MK4 Golf Headlight Alignment issues

MrSix · 16 Mar 2008 at 21:38

My headlights seem to have dropped recently (for no apparent reason) and are now pointing about 4 feet in front of the car at the floor. The adjuster still works which angles them down if you have a heavy load, so that's not the problem.

Doe anybody know how to re-align them?

Defcon5 · 16 Mar 2008 at 21:42

Do you not have to use VAG-COM?

Phil W · 16 Mar 2008 at 21:43

Ususally some adjusters at the top/back of the headlight to adjust them manually.

Hades · 16 Mar 2008 at 21:56

There is a dial to the right of the steering wheel. It adjusts the alignment (meant for when you tow something so you can get the headlights right even if the car is pulled down at the back). Have you moved that by mistake? If so just move it back. It's next to the dashboard light dimmer.

Firestar_3x · 16 Mar 2008 at 21:58

Hades said:
There is a dial to the right of the steering wheel. It adjusts the alignment (meant for when you tow something so you can get the headlights right even if the car is pulled down at the back). Have you moved that by mistake? If so just move it back. It's next to the dashboard light dimmer.

MrSix said:
The adjuster still works which angles them down if you have a heavy load, so that's not the problem.

Have both of the lights dropped Adam or just one?

Hades · 16 Mar 2008 at 22:12

Ah just realised he says the adjuster still works. So that's not it then.

Booner! · 16 Mar 2008 at 22:32

I had the same problem when I fitted the OSRAM bulbs, took it to my mate at the VW garage. I spun the bulbs around and then calibrated them in about 3 mins. Worked a treat.

Ask your garage to calibrate them?

hittman · 17 Mar 2008 at 02:46

Booner! said:
I had the same problem when I fitted the OSRAM bulbs, took it to my mate at the VW garage. I spun the bulbs around and then calibrated them in about 3 mins. Worked a treat.

Ask your garage to calibrate them?

you spun the bulbs around? I think I might have the same problem as my driver side one isn't right after I replaced my bulbs. are you suppose to get your headlight re-aligned everytime you replace your headlight bulbs?

MrSix · 17 Mar 2008 at 08:07

Firestar_3x said:
Have both of the lights dropped Adam or just one?

Both seem like they're out of sync with eachother, the passenger side headlight is worse than the drivers side.

Booner! said:
I had the same problem when I fitted the OSRAM bulbs, took it to my mate at the VW garage. I spun the bulbs around and then calibrated them in about 3 mins. Worked a treat.

Ask your garage to calibrate them?

Might give that a go, how much did they charge?

jwilliams · 17 Mar 2008 at 09:27

You should find some white screws either side at the top of the headlamp one side adjusts height the other does height and lateral together.

Seems strange that they have done that suddenly, has someone driven into your car without you knowing?

Booner! · 17 Mar 2008 at 10:42

hittman said:
you spun the bulbs around? I think I might have the same problem as my driver side one isn't right after I replaced my bulbs. are you suppose to get your headlight re-aligned everytime you replace your headlight bulbs?

Yeah, it happened when I replaced my bulbs... not sure if you HAVE to get the calibrated, but they will check this with a car service/MOT I would have thought?

See below for what he did..

MrSix said:
Might give that a go, how much did they charge?

Nowt! My mate is the mechanic at the dealership... but took him about 3mins to do. He put it on the rollers, popped the bonnet, spun bulbs around a bit and then used some device in front of the rollers which calibrated them.

So cost me a pint...

but now that you know how it works and how much work is involved.... use that to your advantage when asking how much!

MrSix · 23 Mar 2008 at 18:08

Booner! said:
Yeah, it happened when I replaced my bulbs... not sure if you HAVE to get the calibrated, but they will check this with a car service/MOT I would have thought?

See below for what he did..

Nowt! My mate is the mechanic at the dealership... but took him about 3mins to do. He put it on the rollers, popped the bonnet, spun bulbs around a bit and then used some device in front of the rollers which calibrated them.

So cost me a pint... but now that you know how it works and how much work is involved.... use that to your advantage when asking how much!

Or I could drive down to Oxford and buy you both a pint if he does mine