| Needsdecaf |
Hello all:
Question, and yes I searched. All info I found was for 2006 and previous.....
Is there any way to adjust the height of the stock low beams on a non-sport equipped '07 X? On my Volvo, I have reflector Xenons with auto leveling, but there is a knob that I can turn to adjust the range of the auto adjustment by setting the level stance base point height higher.
Anything like this on the X?
TIA. |
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| ductman |
| Only auto-level on sport pack equipped mdx, all other non-adjustable. |
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| bronxblaza117 |
quote:
Originally posted by ductman
Only auto-level on sport pack equipped mdx, all other non-adjustable.
im pretty sure all headlights are adjustable. have to find the knobs on the headlights itself to adjust manually. |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by bronxblaza117
im pretty sure all headlights are adjustable. have to find the knobs on the headlights itself to adjust manually.
I was looking last night while inspecting my air cleaner, and near both headlights on the upper plastic radiator cover were notations L-R and U-D with double headed arrows. I cannot see where these adjustment knobs would be, maybe you have to take off the whole radiator cover? |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by ductman
Only auto-level on sport pack equipped mdx, all other non-adjustable.
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was not referring to something simple like a cockpit adjustment, I was referring to adjustment screws on the headlight housings / assemblys themselves. Something that requires a little wrenchin'.
:) |
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| dj-mdx2 |
quote:
Originally posted by Needsdecaf
I was looking last night while inspecting my air cleaner, and near both headlights on the upper plastic radiator cover were notations L-R and U-D with double headed arrows. I cannot see where these adjustment knobs would be, maybe you have to take off the whole radiator cover?
Haven't looked at my 07 yet but there should be adjustable bolts underneath those marks. |
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| Heat00 |
just curious, why do you want to adjust them from the factory setting? aim them a bit higher eh?? LOL
keep us posted. |
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| jsonmdx07 |
quote:
Originally posted by Heat00
just curious, why do you want to adjust them from the factory setting? aim them a bit higher eh?? LOL
keep us posted.
it's kinda high already, i don't c why u wanna aim higher....maybe more to the left or right??? |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by Heat00
just curious, why do you want to adjust them from the factory setting? aim them a bit higher eh?? LOL
keep us posted.
Actually yes, they could be a bit higher. I noticed that they have a LOT of coverage directly in front of the car (fogs off of course) and that the horizontal cutoff is not quite as far out there as I'd like on the low beam. High beam, of course, is great.
My guess would be that they all come from the factory a bit differently. |
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| craniotes |
I wouldn't mind raising mine a bit as well. Like you, I find that the low-beam cutoff is a bit too low. Of course raising them may be more of a hassle with the self-leveling units.
Regards,
Adam |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by craniotes
I wouldn't mind raising mine a bit as well. Like you, I find that the low-beam cutoff is a bit too low. Of course raising them may be more of a hassle with the self-leveling units.
Regards,
Adam
The ones on my R are self leveling units, but as I noted, the adjustment screw simply raises and lowers the center point within the leveling mechanism. And it's really easy, literally takes 10 seconds from the time you open the hood. |
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| Needsdecaf |
I removed one end of the plastic radiator cover today, but didn't really see anything that looked like an adjustment screw.
Does anyone have the manual that can help me out? There are clearly arrows market on the plastic cover so I know there are adustment knobs there. I don't want to have to ask the dealer to do it..... |
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| craniotes |
I can't help you here, but as soon as you figure it out, be sure to let the rest of us know... Thanks!
Regards,
Adam
PS - In my Benz, it's easy as pie (the little dials are clearly marked and easy to get at without removing anything). |
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| Mike_TX |
quote:
Originally posted by Needsdecaf
I removed one end of the plastic radiator cover today, but didn't really see anything that looked like an adjustment screw.
Does anyone have the manual that can help me out? There are clearly arrows market on the plastic cover so I know there are adustment knobs there. I don't want to have to ask the dealer to do it.....
On my RL, there are adjusters buried deep down in there, and I assume the X is similar. They are small openings that are partially covered by a rubber seal. You can use a long #2 phillips head screwdriver to adjust them.
