Screen Method Aiming

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2012 Ford Pickup, 2012 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2012 Ford F450 Super Duty, and 2012 Ford Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Before starting headlamp adjustment:
- check that the vehicle is on level ground.
- check the tire inflation.
- check that no other load is in the vehicle other than a half tank of fuel.
- check that the headlamps are clean.
- check for correct headlamp operation.
- if the vehicle is equipped with air suspension, make sure that the switch is on.

NOTE: The vertical wall or screen must be a minimum of 2.4 m (8 ft) wide.

Fig 1: Identifying Vehicle Parking Distance From Vertical Wall Or Screen

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Park the vehicle on a level surface approximately 7.6 m (25 ft) from the vertical wall or screen directly in front of it.

NOTE: The optical center of the lamp is marked either on the lens (circle, crosshair or other mark) or on the bulb shield internal to the lamp (crosshair or other mark).

Mark a horizontal reference line on the vertical wall or screen.
1. Measure the optical center of the headlamp height to ground and record the measurement.
2. Make a 2.4 m (8 ft) horizontal mark (using masking tape) on the vertical wall or screen at the same distance from the ground as previously recorded.
  
  Fig 2: Marking Horizontal Reference Line On Vertical Wall Or Screen
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

NOTE: This procedure should be done in a dark environment to effectively see the headlamp beam pattern.

Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and open the hood.
On the wall or screen, locate the high intensity area of the beam pattern. Using the adjusting screw, adjust the headlamp until the top edge of the high intensity zone is even with the horizontal reference line.