Headlamp adjustment (HELP)



  • Hi Kev b,
    Many thanks for your comments.
    Earlier this evening I set the car about 8-10feet back from the garage door on which I put 2 black tape crosses at headlamp height up from ground, the same width apart as the headlamps.
    I can adjust the beam up and down with 1 adjuster (the easier one to access) but the second adjuster does nothing. I guess this one should move the beam from side to side but nothing happens on either headlamp.
    All I can do is set the beams as per your suggestion; nearside slightly above the horizontal and offside slightly below.
    But both beams are now closer together than the spacing between the headlamps (I can't make the beams parallel). They don't look too bad to me but I'm not sure if they would pass the MOT.
    Any suggestions why the second adjuster (to move lamps sideways) doesn't work???

    nb I checked the thumbwheel on the dashboard and it does raise or lower both beams so the motor in each headlamp works fine.



  • You have the adjuster headlights, so you can raise or lower the angle of the lights depending on weight in the car.

    Most only have the dash dimmer, that adjusts the dash lights.



  • Hi
    Thanks for advice regarding the dashboard thumbwheel adjuster.
    Any ideas about the adjuster on the back of the headlamp which I believe should adjust the headlamp beam from side to side???
    Mine clearly don't work and I'd love to know what's gone wrong!!!



  • It's because their shit.

    My older MX3's had a setup like this.

    The adjuster screw was connected to small metal 'pipe' with a cog on the end made of plastic, which turned another cog (again, plastic) which adjusted the inside of the headlights.

    Issue, they rust\lock up\get over turned and the metal pipe either:
    A snaps off from the first plastic cog, or
    B Rips itself apart from being over turned in one direction.

    Think of it like a 'L' shaped setup. Nut, downpipe, Cog, 90' turn, cog, headlight inside adjuster.

    The whole thing is about an inch long, and not in a place you can get to without taking the headlight part.



  • Ok! so you can confirm that you have a 'load level adjuster' on the dash as stated by Lori? I was not aware of this feature, mines a 96 GS with dash dimmer only :(
    The lack of adjustment left to right is a puzzle??? strange that BOTH have died together? If you could get one back on the bench, youll see at the foot of each adjuster is a plastic cover and screw/screws you can remove these to reveal the adjuster mechanism which is just two bevel gears at 90deg to each other, you could remove a good one and compare actions? maybe one of the bevel gears is free rotating on the none functioning ones? confirm gear engagement and perhaps grease with silicon based grease? (petroleum based grease could soften the plastic gears and strip the teeth etc).

    If you say the alignment is ok horizontally but the width is narrower on the projected image on the door? if its a small amount and its biased towards NS then I would chance an MOT? just make sure nothings loose, you could confirm security of reflector by removing bulb and inserting a clean dry finger (oooer) into aperture and feel for excessive movement?

    I know my testing station v well, 15 yrs of MOT's with em so they would tweak mine without telling me if they need to for a pass :P
    With you, if it was the only reason for a fail they may try to tweek em for you but if the adjusters dont work theyd probably have no choice but to fail it which would require two new units at a guess?

    Hope you find something to explain inoperative adjusters? L8r kev b



  • Sorry Lori x you must have 'snuck in' while I slowly typed my essay to barry G ? so barrygadd2003, "what he said as well" :o
    I must have been lucky with mine as they look original 17+yrs and they are spotless in condition and function :P
    Think lack of jet washing front of car and engine bay and intact bonnet to lamp unit gaskets has prob helped? :shock: kev b



  • Hi,
    Again many thanks for the help given. I'll have another go today when it gets darker. I agree.It is puzzling that neither sideways adjusters work. I wouldn't be surprised if just 1 failed, but both makes me suspicious.
    When I removed the N/S headlight the reflector was flopping around. I forced the ball end of the threaded horizontal adjuster into its socket on the back of the reflector (the other end of this connects with the bevel gear adjustment that you can turn to adjust)
    I put a small blob of paint on this threaded rod to check it was turning when I rotated the screw adjuster and all seemed well. I then refitted the headlamp fully expecting to be able to adjust the beam sideways. BUT NO…..
    The drivers side headlight has always seemed reasonably OK so I've not touched this ; however when I tried to adjust this beam sideways I then found this would not adjust either.
    I am wondering about getting a spare headlight to check if that too will adjust but obviously don't want to spend a fortune if there is something daft I've overlooked
    I'm determined to sort this out and any further ideas will be very welcome



  • PUZZLE indeed :( I wonder, did you confirm that you DO indeed have level adjusting headlights as Lori stated??? What model/spec is yours?

    Im GUESSING that the mechanism involves a motor somewhere on the lamp unit? acting on the up/down adjustment of the reflector? and that of the two thumb wheels you have on the dashboard one of them has a scale on it ranging from say 0 - 4 which operates the motor acting upon the reflector???

    Can you confirm this functions correctly? ie '0' should be level (and where you set up the lights) then any graduation on the thumbwheel should lower? the beam pattern to compensate for any additional weight other than 4 occupants in the vehicle( ie their luggage in boot)? It must function if fitted for an MOT pass!

    My 'wonder' is wether there is an additional maual adjuster along side the motorised one which is set up out of range to the ZERO position and hence affecting your abbility to adjust the left to right position????

    Having never seen the rear of a level adjusting light unit Im unable to offer
    any firm direction to its operation or dismantling :oops: If you pop it off again could you perhaps post a pic of it?