Use a flashlight or shop light to look around down in there and locate the adjuster opening. On my RL, I had to push pretty firmly to get the screwdriver teeth to get through the seal and get a bite in the adjuster. Don't manhandle it and break anything, just push firmly and turn while watching the beam center on a nearby wall.
Keep in mind a small amount of movement on that nearby wall will translate to a big change 100 feet down the road.
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| Mike_TX |
HERE'S a link to a picture on the RL board that shows the adjuster mechanism on the RL. Since Acura probably uses similar headlight assemblies, look for something like this.
(Scroll down to the picture on page 2 of the thread.)
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| eujinc |
Here are a couple of pictures of where you should insert a long Phillips screwdriver to get to the adjuster.
Figure 1: Top view from driver's side.
Figure 2: View from inside engine bay looking to the front of the vehicle (actually directly at the headlight assembly).
Like what Mike_TX said, keep the adjustments small. Years ago, I adjusted the HIDs on my TL after lowering the car. That night, I quickly realized my lows were higher that my highs when I could clearly see the top of trees. |
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| shootist |
| On a related note- the high beams can't be adjusted independently of the low beams on the 07 MDX, can they? |
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| Mike_TX |
Thanks for the detail, eujinc. I haven't had time to get out there and take pix, and it turns out the X's adjusters DO look different from the RL's.
Actually, I may raise my lows a smidge, too ... I noticed last night that they didn't quite reach out there far enough, especially at freeway/highway speeds.
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by eujinc
Here are a couple of pictures of where you should insert a long Phillips screwdriver to get to the adjuster.
Figure 1: Top view from driver's side.
Figure 2: View from inside engine bay looking to the front of the vehicle (actually directly at the headlight assembly).
Like what Mike_TX said, keep the adjustments small. Years ago, I adjusted the HIDs on my TL after lowering the car. That night, I quickly realized my lows were higher that my highs when I could clearly see the top of trees.
Yay!
Most excellent and many thanks! There's a ton of crap blocking the way, there's no way to see those damn adjusters for what they are unless you know what they are looking for. Now that I know, they were fairly easy to find.......now I just need a screwdriver that's long enough!
Will report back post adjustment. |
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| Heat00 |
I was able to get a philips screwdriver in there and I started turning towards up but it didn't seem to aim the light up at all. I could see the light on the wall moving up and down but I don't think it adjusted at all.
is there a trick to this? maybe my phillips wasn't really in the notches? It's kind of hard because theres not much room??
any suggestions? |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by Heat00
I was able to get a philips screwdriver in there and I started turning towards up but it didn't seem to aim the light up at all. I could see the light on the wall moving up and down but I don't think it adjusted at all.
is there a trick to this? maybe my phillips wasn't really in the notches? It's kind of hard because theres not much room??
any suggestions?
I tried to do this today. I got it to work, but it is not easy. I have a long, thin screw driver and I didn't think that the engagement is very precise. Not sure if you need another tool or maybe a screwdriver with a thicker tip, which I do not have.
I was able to get the metal adjustment disk to turn. However, I had to watch it to make sure it was turning. Which means I had to do it during the day. Which means I couldn't tell if the light was moving up or not. When I took it out to test, the snow sky was too bright to tell.
So I'll have to go out and do this at night when we have a good dark sky and I have my trouble light with me. But as I said, I DID get the disk to move. :D |
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| Heat00 |
quote:
Originally posted by Needsdecaf
I tried to do this today. I got it to work, but it is not easy. I have a long, thin screw driver and I didn't think that the engagement is very precise. Not sure if you need another tool or maybe a screwdriver with a thicker tip, which I do not have.
I was able to get the metal adjustment disk to turn. However, I had to watch it to make sure it was turning. Which means I had to do it during the day. Which means I couldn't tell if the light was moving up or not. When I took it out to test, the snow sky was too bright to tell.
So I'll have to go out and do this at night when we have a good dark sky and I have my trouble light with me. But as I said, I DID get the disk to move. :D
How did you know that the disk was turning??? |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by Heat00
How did you know that the disk was turning???
