrease in any way the amount of light shining down the road. If you adjust it and your low beams are too low, then most of your high beams' light is going to be too low, too!

Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with the high beams on my '14. I would PREFER not having a mechanical shutter, which like anything else, will eventually fail and need repaired, but it is what it is.