    I have a scrapper mx3 GS at work, again with non level adjusting units but I am going to try and remove the light units and study the mechanism and might even smash the glass and inspect reflectors attachment :?
    SORRY but they are no good to you as they are corroded to buggery inside
    as both the bulbs/bulb covers were missing when i bought the car :( and covered in green mould!!

    Obv if you do get a replacement you're going to have to get the ones with the level adjusting fitment on unless they are common to all MX3's and its just the addition of the motor connection that distinguishes them from each other?? MAKE SURE THEY'RE 'RIGHTIES' TOO!!!

    Good luck tonight hope you can shed some light on the matter :lol: kev b



  • Hi Kev
    I played again earlier but no matter what I do I can't adjust the beams sideways with the second adjuster.
    Up/down no problem.
    I even unscrewed the 3 6mm fixing bolts clearly accessible on top of the headlight and tried to physically move the lamp sideways but it's a tight fit in there and this failed too.
    I also removed the H4 bulb retaining clip and tried moving the bulb from side to side hoping this would shift the beam horizontally but again no joy.
    I think all I can do is remove the headlights again and strip them down to find out what is preventing sideways adjustment.
    I did try your setting technique.
    I put tape crosses on the garage door at the same spacing as the distance between the headlamps.
    I lined up the car symmetrically and at a distance of approx 4 feet the beams are approx 1 foot inside the marks.
    I reversed the car and at about 12 feet or so back from the door the 2 beams converge.
    I have a Toyota Yaris and did the same test.
    The beams are parallel ie same distance apart whether 4 or 12 feet back from the garage door.
    I'm sure the car wouldn't get through the MOT like this unless you know of a particularly lenient MOT man !!!!!
    My car is a 1998 model and it does have the dashboard thumbwheel headlamp adjuster to crank the lamps down to compensate for heavy loading. This works well.
    I checked the car over as a pre-MOT check and bought some bits off this MX3 website. I changed the N/S ball joint at the bottom of the suspension leg but that was a doddle compared to this headlamp problem…....



  • KIN HELL! 'WE' must be missing something? probably brain cells in my case :shock: lol

    Out of the two to remove, I would plum for the NS again!
    Did you say OS appears parallel to centre line of car? but also lacks left/right
    adjustment? leave alone if so?

    I have read on here about members poppin light units in the oven and melting the case to glass adhesive and removing the spring clips to gain access to the internals to either recolour the interior or modify with halo rings/LED's? you could perhaps try this as a last resort to inspect the sideways adjusters action upon the reflector? perhaps detatch it and confirm it does actually move as decribed :?
    ( NOT too sure about oven temps and how long?) you certainly dont want to 'adjust it for good' into a glass and plastic puddle in the bottom of your Gurts oven :(

    I really am at a loss fella? looks like youve tried everything that i would have, had it been my Brainache!

    Someone on here is bound to know or experienced same prob, its just theyre probably out enjoying 'Their pebble' trouble free without a care at mo and who can blame em?

    Feel for ya too as mine is superb at mo and I enjoy every minute behind wheel and know all too well what its like when it shits on ya lap? :x
    Not dissin your (?) 'YA RICE' but its NOT an MX3 simplzzz!
    Soldier on sir, it WILL be worth it X kev b :P



  • At this point, I would start to look at a way of removing the motor to lift and lower the headlights from the dash, so you can get headlights from someone and add them to it.

    When they break, it really isn't worth the man hours to fix, they will lock up, and you will end up doing it every year.

    It's just one of them things that are a bad design, great on paper, bad in practice.

    Mooneggs has managed to do it, might be worth chucking him a PM to see how he did it.



  • Hi Lori
    I dont have the level adjustable model lights but I dont believe the
    motor is in the dash?? I maybe wrong but i think its just an adjustable POT connected to motors attatched to each of the lamp units rears?

    I would be very interested to see how the motors do indeed attatch to the
    lamp units and request that if anyone could upload a pic to demonstrate this
    I would be v greatful? just out of interest really. :)

    Slightly off topic, the last car I had with 'AUTOMATIC' headlight adjustment was a Lancia Beta HPE 2L ie which was actually operated via manifold vacuum, no driver input, it was all controlled by a load proportioning valve connected to the rear anti rollbar! any rear sag would adjust lights accordingly! 1983 wow :(



  • Thanks for the replies guys.
    Kev, Both headlamps are misaligned and both point inwards.. Think of Marty Feldman the cross-eyed comic actor …........
    I'm sure I need to fix both lamps.

    Lori, I'm a bit of a thicko when it comes to communicating with other members (sorry but not done this before). Is there any way you could possibly send a message to the guy who has fixed his lights already and get him to point me in the right direction. I really am at a loss as to how to proceed without dismantling both lamps. I can't wait to get my MX-3 back on the road.
    Cheers





  • I replied to Barry's PM as well but thought I should include the info here too.

    Yes I have had some experience taking apart glass/plastic H4 style mx-3 headlamps. I've got a ton of pics in this thread: http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=63266

    I would suggest scrolling through that thread to see the pics and maybe you can determine what's going on with yours (Option 2 has details about taking the headlamps apart). It could be the housing for the little ball is broken or the threads are stripped. It could also be that the vertical is adjusted too high and in that case you will not be able to adjust the horizontal. They have to be adjusted a little bit together so that you can get it to move higher…



  • Removing the bumper is the best way.


 

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