Anyone get pulled over for HIDs?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
How do you re-aim the headlights??
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 1
From: Clemson, SC
A good rule of thumb is to park next to a vehicle with stock headlights and aim your headlights down until the distance they reach is the same as the stock distance. They are still brighter in other's eyes compared to stock halogens, but at least they don't point right at them.
Old post of mine:
Originally Posted by mblouir
Yes, yes I am. It wasn't bad until I checked them from the distance to make sure they looked like they were both the same height. No offense to the great Stevie Wonder but this is how I felt after looking at them from a low angle.
On to the pics! First off, adjustment. Here's how:
1. Find a level surface that can allow you to park looking at a wall from ~25 feet.
2. Pull right up against the wall and mark a horizontal line at the center of the headlights. Also mark two vertical lines...one for each headlight.
3. Measure out 25 feet away from the wall.
4. Park your truck where the headlights are on the 25 foot mark. Doesn't have to be perfect.
5. Pop the hood and find the adjustment bolt. This is for '04-'08 body styles. The bolt is right behind the headlight and is 4mm. There's not enough room to fit a regular 1/4" socket wrench back there so I used a pair of plastic-grip pliers to turn it. Don't know why they designed it with so little space in there.
6. Turn on your headlights and see where they are. As I said earlier my passenger light is pointed more to the right than I'd like, but I've already driven at night and it's not noticeable. Better off pointing away from oncoming traffic than toward. Bambi spotter.
7. Now since we can't adjust our lights left or right (only up and down), you want to get the low beams ~2" below the horizontal line earlier marked. Better to go a bit lower if you're estimating, as HIDs are powerful enough.
8. Check out the high beams and make sure they don't go over the line. You want the high beams pointing at or just below the horizontal line.
Simple as that. The next ones are after adjustment...I'll try to get some night shots later. Keep in mind the camera adds light from the shutter speed, so it's not as blinding as it looks. Not blinding at all from oncoming traffic height.
First two are comparison shots from before and after the HIDs in fogs:
Last edited by mblouir; Feb 12, 2010 at 01:22 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: NC
I figured everyone knew how to download a manual.
Guess not... https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp
Last edited by shotgunz; Feb 12, 2010 at 01:24 PM.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
From: Paintsville Ky.
I know that guy said he was sorry for the outburst and all but really?
there seems to be a lot of anger in this thread BTW.
adjusting them is great, and if I got a set I would adjust them just to be nice, but when it comes down to it, I don't care if you wreck becuase you can't drive at night, as long as I don't wreck because I can't see where I am going.
been driving for 6 years, had people bright light me from behind, front, HIDS' halo projectors, red/green/blue lights and I have never seen a light so bright that I could not see where I was going, even the lights on a bed light bar with 4 Kc knockoffs on it.
People are going to do what they want no matter what anyone of you say, just give advice or go away, no need to call names and carry on like children.
there seems to be a lot of anger in this thread BTW.
adjusting them is great, and if I got a set I would adjust them just to be nice, but when it comes down to it, I don't care if you wreck becuase you can't drive at night, as long as I don't wreck because I can't see where I am going.
been driving for 6 years, had people bright light me from behind, front, HIDS' halo projectors, red/green/blue lights and I have never seen a light so bright that I could not see where I was going, even the lights on a bed light bar with 4 Kc knockoffs on it.
People are going to do what they want no matter what anyone of you say, just give advice or go away, no need to call names and carry on like children.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,480
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
I think there are a couple reasons that there is a lot of anger in this thread. One reason is that the people who have HID's that are done correctly resent the fact that they have been associated with the people who just slap HID's into stock housings and attract attention to people with HID's. The other reason is that people are tired of being blinded bythe dummies who incorrectly install HID's in their vehicles.
As long as your HID's are properly installed, I'm sure the cops won't hassle you. If they are not aimed properly, then you deserve to get any tickets that the cops decide to give you.
As long as your HID's are properly installed, I'm sure the cops won't hassle you. If they are not aimed properly, then you deserve to get any tickets that the cops decide to give you.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,494
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
I have been pulled over 3 times for them. That was when they were new, and extremely bright. They have lost their intensity, and I've aimed them slightly down. I think I got a ticket every time, (at least 2 of the times) but they are fix it tickets.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,460
Likes: 0
From: NYC, Ct & NC
Me too. I hate seeing those driving around that haven't re-aimed them.
A good rule of thumb is to park next to a vehicle with stock headlights and aim your headlights down until the distance they reach is the same as the stock distance. They are still brighter in other's eyes compared to stock halogens, but at least they don't point right at them.
Old post of mine:
A good rule of thumb is to park next to a vehicle with stock headlights and aim your headlights down until the distance they reach is the same as the stock distance. They are still brighter in other's eyes compared to stock halogens, but at least they don't point right at them.
Old post of mine:
I'm not a lifted guy but I do know when I see good c h i t and your truck is beautiful, job well done, now back to the topic, lol.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 2
From: Pearl Harbor
there are a ton of little idiot children running around who slap a $200 HID "kit" into their vehicles.
they know their light isn't properly aimed, and often those HID setups are too damn bright and/or blind the other guy...but they don't care...and often think it's funny.
I hate all HID's. I had eye surgery and while I have 20/15 vision now, the damn HID's at night flat out blind me.
OEM HID's aren't that bad...just annoying
but "HID Kits" are just dangerous as hell. leave me with spots in my eyes and often I have to stare at the white lane marker for a few seconds until my vision recovers
but "HID Kits" are just dangerous as hell. leave me with spots in my eyes and often I have to stare at the white lane marker for a few seconds until my vision recovers
sorry if any of my comments seem directed towards any of y'all. not really. I commonly drive past a mid 90's Impala SS and retard has really really bad HID's. Even in daylight they are blinding
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 2
From: So. Cal.
Old post of mine:
mblouir- If I remember correctly the adjustment screw is a 4MM. I always used a small ratcheting box end to do the adjustment. Before I found a RBE that small, I took a 4MM X 1/4 socket and brazed a 7/16 nut on the small "nose" of it and used a 7/16 RBE.
Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Delaware
I agree with Tylus, even stock HID lights blind me. My eyes are rather sensitive to light. On main roads it doesnt bother me as much, i just watch the lines to my right. On some of the backroads near me there isnt much room for two cars to pass and when i cant see, that is dangerous.