If you stick your head in and crane around the backside, moving the wiring harnesses out of the way and using a bright light, you can see it in there. It's not easy, but it's possible. |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by Needsdecaf
If you stick your head in the engine compartment and crane around to look a the backside of the light housing, moving the wiring harnesses out of the way and using a bright light, you can see it in there. Looks just like the picture above. It's not easy, but it's possible to see it.
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| Heat00 |
wow, I'll have to look again in the morning, but I don't remember being able to get my head inside the engine compartment to see this thing, I can barely get my hand in there let alone my head.
can you please explain a little further how you get your head in there to see this thing, LOL ??
I got the screwdriver in there and it seemed to go into some kind of notch that I thought was the right one, I mean it is clearly marked.
but when I turned it the direction labled up, it didn't seem to move the light up, unless it is moving at a very very slow rate.
I gave it about 4 or 5 complete turns of the phillips... and the light on the wall didn't seem to move at all....
maybe it's just my retarded self again, I'll try again in the daylight.. lol |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by Heat00
wow, I'll have to look again in the morning, but I don't remember being able to get my head inside the engine compartment to see this thing, I can barely get my hand in there let alone my head.
can you please explain a little further how you get your head in there to see this thing, LOL ??
I got the screwdriver in there and it seemed to go into some kind of notch that I thought was the right one, I mean it is clearly marked.
but when I turned it the direction labled up, it didn't seem to move the light up, unless it is moving at a very very slow rate.
I gave it about 4 or 5 complete turns of the phillips... and the light on the wall didn't seem to move at all....
maybe it's just my retarded self again, I'll try again in the daylight.. lol
LOL, I don't mean to say get your head down inside the mechanicals. I'll try to take and host a pic tomorrow, but here's an explanation:
Lean over the front of the engine. It is not necessary to remove the cover covering the radiator (the whole thing, not just the cap door). Just behind the headlight, there is a brace that runs at an angle between the radiator support and the side of the engine bay. Look underneath this, looking in from behind (lean over!).
On the driver's side, you will be trying to look in front of the battery, toward the back of the light housing. There is a small wire harness in the way. Use a trouble light for illumination if necessary. Also, stick the screwdriver into the slot first so you can see where to look...it's hard to pick out otherwise.
On the passenger's side, it's even harder, as there are 2 large wiring harnesses and also the windshield washer neck.
Again, I'll try to take pics tomorrow. |
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| Heat00 |
sweet thanks! I think that'll help me and I'll take another look in the morning before work :)
Now since you guys found this, I'm determined to adjust them (up) a bit... hec, it seems like everyone else's car on the road shines their lights up high right into my face so time to return the favor and show off those HID's !!! |
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| Needsdecaf |
Update!
Finally had some time to do this where I could both see the beams and see what I was adjusting....in the garage! My wife was on the way back from her parents so I stole the Volvo's spot in the garage.
Well, I am happy to report it's really pretty easy to do. I had seen the disk turning before, but I was outside and couldn't see the beams that distinctly, so I couldn't see if I was turning the beams up at all. The screwdriver I have is pretty thin, and I wasn't sure if the disk was turning a lot, or if I was simply stripping the grooves.
Turns out the disk was turning ok but the gear it acts on must be very fine. In my Volvo, the adjustment is done by a knob that is turned by a nut driver. 4 turns adjusts from the top of the range to the bottom. In the X, 4 turns of the screwdriver barely moves the beams up! Since I could now see the beams moving on the wall, I moved them up about 1/2" at a distance of about 6'. I didn't want to do any more than that without testing.
Tonight will be the test! |
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| Heat00 |
| sweet, we'll be waiting for the results. |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by Heat00
sweet, we'll be waiting for the results.
Wife came home and didn't feel like switching cars. Plus the VR was already disgustingly salty dirty. Bottom line....the X stayed in the garage, the Swede played in his element. :D (damn, and it's fast when cold!)
