Grand Voyager headlight adjustment

[mose32]

My headlights were really dim. I installed new halogen bulbs with no effect, probably because the plastic lenses on the housing were 'etched/foggy'. So I purchased new headlight assemblies and will put them in shortly. Now, how can I adjust the headlights?

[RIP]

If you had done a search on this forum you may have saved all that money. They make kits to restore headlight lenses. Many just use several grades of wet sand paper and a polish. I use metal polish and a sealer. Takes me 10 minutes per lense twice a year. Changing them can turn into a nightmare: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=627333

If you insist on changing them this is how you aim them. Have to scroll down : http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d801a4558.jsp

If the fungus is inside the assembly I don't think you have a choice but, if it's on the outside surface you may want to reconsider.

[mose32]

I thought the haze was on the inside, but I'll try to buff out the outside before I install the new headlight assemblies.

thanks.

[Bear]

You can buy a kit, however here is what I do (cheaper). Buy a sheet of #800/1000/2000/2500 grit wet or dray sandpaper (the black stuff) and a bottle of MEGUIRES Platic polish. Wet the hedlight lens good and keep the sand paper good and wet. Start with the #800 and wet sand horizontally (you should see the oxidixed material start to come off). take maybe 2-3 minutes here and then rinse and go to the 1000 grit. Keep doing this and keep progressing to the new higher level of paper. Finsish with the 2500 to smooth sand the lens, and then rinse and let dry (yes it will look cloudy) After lens is dry take the plastic polish and go to work (polish in any direction). Buff off any residue and take a look, if you need to polish more do it. I hand polish, I could use a dremel or buffer but I am afraid of buring the plstic by using too much pressure. My lenses ('96 Caravan) look just like new and I did not spend a lot of money.

[mose32]

Thanks to all for the feedback. I wetsanded and then buffed the lenses out with polishing compound and a power buffer and they came out great. Now, I need to adjust them (I just straightened out some bodywork after a knock to the front end). I used RIP's link - http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d801a4558.jsp which shows them aimed at a target 25ft ahead and some dimension to the right and lower. Problem is I can't read the actual dimensions in the figure. Anyone know what the numbers are? Is this with the lights on high beam?

[Bear]

This is a matter of getting the car close to the marking board and making a vertical and horizontal mark (+) on the board or surface (I use a garage door and masking tape)at the center of each headlight. Back off and adjust the hot spot, low beam, of the left headlight to the lower right intersection (about 4:00 O' Clock) of the vertical and horizontal mark (right in the crease). Do the same for the right lamp .if you get them correct, the hig bemas (single bulb hedlights) should be OK

[mose32]

If I mark the center of the left and right headlight and then back away 25 feet, then the left low beam should center how much to the right and how much down (4 o'clock) from the centerline of the left headlight?

[Bear]

Using the cross (+) as a mark, the hot spot goes in the notch where the right horizontal and lower vertical lines meet. Looks like an upsdie mdown L.

[mose32]

OK - thanks.

[Bear]

No problem, I am doing my 1998 Neon this PM.

[RIP]

According to Haynes you just make sure you're on level ground with a full gas tank. Then just make sure the bubble indicators are on 0. No measurements needed. This adjusts the low beam setting. The high beam just follows the low beam.

Glad to hear you saved the bucks and fixed the lenses yourself. I always get a big smile when my wallet is fatter and Chrysler is poorer.

[Bear]

Sorry for the confusion my brain is off key. I have a 1996 Caravan and it has the bubble adjusters as well. As previously stated, adjust vertical and horizontal to get the bubble in the center of the level gauge.

[Hatedodges]

Originally Posted by Bear

You can buy a kit, however here is what I do (cheaper). Buy a sheet of #800/1000/2000/2500 grit wet or dray sandpaper (the black stuff) and a bottle of MEGUIRES Platic polish. Wet the hedlight lens good and keep the sand paper good and wet. Start with the #800 and wet sand horizontally (you should see the oxidixed material start to come off). take maybe 2-3 minutes here and then rinse and go to the 1000 grit. Keep doing this and keep progressing to the new higher level of paper. Finsish with the 2500 to smooth sand the lens, and then rinse and let dry (yes it will look cloudy) After lens is dry take the plastic polish and go to work (polish in any direction). Buff off any residue and take a look, if you need to polish more do it. I hand polish, I could use a dremel or buffer but I am afraid of buring the plstic by using too much pressure. My lenses ('96 Caravan) look just like new and I did not spend a lot of money.

This works great I did it my self after having the same problems... I still want to get newer bulbs also but it helped alot sanding the haze off of them.... any one got any suggestions on what bulbs to buy.. what works best for the money????

[Bear]

Unless you wish to sepnd a lot of $$$ for High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights, the Sylvania Silver Stars work well.

[RIP]

Another is the GE High Output Xenon bulb. They are only about $2 more than the standard bulb, produce white light (not blue) and are supposed to last twice as long. I've noticed they are definitely brighter because I only changed one after a regular bulb failed and noticed a definite difference. Part #? is 12vHB1 or 9004HO.