Headlight Aiming

Numbers · Jan 19, 2020

My Limited RAV4 has LED headlights. Having had factory LED headlights on other cars, I wanted them specifically. However, I was quite disappointed with their performance and just recently made attempts to correct them via modifying their aim.

I noticed that the left and right were aimed to shine the same distance. Other cars I've owned always had the right light aimed higher. With that in mind, I turned the adjustment screw counter-clockwise to raise the aiming point about 1", in my garage. I took it out and was impressed with the improvement. The light still has a slight dip but now shines maybe 20' further. At the 2 o'clock position, it also shines nicely on the surface when there was zero light before.

Then I raised the left headlight maybe ¼", in my garage. This also had quite an improvement on the left side. The beam extends a bit further and, at the 10 o'clock position there is actual light where there was none before.

So far no one has flashed me. Driving alongside Jersey (F type) barriers I can see that the lights still dip at distance, on both sides. I can only conclude that Toyota is far too conservative with headlight aiming, to the point of nullifying the usually superior performance of LEDs.

Miku · Jan 19, 2020

If you don't get flashed, you're probably OK. I think that most car makers are setting their headlights the same height between right and left, especially with the newer LED's. At least you didn't have a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek. It DIDN'T have LED headlights and you couldn't see squat at night. Scared the crap out of me to drive it at night and I've got old eyes. In fact, it was one of those cars that got a very poor grade for headlight brightness, but I didn't find that out until after I bought it. I haven't noticed an issue with my Rav4's headlights since it was such a vast improvement over the Subaru, but next time I have my headlights on in the garage, I'll see if I can see what you're indicating.

at1stpromise · Jan 19, 2020

thwre is a proper height for headlights. This link has good info on setting them up from a 25 ft distance. How to Adjust Car Headlights: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Ruthrj · Jan 20, 2020

That’s weird. My ‘19 XLE Premium came with perfect adjustment from the factory. It actually proved useful for comparison after installing HIDs on my 2013 CX-5. I had to adjust the CX-5 projectors because they were way too high after moving from halogens. Definitely try adjusting per the instructions provided above. Mazda specifically called for 10 ft with like 1.8” drop, 25 ft works too as suggested with a further drop.

fengfu · Jan 20, 2020

Numbers said:
My Limited RAV4 has LED headlights. Having had factory LED headlights on other cars, I wanted them specifically. However, I was quite disappointed with their performance and just recently made attempts to correct them via modifying their aim.

I noticed that the left and right were aimed to shine the same distance. Other cars I've owned always had the right light aimed higher. With that in mind, I turned the adjustment screw counter-clockwise to raise the aiming point about 1", in my garage. I took it out and was impressed with the improvement. The light still has a slight dip but now shines maybe 20' further. At the 2 o'clock position, it also shines nicely on the surface when there was zero light before.

Then I raised the left headlight maybe ¼", in my garage. This also had quite an improvement on the left side. The beam extends a bit further and, at the 10 o'clock position there is actual light where there was none before.

So far no one has flashed me. Driving alongside Jersey (F type) barriers I can see that the lights still dip at distance, on both sides. I can only conclude that Toyota is far too conservative with headlight aiming, to the point of nullifying the usually superior performance of LEDs.

How easy was it to access the screws to raise the aim? I didn't see them from the top after opening the hood.
Did you take out any panels to find these screws? It will be nice if you can post some pics of these screw and how to find them.

Numbers · Jan 20, 2020

fengfu said:
How easy was it to access the screws to raise the aim? I didn't see them from the top after opening the hood.
Did you take out any panels to find these screws? It will be nice if you can post some pics of these screw and how to find them.

Access is easy and nothing has to be moved or removed. I had to stand on a stool to look far enough in.

This is the passenger side adjuster:

This is the driver side adjuster:

You can simply use a 10mm short socket (¼" drive is small enough to fit). Of course, you can also use a special headlight adjustment tool to turn the toothed end of the adjustment wheel (the tool sits in the shaft easil visible in the 1st photo).

Using the socket, turning counter clockwise raises the beam, turning clockwise lowers it. Before you turn anything, mark the center of the hot spot on your garage wall for reference.

JFox562 · Jan 20, 2020

Numbers said:
Access is easy and nothing has to be moved or removed. I had to stand on a stool to look far enough in.

This is the passenger side adjuster:
View attachment 148702

This is the driver side adjuster:
View attachment 148704

You can simply use a 10mm short socket (¼" drive is small enough to fit). Of course, you can also use a special headlight adjustment tool to turn the toothed end of the adjustment wheel (the tool sits in the shaft easil visible in the 1st photo).

Using the socket, turning counter clockwise raises the beam, turning clockwise lowers it. Before you turn anything, mark the center of the hot spot on your garage wall for reference.

I believe the special headlight adjustment tool is a number 2 Phillips screwdriver

Numbers · Jan 20, 2020

JFox562 said:
I believe the special headlight adjustment tool is a number 2 Phillips screwdriver

I didn't feel like screwing around. The socket was easy enough.

JFox562 · Jan 20, 2020

Numbers said:
I didn't feel like screwing around. The socket was easy enough.

Just an FYI, If you need to adjust the fog lights, you'll need a number 2 Phillips screwdriver since there is no hex head on them.

Numbers · Jan 20, 2020

JFox562 said:
Just an FYI, If you need to adjust the fog lights, you'll need a number 2 Phillips screwdriver since there is no hex head on them.