Tomorrow's trip to NYC will have to be sufficient to test.... |
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| Mike_TX |
It's worth pointing out that if it's like my RL, it IS a fine adjustment. It may well take 8 or 10 turns to get a meaningful adjustment.
Just do test drives to make sure you aren't running them up too high. One method I use to do this is to have the wife drive toward me while I'm in the other car, so I can see what other drivers see. If it blinds me, I know I did too good a job. ;)
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| Needsdecaf |
Update.....definite improvement noticed last night, but still not high enough. Did a nice job on the (very, very) dark Palisades Parkway last night, but still not quite high enough.....no one flashed me after all!
All in all, though, this is going to make a huge difference once I get them adjusted up far enough. |
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| craniotes |
quote:
Originally posted by Needsdecaf
Update.....definite improvement noticed last night, but still not high enough. Did a nice job on the (very, very) dark Palisades Parkway last night, but still not quite high enough.....no one flashed me after all!
All in all, though, this is going to make a huge difference once I get them adjusted up far enough.
Let us know how many "turns" to achieve the desired results.
Regards,
Adam |
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| Needsdecaf |
Success, lighting Nirvana has been achieved!!!
I have been turning my lights up and up, giving 5-8 turns at a time over the last couple of weeks. I live in a fairly developed area so it's hard to see the results sometimes (especially with snow sky at night as we've had quite often over the last couple of weeks). But the results didn't seem to be satisfactory.
Finally yesterday morning I gave 'em both 10 turns up.
Last night I was driving from my in-laws house in the Poconos. Dark, windy, wooded roads are a good test. Satisfaction! The lights are SO much better now then when I bought the car. Much better "down the road" illumination and especially on the shoulders.
We only passed about 5 cars and I was in the 3rd position of a group of 3 cars, so no true test if the lights may be up TOO high at this point. I may have to turn them down, but so far so good!
in all, I'd say they're up at least 20 turns. I honestly lost count over all the times I've tweaked them.
:2: |
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| rockyroad |
| Just to confirm, there is also an adjustment knob for Right and Left? From reading the above threads, they only adjusted the height. |
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| G. COLTON |
Does not everyone just love self indulgent people?
They think of themselves only. The thought pattern is - I think my low beams are adjusted too low. Let us just raise them regardless of whether or not it blinds oncoming traffic.
Great kind of neighbors to have.
G |
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| LionSpeed |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
Does not everyone just love self indulgent people?
They think of themselves only. The thought pattern is - I think my low beams are adjusted too low. Let us just raise them regardless of whether or not it blinds oncoming traffic.
Great kind of neighbors to have.
G
Good 1. ;) |
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| craniotes |
Hey, Colton, have you ever driven a 2nd generation MDX at night? If you had, then you'd know that the beam cutoff is ridiculously low -- much more so than other HID-equipped cars and trucks.
Now I haven't taken the liberty of raising mine yet, but I might. And if I do, I'll make sure to keep them at a reasonable height -- just like the other folks on this board who have already done so (note that if Mr. Decaf receives a negative reaction from his fellow drivers, he's going to lower them).
Regards,
Adam |
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| rockyroad |
quote:
Originally posted by craniotes
Hey, Colton, have you ever driven a 2nd generation MDX at night? If so, then you'd know that the beam cutoff is ridiculously low -- much more so than other HID-equipped cars and trucks.
Now I haven't taken the liberty of raising mine yet, but I might. And if I do, I'll make sure to keep them at a reasonable height -- just like the other folks on this board who have already done so (note that if Mr. Decaf receives a negative reaction from his fellow drivers, he's going to lower them).
Regards,
Adam
Good response.:lurk: |
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| G. COLTON |
quote:
Originally posted by craniotes
Hey, Colton, have you ever driven a 2nd generation MDX at night? If you had, then you'd know that the beam cutoff is ridiculously low -- much more so than other HID-equipped cars and trucks.
Now I haven't taken the liberty of raising mine yet, but I might. And if I do, I'll make sure to keep them at a reasonable height -- just like the other folks on this board who have already done so (note that if Mr. Decaf receives a negative reaction from his fellow drivers, he's going to lower them).
