Electric Headlight Adjustment

[Nigeh]

Hi all

New to the site, or at least the Avensis section as used to have a RAV4 traded earlier this year for a Dec '04 Avensis D4D T3-S for better fuel economy!!!

Anyway we now live in France and have our first CT (MOT) due this week (4 years from new here!) and I am still running with UK headlights and know that I am going to have to potentially change them to French ones but I want to see if I can avoid this as they are 650€ (approx. £620) from the toyota dealer. I know I can get them lot cheaper on the net but not sure I want the hassle of changing them if I can do what I think I should be able to do!

I have looked at the beam pattern at night and it seems I may be able to get it through the CT by changing the height of the beams around on each headlight i.e make the left hand light beam lower and the right hand one higher so it lights the right side of the road up more!

It does not look like the beam vears off to the left as much as the old 'round' headlights used to do they are more of a full spread pattern across the whole road.

Does anyone know if it is possible to get at the electric motors and change the height of each light (without using the button in the car as this does both in unison)?

I did read also that someone said there is an adjust screw on the headlight for up/down (which may be easier for me to use if I knew where it was) and also a screw for left/right adjustment but you have to take the bumper off!!!!! Not keen on that but may have to be an option if this screw exists!

Finally why don't Toyota make these lights with a lever like (Skoda and others do) so you can just flick it and voila the lights are ready for use on the continent!! Seems like it would be too easy to do I suppose.

Look forward to hearing from anyone who may be able to help.

[Fitter]

Hi all

New to the site, or at least the Avensis section as used to have a RAV4 traded earlier this year for a Dec '04 Avensis D4D T3-S for better fuel economy!!!

Anyway we now live in France and have our first CT (MOT) due this week (4 years from new here!) and I am still running with UK headlights and know that I am going to have to potentially change them to French ones but I want to see if I can avoid this as they are 650€ (approx. £620) from the toyota dealer. I know I can get them lot cheaper on the net but not sure I want the hassle of changing them if I can do what I think I should be able to do!

I have looked at the beam pattern at night and it seems I may be able to get it through the CT by changing the height of the beams around on each headlight i.e make the left hand light beam lower and the right hand one higher so it lights the right side of the road up more!

It does not look like the beam vears off to the left as much as the old 'round' headlights used to do they are more of a full spread pattern across the whole road.

Does anyone know if it is possible to get at the electric motors and change the height of each light (without using the button in the car as this does both in unison)?

I did read also that someone said there is an adjust screw on the headlight for up/down (which may be easier for me to use if I knew where it was) and also a screw for left/right adjustment but you have to take the bumper off!!!!! Not keen on that but may have to be an option if this screw exists!

Finally why don't Toyota make these lights with a lever like (Skoda and others do) so you can just flick it and voila the lights are ready for use on the continent!! Seems like it would be too easy to do I suppose.

Look forward to hearing from anyone who may be able to help.

The height adjusting screw is on the inner side of the headlight and is an 8mm white plastic hexagon headed screw. To lower the light screw it clockwise. The side deflection of the lights is done by the lens and cannot easily be adjusted. There are devices that can be attached to the lenses to make them suitable for right hand drive vehicles to be legal on the continent but I'm not sure that they would be acceptable for permanent use there. It is easier to adjust the nearside headlight if you loosen the Battery clamp and lift the Battery up and move it towards the engine. No need to disconnect it.

[Nigeh]

Thanks Fitter

I started using those 'deflector' stick-on thingies but they are a pain and can peel off in the rain!!!! I know have the lights set on almost the lowest setting on the electronic height adjustment wheel in the car and have never been flashed at yet but equally can't see that far in front!!!!

I will have a look for this adjusting screw and give it a go otherwise looks like it will be an expensive exercise. The ironic thing is that we have the car registered on French plates now but as it did not need a CT it was no problem but now it will be!!!!

Will see if I can adjust it enough to satisfy the regulations.

Hi all

New to the site, or at least the Avensis section as used to have a RAV4 traded earlier this year for a Dec '04 Avensis D4D T3-S for better fuel economy!!!

Anyway we now live in France and have our first CT (MOT) due this week (4 years from new here!) and I am still running with UK headlights and know that I am going to have to potentially change them to French ones but I want to see if I can avoid this as they are 650€ (approx. £620) from the toyota dealer. I know I can get them lot cheaper on the net but not sure I want the hassle of changing them if I can do what I think I should be able to do!

I have looked at the beam pattern at night and it seems I may be able to get it through the CT by changing the height of the beams around on each headlight i.e make the left hand light beam lower and the right hand one higher so it lights the right side of the road up more!

It does not look like the beam vears off to the left as much as the old 'round' headlights used to do they are more of a full spread pattern across the whole road.

Does anyone know if it is possible to get at the electric motors and change the height of each light (without using the button in the car as this does both in unison)?

I did read also that someone said there is an adjust screw on the headlight for up/down (which may be easier for me to use if I knew where it was) and also a screw for left/right adjustment but you have to take the bumper off!!!!! Not keen on that but may have to be an option if this screw exists!

Finally why don't Toyota make these lights with a lever like (Skoda and others do) so you can just flick it and voila the lights are ready for use on the continent!! Seems like it would be too easy to do I suppose.

Look forward to hearing from anyone who may be able to help.

The height adjusting screw is on the inner side of the headlight and is an 8mm white plastic hexagon headed screw. To lower the light screw it clockwise. The side deflection of the lights is done by the lens and cannot easily be adjusted. There are devices that can be attached to the lenses to make them suitable for right hand drive vehicles to be legal on the continent but I'm not sure that they would be acceptable for permanent use there. It is easier to adjust the nearside headlight if you loosen the Battery clamp and lift the Battery up and move it towards the engine. No need to disconnect it.

[Nigeh]

Well after an hour of fiddling with the adjusting screw on the back of the headlight last night the car failed the CT (MOT) today as I expected it too. I had hoped it would sneak through with the lights but no. The guy showed me the beam pattern in his 'loght box' thingy and it still vears off to the left!

No option now but to buy LHD units off internet.

Then the fun starts trying to fit them!! Why is there not a manual out yet for this model avensis?? does it never go wrong???