General Main Beam Adjustment

[widemouthfrog]

I've just replaced the main beam bulbs. What a weird way to fit a headlight!

Having taken the units out, I wonder how you're supposed to adjust the aim? Both horiontal and vertical adjusters are only accessible when the light units are removed from the car.

 

[pete123]

There must be a fast way of doing it as on my mot the bloke adjusted my drivers side and it was pretty quick at it when he done it this iS on a mk1 though its might not be the same

 

[BikeDoc]

If you pop the little cover off (the one that accesses the securing screw), there's access to one of the adjusters under it (up/down adjustment I think).
Once they're set, they shouldn't really need adjusting again.

Had my r/h unit out on Saturday to find out why it wasn't working.
bulb was fine, as was the fuse.
For nearly a year, the r/h Hi-Beam had flickered when the wipers were on, so I had an inkling what it was anyway.
The r/h wiper arm had been chafing away at one of the wires, so momentarily shorting with each pass of the arm, and had finally cut it right through.

The wires have a plastic shroud over them, but it had migrated slightly, enough to uncover the wires.
I had to unbolt the section that the lights are mounted in to get access to the damaged wire, then it was a simple job to splice a new piece in.
Luckily there was just enough length from where the loom comes through the bulkhead to do it.

 

[widemouthfrog]

I've got both of the main beam units stripped out at the moment - separated the lens from their bodies so that I could give them a good clean inside. Despite appearances, the lenses are glass (not plastic), bonded to the housing with a mastic.

The adjuster that you can get at with them in situ is for height aim. The left-right one can only be accessed when the unit is removed. Bit of a crap design ! The height adjuster needs a tool that must look something like a small chuck key; I'm going to give the Fiat dealer a call to see what they'll will be charging for one of those.....

BTW, I've just replaced the lamps with Osram Nightbreaker+. A marked improvement over the old ones, but it highlighted just how wayward the beam aim is!

 

[BikeDoc]

...The height adjuster needs a tool that must look something like a small chuck key...

Are you sure?
Some/most adjusters look like that, but are designed to be used with a Philips screwdriver.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Thanks BD. I'll give it a go!

 

[widemouthfrog]

Well, cleaned them up and stuck the lenses back in with black silicon. Did the inside of the lenses with Fog-X before that:

Will trim the silicon back in the morning when it's cured, then wait for tomorrow evening to battle with the alignment. The adjusters just about work with a Philips driver - would probably be better with a no.3.