Headlamp Aiming Chart
Official procedures for establishing center lines and measuring headlamp aim deviations.
The vehicle must be positioned properly on a flat and level surface in front of a wall before beginning this procedure.
Figure 1: Diagram of Light Screen and Vehicle Placement
Headlamp Adjustment
Establish Center Lines
On a flat and level surface, pull the vehicle as close to the wall as possible and turn on the low beam lights.
- Find the centers of the projected beams.
- Mark both spots horizontally with a single piece of tape running through the middle of the projected beams.
- Mark both spots vertically with tape markers (approx. 2 feet length) running through the center of each projected beam.
Position the Vehicle
Back the vehicle up until the headlamps are exactly 25 feet (7.63 meters) from the wall.
Verify Aim
Observe where each beam's "hot spot" (the most intense part of the beam) falls compared to the tape markings you created.
Vertical Check: The top of the most intense part of the beam should be at or below the horizontal tape line.
Pass / Reject Criteria
At a distance of 25 feet, a reject occurs if the brightest portion of the beam exceeds the following limits:
Reject if more than 4 inches to the RIGHT or LEFT of the vertical center line.
Reject if more than 4 inches ABOVE or BELOW the horizontal center line.