So, the PO got into a front ender. Bumper, headlamp housing, etc. were all replaced before I got the car. The headlight alignment is bad and I'm trying to adjust it. However, all I have been able to do is to move the whole housing (with both low an high beams) up and down. I think there must be a number of lingering issues, because it appears that the bumper is hanging down a bit (gap under the hood), yet I've got the lamp housing down as far as they will go and they are still high. In addition, I can't find out how to adjust the high beams independent of the low beams. I've got one that points down, while the other one aims above oncoming traffic.

A couple of questions since I haven't found anything on search:

1. Is there some sort of auto-alignment system? I saw something in the service manual about headlight alignment motors and sensors. I haven't looked for anything yet, but if it is there, it isn't working. My headlamps are halogen (although I'm in the process of testing out a 3rd party HID retrofit kit.

2. How do I adjust the low and high beams independently?

3. I've heard about people dropping the front bumper to get at the lamps more easily? How easy is it to drop the bumper (since I'd like to see if there's something going on (something bent) that is causing the gap under the hood (and possibly contributing to the poor headlight alignment).

Thanks in advance,

Gordon

 

I don't know how you adjust your halogen lights, as I have HID's in mine. The auto-adjustment motors to which you mention in your first question were only fitted to the first year or two of XJ's that came from the factory with HID lights. You will know if you have auto-adjustment motors, as the low beam lights will dip all the way down, then raise back up to proper height when you turn the car on. I believe the eliminated the auto-adjustment motors in later years, as redundant with auto-leveling suspension.

 

Definitely no auto headlight alignment. So, has anyone manually aligned/adjusted their headlights? In particular, how do you adjust the high beams without affecting the low beams?

Thanks,

 

Standard non-HID do not auto-adjust. You do not adjust high/low beams independent of each other. If you are experiencing issues with beam, either the lamp is inserted incorrectly, (not properly indexed) or the housing is damaged. Horizontal adjust is 6mm hex closest to the fender accessed through the hole in in the upper radiator cover.