Speaking of headlights

mkirsch

Well-known Member
I've got a 2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 that the headlights have always been aimed a little high for my taste. About once a night, I get flashed by an oncoming car. The joke's on them when I flash back with my high beams...

I have never been able to figure out how to aim them. I've asked on various forums and been told mostly, "It's simple you idiot, just do it!" Well yeah, but HOW?

There are no adjusters that I can find in 10 years of looking. Normally there is a screw on top and a screw on the side. You stick a screwdriver in and turn until it aims where you want it. These lights have no such adjusters.

I even had the grill off last fall, and couldn't find anything. The headlights look like they're solidly mounted.

I've asked various garages to check the aim. They all say it's fine.
 
(quoted from post at 08:14:21 12/23/13) I've got a 2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 that the headlights have always been aimed a little high for my taste. About once a night, I get flashed by an oncoming car. The joke's on them when I flash back with my high beams...

I have never been able to figure out how to aim them. I've asked on various forums and been told mostly, "It's simple you idiot, just do it!" Well yeah, but HOW?

There are no adjusters that I can find in 10 years of looking. Normally there is a screw on top and a screw on the side. You stick a screwdriver in and turn until it aims where you want it. These lights have no such adjusters.

I even had the grill off last fall, and couldn't find anything. The headlights look like they're solidly mounted.

I've asked various garages to check the aim. They all say it's fine.

Have you ever had to change out a bulb? The aim adjustment screws should be in the same place.
 
I found this on the Chevrolet Forum

[b:9285b3cc70]there should be 2 torx head screws, on either side of the upper headlight, one almost right below the headlight fixture (forgot the proper name, sorry) and one recessed much deeper into it. one controls up/down, one does sidewise. park in front of your garage door, maybe 25 feet away, and do it.[/b:9285b3cc70][i:9285b3cc70][/i:9285b3cc70]
 
(quoted from post at 08:32:56 12/23/13) I found this on the Chevrolet Forum

[b:5aff0f2960]there should be 2 torx head screws, on either side of the upper headlight, one almost right below the headlight fixture (forgot the proper name, sorry) and one recessed much deeper into it. one controls up/down, one does sidewise. park in front of your garage door, maybe 25 feet away, and do it.[/b:5aff0f2960][i:5aff0f2960][/i:5aff0f2960]

I found that too, but I can't find these "torx head screws."

There's one "reverse" torx head screw on top, but it won't turn tighter, and looser doesn't seem to change anything.

To change a bulb, you remove an L-shaped pin and the entire headlight unit comes out. Even with it out I cannot see any sort of aiming adjustments.

I've asked the Chevy dealer to aim the headlights, and they tell me, "They're fine."
 
You found ONE of them. They are connected to little 90º gearboxes that freeze up over time. Likely, you are stuck with the "aim" you have unless you replace the whole lamp assembly, as I don't think the individual parts are serviceable.
 
If you keep looking you're sure to find the other
adjustment screw buried behind the assembly. One is
for up and down and the other for side to side. They
are the reverse Torx screws. Hope that helps. Joe
 
Hello mkirsch,

Here is how you can aim your headlights. On a level ground shine the lights against a flat even surface. The head light to the surface distance is 25 feet. Measure the center of the head light on the vehicle and measure the height on the wall in the center of the beam. You can now adjust the center of the beam 1 in. below the height of the vehicle light height. You can eyeball the left to right adjustment, and be very close...................That's I how its done!

Guido.
 
The adjusters are froze up on my car. I will need to use washers under the corresponding mount bolt to move it.
SDE
 
Bob has it correct in his earlier post. My brother had the same issue. His little plastic gearbox adjusters were shot. He had to replace the whole light assembly.
 

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