HID alignment issues

XanderWiFi · 09-22-2010, 05:06 AM

After much tinkering I am stumped. All assemblies and bulbs secured in their proper position but I can't seem to get the light beams aligned evenly. If I align on low, the high beams are off canter and vice versa. Is this just a way that HIDs fragment because our cars were not made for them?

If I align the high beams, one low beam is shooting the sky. And if I align the low beams, one high beam is blasting straight into the ground.

It's 3 am and I give up lol.

Philbar71 · 09-22-2010, 06:49 AM

Lol. yepp. High beam pattern just suck. Just aim the lows and forget where the highs go. My lows are perfectly even with each other but my drivers side high beam is like literally shooting up in to the sky. lol.

widbyj · 09-22-2010, 11:29 AM

This could be due to how the light assembly is made -or- how 'centered' the bulb is in the reflector. You may be able to get both patterns to work by finding the offending bulb or bulbs and then reshaping the base so they sit at a better angle. Since most high-beam light is reflected there is a mirror effect, angle the bulb up to shift the light down. Finicky to do but it can be done to OEM style bulbs.

If you are using aftermarket assemblies w/H1 bulbs it is a little easier as you can gently bend the mounting bracket itself (although most aftermarket assemblies don't have this problem). Good luck.

cherrington17 · 09-22-2010, 01:04 PM

yes. make sure the bulb in seated properly. I thought I was losing my mind, but after closer inspection, one of the 3 "interlocking" pieces was outside the slot.

jayson_waltz · 09-22-2010, 03:45 PM

the bulb has got to be seated wrong. I've seen this on quite a few vehicles before and most of the time one of the locking tabs on the bulb isn't in the groove. They should align right with no problem.

XanderWiFi · 09-24-2010, 03:54 AM

I will make a closer inspection. Or just remove it and reinsert. Thanks all-I'll get back to you. My type A personality will allow nothing less haha.

XanderWiFi · 09-25-2010, 02:39 AM

Upon closer inspection it was seated incorrectly. And it was kind of a bitch to get back in there so I'm not surprised...Probably was an oversight due to my haste and excitement to install them.

But my frustration continues:

Looks like the other headlight HID does not throw a beam. It is more fragmented which is making it really difficult to align. It seems to be throwing multiple smaller ones every which way and I'm concerned because some of those go directly into oncoming traffic's lane. Any tips to adjust the mirroring?