My headlight aim on my 1.1 Panda is to low for night country lane driving, which gets worse as the fuel tank level drops!more important considering the slightly damp weather we are currently experiencing I also try to keep main-beam use to a minimum especially around farms and small villages (aren't I considerate!).
Although the setting is good to pass an MOT and ideal for town/city driving to be safer at night I needed to raise them slightly.
I have always carried out adjustments myself and have carried out internet and forum searches, the question has been asked about Panda headlight adjustment before but unlike classic car and bike forums, the answer seems to be 'take it to the dealer'!...what's the point in that or of benefit to the forum and members for that matter.
There are two 8mm plastic hex adjusters on each headlight (2009 1.1 eco active) one white one black.
White is raise and lower
Black is left and right (which should never need adjustment after initial install)
spray the adjuster with wd40 or similar as they are plastic and may snap, the oil will lubricate the seldom used threads etc.
facing the car, turn the adjuster clockwise to raise and anticlockwise to lower. It may take a couple of turns to start the assembly moving as the slack is taken up.
Before starting check tyre pressures are correct and load the car for normal driving with 1/2 a tank of fuel.
Face the car against a flat surface (rule book has a set distance but it dosn't really matter as long as you get a good beam pattern definition), cover one headlight with a blanket and turn them on, mark in chalk the outline of the beam, swap the blanket and do the same with the other headlight.
adjust one headlight to the height desired and chalk mark the final position (if you are measuring iaw the rule book then make sure this is all done on level ground) now turn off headlights measure the distance from first to second mark, make a new chalk mark on the other headlights original position, swap blanket turn on headlights and simply adjust the other headlight to meet the new mark.
For my needs, I marked the beam pattern of my headlights at position 0 on electric adjuster, then set position 1 to lower the beam as if the car was loaded, then adjusted the beams to meet the original mark, so if the headlights are to high on first drive out (150 miles tommorow night)I can select position 1 which will be back to the original setting. (also carrying an 8mm socket to make fine adjustments if needed).
I hope this is helpful information
Johno
Although the setting is good to pass an MOT and ideal for town/city driving to be safer at night I needed to raise them slightly.
I have always carried out adjustments myself and have carried out internet and forum searches, the question has been asked about Panda headlight adjustment before but unlike classic car and bike forums, the answer seems to be 'take it to the dealer'!...what's the point in that or of benefit to the forum and members for that matter.
There are two 8mm plastic hex adjusters on each headlight (2009 1.1 eco active) one white one black.
White is raise and lower
Black is left and right (which should never need adjustment after initial install)
spray the adjuster with wd40 or similar as they are plastic and may snap, the oil will lubricate the seldom used threads etc.
facing the car, turn the adjuster clockwise to raise and anticlockwise to lower. It may take a couple of turns to start the assembly moving as the slack is taken up.
Before starting check tyre pressures are correct and load the car for normal driving with 1/2 a tank of fuel.
Face the car against a flat surface (rule book has a set distance but it dosn't really matter as long as you get a good beam pattern definition), cover one headlight with a blanket and turn them on, mark in chalk the outline of the beam, swap the blanket and do the same with the other headlight.
adjust one headlight to the height desired and chalk mark the final position (if you are measuring iaw the rule book then make sure this is all done on level ground) now turn off headlights measure the distance from first to second mark, make a new chalk mark on the other headlights original position, swap blanket turn on headlights and simply adjust the other headlight to meet the new mark.
For my needs, I marked the beam pattern of my headlights at position 0 on electric adjuster, then set position 1 to lower the beam as if the car was loaded, then adjusted the beams to meet the original mark, so if the headlights are to high on first drive out (150 miles tommorow night)I can select position 1 which will be back to the original setting. (also carrying an 8mm socket to make fine adjustments if needed).
I hope this is helpful information
Johno
