How To Adjust Headlight Beam Height

[Dochidalgo]

Thanks..

 

[Dochidalgo]

I installed the springs this weekend

How many inches must measure in the center of the headlights beam on the wall from the floor to the horizontal beam light ???
Thanks

 

[MyHarpoon]

This works even with the auto leveling headlights on the GT2. Dealer told me it would not work when I asked them to borrower a screw driver that was skinny and long enough. They didn't have one that fits in the hole and was long enough. Said they would need to schedule an appointment to have them do it cause they would need to figure out how to do it.

I went on amazon and I found one that fit. Bought it. Waited patiently. Adjusted it. It worked.

Headlights still level automatically. Still at the height I set it to.

Can you post a link to the screwdriver you bought? This sounds like a much simpler (and faster) solution than removing the airboxes every time.

 

[Mach_Tuck]

Can you post a link to the screwdriver you bought? This sounds like a much simpler (and faster) solution than removing the airboxes every time.

Honestly, the airboxes are very simple to remove. Literally 4-5 bolts per side.
Step 1 - undo brace ( can remove completely if want but not needed) - 2 bolts if remove all the way
Remove airbox - 3 bolts and lift out.

5-7 min maximum to get them both out.

I tried using a small slender flat head and only managed to mangle the plastic gear mesh. My experience was that the gears did NOT move easily at all with the screwdriver.

Grab a small ratcheting stubby and you can adjust them rather quickly

 

[Beege]

Can you post a link to the screwdriver you bought? This sounds like a much simpler (and faster) solution than removing the airboxes every time.

Here you go

Phillips Screwdriver,QM-STVR 12''... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074V69DH6?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

 

[Mach_Tuck]

Trust me...save the headache from the screwdriver...

https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-WRN50...536261596&sr=1-1&keywords=12mm+stubby+ratchet

 

[MyHarpoon]

Here you go

Phillips Screwdriver,QM-STVR 12'"

Worked like a charm! I have to admit at first I was skeptical that the Philips head would work, but it was perfect. Straight through the plastic funnel and the head engaged the little gear thing without a hitch. Very easy to turn and didn't strip the gear at all. Each revolution produced the tiniest change in the lens angle so just be patient and you will eventually achieve the desired height. Adjusted both lights in less than 2 minutes. Went for a test drive, came back, made minor adjustment in less than a minute. [QUOTE

 

[Beege]

Worked like a charm! I have to admit at first I was skeptical that the Philips head would work, but it was perfect. Straight through the plastic funnel and the head engaged the little gear thing without a hitch. Very easy to turn and didn't strip the gear at all. Each revolution produced the tiniest change in the lens angle so just be patient and you will eventually achieve the desired height. Adjusted both lights in less than 2 minutes. Went for a test drive, came back, made minor adjustment in less than a minute. [QUOTE

Yup! It's great. There's so many people on here crapping on doing it this way. Too much effort wasted arguing with them. No point. Work smarter, not harder.

 

[Mach_Tuck]

Yup! It's great. There's so many people on here crapping on doing it this way. Too much effort wasted arguing with them. No point. Work smarter, not harder.

Well, that said, i need to try this again with the super long Phillips and see for myself

 

[Beege]

Well, that said, i need to try this again with the super long Phillips and see for myself

Naw don't waste your time. It probably won't work for you.

 

[Ozstung]

Ok even with my two left hands(lol) I succeeded in adjusting the head lights up, must say I had more luck with the long slender Phillip's screw driver I had.

Found on the airbox there were 4 bolts , 3 were 10mm and 1 was 12mm. The bottom bolt definitely needs to be in done with an extension piece to your ratchet. Took a few test drives afterwards to get it visual correct. Used the garage door and painters tape technique thanks for that to whom ever suggested it. Because I've got office workers hands and technique It did take me a while

 

[OliverNuther]

So Ozstung to clarify are you saying you tried the air box removal and the screwdriver and the screwdriver worked best for you?

I ask because I want to adjust mine also but I’ve got the same pair of hands as you.

 

[Ozstung]

So Ozstung to clarify are you saying you tried the air box removal and the screwdriver and the screwdriver worked best for you?

I ask because I want to adjust mine also but I’ve got the same pair of hands as you.

Hi Ollie, yep took a couple of long hard breaths and read all information provided by our Forum friends here. I found the screw driver technique way quicker. I started with the 12mm offset ratchet but found it awkward as the passenger side nut was below the flush level. Once I used the screw driver instead it was really quick. Best to make sure you have the tools required then its simple. Good luck

 

[DaJackson]

The screwdriver method will be easier if you have the right tools and can get it to work.

I couldn’t get any of my screwdrivers to fit in the hole and match up with the gears. So that’s why I went with the bolt on the back of the headlight method.

Neither method is difficult though.

 

[Bwebb]

This is my third Kia. The first two were Optimas with similar setups for headlight adjustment. I can agree that a slender Phillips is the way to go. That gear is visible and open for just such an adjustment. Both of my Optimas were adjusted this way and worked like a charm. No air box removal required with this method. Not saying it can’t be done with the ratchet but for me the screwdriver was much simpler. Works just like a worm gear should.

 

[OliverNuther]

Thanks guys.

 

[TomB]

The only "defect" on my 2018 Stinger Premium (with drive wise) was how the headlights were aimed... the driver side (left-hand-drive) low beam was aimed way too high, whilst the passenger side low beam felt a bit low. Also, both low beams were skewed towards the left - not nice to oncoming traffic. It seemed to me as if it were set up for the UK/Australia/Japan... Anyway, here in Massachusetts, headlights must be properly aimed to pass the annual state safety inspection; being a new vehicle, I can only speculate that it was not checked during it's first state inspection last week. I took it back to the dealer and they remedied the beam height and I'm sure most of you already know that there is no adjustment for side-2-side. The KIA tech & service manager concurred that the beams were in fact aimed incorrectly and told me that they were submitting a "technical request" to KIA USA for a solution. The high-beams, on the other hand seem to illuminate the tree tops and underside of over passes almost as well as the road ahead. I've noticed this on other vehicles as well. Anybody else?

 

[Bwebb]

This is my third Kia. The first two were Optimas with similar setups for headlight adjustment. I can agree that a slender Phillips is the way to go. That gear is visible and open for just such an adjustment. Both of my Optimas were adjusted this way and worked like a charm. No air box removal required with this method. Not saying it can’t be done with the ratchet but for me the screwdriver was much simpler. Works just like a worm gear should.

I retract my earlier statement. This is more like a side gear arrangement versus a worm gear. Sorry for my mistake. The sides of the Phillips screwdriver bite into the vertical gear teeth and turn it ever so slightly with each rotation of the screwdriver. Four teeth on the vertical gear per revolution of the screwdriver.

 

[Gferg01]

To clarify, Im trying the screwdriver method (using one that just barely fits down that little hole). To adjust are y'all twisting the screwdriver or trying to push the gears?

 

[Gferg01]

To clarify, Im trying the screwdriver method (using one that just barely fits down that little hole). To adjust are y'all twisting the screwdriver or trying to push the gears?

NVM.... That is exactly what y'all meant Releveled(twist the screwdriver) in 5 minutes. Lol