Regards,
Adam
If you want to be a good neighbor and responsible humanbeing then I would suggest that you go to the dealer and ask them to check the settings. This way they can be set with the proper machine and you will know that you are not being a real pain to other drivers on the road.
If you do the job yourself how are you going to "I'll make sure to keep them at a reasonable height ?" I put this type of action into the same category of the idots playing their amped up stereos excessively loud.
G
G |
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| craniotes |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
If you want to be a good neighbor and responsible humanbeing then I would suggest that you go to the dealer and ask them to check the settings. This way they can be set with the proper machine and you will know that you are not being a real pain to other drivers on the road.
If you do the job yourself how are you going to "I'll make sure to keep them at a reasonable height ?" I put this type of action into the same category of the idots playing their amped up stereos excessively loud.
G
G
Obviously, as an uncouth Yankee from up north, I'm not overly concerned with being a good neighbor or human being, however I did mention my dilemma to my service advisor when I was picking my X up from its last service and he concurred with me regarding the HID settings. According to him, they were set rather conservatively from the factory and that a lot of MDX drivers had requested that they be raised. Of course, even without his testimony, I have eyes and they don't lie.
As a matter of fact, thanks to your knee-jerk-I-ran-out-of-Metamucil-this-morning blanket statement to the effect that all MDX owners who raise their headlights are sub-human, I'm going down to the garage to raise them right now.
Regards,
Adam
PS - If I head out at night and everyone is flashing me, then I know they're too high. If I drive behind someone and my lights are shining above their trunk lid, then I know they're too high. If I'm driving down South with all the other septuagenarians and octogenarians, then regardless of how they're set, I know they're too high.
PS - Again, have you actually driven a 2nd generation MDX at night? :confused: |
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| rockyroad |
Now that we have that settled, the drama that is.. Has someone actually adjusted the headlights horizontally?
And Colton, I do not want to blind the innocent bystanders who are walking down the street, the traffic on the incoming lane, or the twelve year old dribbling the basketball. I just want to get rid of the irritating shadow my beam casts since the light is hitting the corner of my headlight assembly, which has vertical lines. |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
Does not everyone just love self indulgent people?
They think of themselves only. The thought pattern is - I think my low beams are adjusted too low. Let us just raise them regardless of whether or not it blinds oncoming traffic.
Great kind of neighbors to have.
G
Don't you just love self-righteous people who make assumptions and pass judgement over the internet?
Their thought pattern is: I have no idea what the situation really is, but I don't like what this person is doing. Let me pass judgement and call him a wanker because he'll never find me.
Great board member to have.
FYI - not every car comes adjusted perfectly from the factory. That's why there are knobs, you know. Ever think about that?
And for your further information, I do take into account if people are "flashing" me and lower back down accordingly. This post is 6 months old and I have not flashed ONCE since I finished posting at this thread.
Finally, did it ever occur to you that maybe I have the shop manual and am perfectly capable of looking up the specs for myself? You know, it's not really all that hard. And I can even do the math to compensate for the slope of my driveway. I measured it with a rotary laser level, and it is at 1.8% thanks. .
But thanks for your opinion.
Oh...forgot to add.
My X is a non-sport model, which means that it does not have self-leveling headlights. Which means that every time I hit a bump, my lights flip up and down. In to the sightline of oncoming cars. Maybe I should drive on roads that don't have any bumps... |
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| Needsdecaf |
quote:
Originally posted by rockyroad
Now that we have that settled, the drama that is.. Has someone actually adjusted the headlights horizontally?
And Colton, I do not want to blind the innocent bystanders who are walking down the street, the traffic on the incoming lane, or the twelve year old dribbling the basketball. I just want to get rid of the irritating shadow my beam casts since the light is hitting the corner of my headlight assembly, which has vertical lines.
I have not found the need to, but there are horizontal adjusters. |
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| rockyroad |
quote:
Originally posted by Needsdecaf
I have not found the need to, but there are horizontal adjusters.
Thank you for clarifying this but I couldn't find the adjusters? |
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