Got pictures and procedure on the fog adjustment?

JFox562 · Jan 20, 2020

Yes. See attached

Numbers · Jan 21, 2020

JFox562 said:
Yes. See attached

Thanks for that info. The 4" dip at 25' is extreme, IMHO. Some European charts I've seen suggest 3" based on their height above the ground. By the way, Toyota placing them 25" above the ground was a poor decision as that is the height of fog above the ground. To be the most effective fog lights should be as low as possible on the vehicle, below the fog. At their present height, they should have been driving lights (working with the high beams). If the lights were less than 18" off the ground, the dip would only have to be 1.5" at 25'.

at1stpromise · Jan 21, 2020

JFox562 said:
Just an FYI, If you need to adjust the fog lights, you'll need a number 2 Phillips screwdriver since there is no hex head on them.

You can use a 10mm socket to adjust the fog lights. It is a white plastic piece that takes philips and socket. You can also reach them from above, it's just a tight squeeze.

JFox562 · Jan 21, 2020

at1stpromise said:
You can use a 10mm socket to adjust the fog lights. It is a white plastic piece that takes philips and socket. You can also reach them from above, it's just a tight squeeze.

I stand corrected

There it is right there:

CoffeeBear · Jan 19, 2023

Sorry, I know this thread is a little old. I never knew right and left headlights might be purposefully set to different heights until driving my prime at night. What makes it obvious is that the top edge of the beam doesn't kind of fade off but has a very district edge that I've never experienced before. I assume this might have to do with the fact that these are LED headlights which is also new for me.

Much like others in this thread I think I would probably like to raise the lights. I'm not sure if I can find a truly flat spot with a nice wall at 25' away. Driveways tend to be slightly sloped for drainage although maybe this isn't a big issue since the vehicle would also be at a similar angle??

Perhaps a relative adjustment would work? Like put the vehicle 25' away from my garage door, Mark the tops of the beams with tape and then adjust small amount up? Maybe this isn't useful though.

Mar Espejo · Aug 2, 2023

CoffeeBear said:
Sorry, I know this thread is a little old. I never knew right and left headlights might be purposefully set to different heights until driving my prime at night. What makes it obvious is that the top edge of the beam doesn't kind of fade off but has a very district edge that I've never experienced before. I assume this might have to do with the fact that these are LED headlights which are also new to me.

Much like others in this thread, I think I would probably like to raise the lights. I'm not sure if I can find a truly flat spot with a nice wall 25' away. Driveways tend to be slightly sloped for drainage although maybe this isn't a big issue since the vehicle would also be at a similar angle.

Perhaps a relative adjustment would work? Like put the vehicle 25' away from my garage door, Mark the tops of the beams with tape, and then adjust the small amount up? Maybe this isn't useful though.

Hi, the factory setting of my Ltd is just straight. I lowered it a bit, now I see the road, although shorter, and it seems I don't see the car that much, ahead of me. Will I bring it back to just straight instead of lowered by a few inches?

crisps · Aug 2, 2023

big screwdriver and big parking lot and go at night and adjust...
then walk out 100 yards and then walk back, squat down a few times,
and check how your lights look as an oncoming vehicle.

you'll know if you are blinding other drivers....back and forth while tweaking lights may take
time but you can get pretty good beams and know if you are offending with your settings

Ruthrj · Aug 2, 2023

Here is precisely what you need to do on a CX-5:

Mazda CX-5 Service & Repair Manual - Headlight Aiming - Exterior

www.mcx5.org

Anything else would be a guessing game. I’m sure there is a Toyota specific guide but it’s probably in TIS (paywall). I did this after swapping my halogens for HIDs on my CX-5 and it worked perfectly.

Mar Espejo · Aug 3, 2023

Ruthrj said:
Here is precisely what you need to do on a CX-5:

Mazda CX-5 Service & Repair Manual - Headlight Aiming - Exterior

www.mcx5.org

Anything else would be a guessing game. I’m sure there is a Toyota-specific guide but it’s probably in TIS (paywall). I did this after swapping my halogens for HIDs on my CX-5 and it worked perfectly.

crisps said:
big screwdriver and big parking lot and go at night and adjust...
then walk out 100 yards and then walk back, squat down a few times,
and check how your lights look as an oncoming vehicle.

you'll know if you are blinding other drivers....back and forth while tweaking lights may take
time but you can get pretty good beams and know if you are offending your settings

Hi, thank you for your reply. A lot of YouTube on this topic. I need your opinion what is the sweet spot, straight or a little lower? How are your ravs aimed? It's best to ask fellow owners.

Ruthrj · Aug 3, 2023

Mar Espejo said:
Hi, thank you for your reply. A lot of YouTube on this topic. I need your opinion what is the sweet spot, straight or a little lower? How are your ravs aimed? It's best to ask fellow owners.

I never adjusted my RAV4 headlights. They might look straight, but you’ll want the light to drop just shy of like 2” over 10 ft. Very very slight downward

Headlight Aiming

Numbers

Miku

at1stpromise

Ruthrj

fengfu

Numbers

JFox562

Numbers

JFox562

Numbers

JFox562

Attachments

Numbers

at1stpromise

JFox562

CoffeeBear

Mar Espejo

crisps

Ruthrj

Mazda CX-5 Service & Repair Manual - Headlight Aiming - Exterior

Mar Espejo

Mazda CX-5 Service & Repair Manual - Headlight Aiming - Exterior

Ruthrj

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