Procedures

Headlamp Aiming By Screen Method

Ensure the following conditions are present:
^ Ensure the area is large enough to accommodate the vehicle plus an additional 7.6 m (25 ft) measured from the face of the headlamps to the front of the visual screen.
^ Ensure the area is a darkened location.
^ Ensure floor on which the vehicle rests is flat with the bottom of the screen. Make the necessary compensation if the floor is not level.

^ Ensure the aiming screen is 1.5 m x 3.7 m (5 ft x 12 ft). The screen may consist of a vertical wall with a clear uninterrupted area measuring 1.5 m x 3.7 m (5 ft x 12 ft) if a regular commercial aiming screen is not available. Ensure the wall is finished with a washable non-gloss white paint. Ensure the aiming screen is a matte-white surface.
^ Ensure the aiming screen is well shaded from the outside light.

IMPORTANT: The horizontal line or tape on the screen must be adjusted for each vehicle checked. Vehicles of the same model and year will have different standing height for the headlamps.

^ Ensure the aiming screen is equipped with the following:
- A vertical center line.
- Two laterally adjustable vertical tapes.
- A vertically adjustable horizontal tape.
^ Ensure provisions are made for moving the screen so that the screen can align parallel with the rear axle. This allows for a horizontal line drawn perpendicular from the center line of the screen to pass through the center point between the two headlamps.
^ Ensure to paint a reference line on the floor to identify the proper location of the headlamps, when they are being aimed, once the screen is set in a permanent location.

Perform the following steps to prepare the vehicle for checking the beam aim:
1. Completely assemble all the components on the vehicle.
2. Ensure the vehicle is at it's normal operating weight. This includes the spare tire, tools, and any other items normally carried. Additionally, ensure the vehicle fuel load is no less than 1/2 tank.
3. Check the vehicle tires for correct pressure.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
5. Activate the Automatic Level Control (ALC) system.
6. Position the vehicle in the following position:
^ So it is square with the aiming screen.
^ So the headlamps are directly over the painted reference line on the floor.
7. Sight through the center of the rear window and over the hood to locate the vertical line on the aiming screen so that it is in line with the center of the vehicle.
8. Mark the center of the front window and the center of the rear window with narrow tape to create sights. Use these sights to locate the center of the vehicle.
9. Move the vehicle or move the screen until the center line of the screen comes into alignment with these two points.
10. Close the doors.
11. Rock the vehicle sideways to stabilize the suspension.
12. Switch the headlamps on to low beam.
13. Observe the left edge and top edge of the high intensity zone on the screen.
14. Use the inboard adjusting screw to adjust the horizontal aim if the left edge is more than the following measurements:
^ More than 102 mm (4 in) RIGHT of straight ahead.
^ More than 102 mm (4 in) LEFT of straight ahead.
15. Use the outboard adjusting screw to adjust the vertical aim if the top edge is more than the following measurements:
^ More than 102 mm (4 in) ABOVE the horizontal line.
^ More than 102 mm (4 in) BELOW the horizontal line.