Headlight Height Adjustment

rbmazda3

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2004 Mazda 3
I would like to raise the angle of my headlights. They point just a little low for my taste. How is this done? Currently I just have 6 bags of 80 lbs concrete in my trunk. Although this does the job my performance has been hindered a bit! Kidding about the concrete!
 
I hope this doesn't come across wrong -

Do you know about the dial with the numbers 1-3? If not, HTH.

If you do, more concrete?
 
DaveMS307 said:
I hope this doesn't come across wrong -

Do you know about the dial with the numbers 1-3? If not, HTH.

If you do, more concrete?

He's asking how to point them upward. The dial that adjusts the HID beam angle only lets you lower the beams to the ground, not upward. Of course, if rbmazda3 is asking this question when his dial isn't set to 0, that would really be retarded; however, I don't believe that is the case. *^_^*

If I were you (rbmazda3), I'd take the car to the dealership and ask them to adjust it (tell them it's not right or something).
 
Hikaru9 said:
He's asking how to point them upward. The dial that adjusts the HID beam angle only lets you lower the beams to the ground, not upward. Of course, if rbmazda3 is asking this question when his dial isn't set to 0, that would really be retarded; however, I don't believe that is the case. *^_^*

If I were you (rbmazda3), I'd take the car to the dealership and ask them to adjust it (tell them it's not right or something).
LOL...not a newb here...but you never know. As you said the dial is actually to adjust the headlight lower in the case of passengers or heavy loads. And yes...it is zeroed out. I have friends that have 3's that feel the same way. The lights are just pointed too low.
 
wait hold on!!!! are those rx-8 rims on your 3? please send a link to other pics of your car ammeidatly!! good god that looks sexy. i want a red mazda hatchback 3 and dam the rx8 rims would look soooooo bad ass on them
 
There are two adjustment screws on the back of the headlight covered by white plastic caps. The one towards the midline of the car is the vertical/height adjustment, and the one towards the side of the car is the side-side/traverse adjustment.

Sok07 from another forum did a great walkthrough on how to adjust them, and reset the adjustment wheel so that "1" is normal, and "0" is higher than normal (for when you're alone on dark roads). I'm checking with him to see if I can cross post his walkthrough here since we can't link to outside forums. :(
 
Here's the HID aiming and adjustment walkthrough from Sok07 on the mazda-3-forums. He's given me permission to post this here, so enjoy.

Ok, just re-aimed my headlights. I have the stock HID system and adjusted my headlights so that the "1" setting on the adjustment wheel is calibrated to where the headlights were aimed at "0" from the factory. This means that my new "0" setting is my semi-highbeam setting, used only to give me a bit more illumination on those long dark moderate-speed highway stretches.


Use & Disclaimer:
  • Please do not cross-post this how-to guide / walkthrough and its content (pictures, textual information, etc) to any other forums or boards outside of M**************** without first requesting & gaining my permission.
  • This short how-to should not be used as an all-encompassing walkthrough. It is simply a brief description of my procedures for removal & installation, and I am not responsible for any damages or injuries that may result.



Anyhow the following is how to aim the headlights for the Mazda3. All you need is a small flat head screwdriver and a #3 phillips screwdriver. There are two adjustment wheels that are located on the back of the headlight housing protected by white plastic snap-on caps. If you look at the back of the headlight housing, from the fender towards the engine bay, the adjustment knob closest to you is the traverse (left & right) adjustment knob and the one farthest from you is the vertical (up & down) adjustment knob. Using the small flat screwdriver, pry the white snap-on caps off making sure not to drop them. If you just so happend to drop them, just remove the front corner plastic panel / liner under the vehicle and retreive the caps. Here are pictures of where they are located.

Left headlight adjustment knob location
headlightadj_01.jpg



Now for how to turn the knobs...to adjust the headlights, position the phillips screwdriver to mate/mesh w/ the notches in the brass adjustment cup. The notched cup and the phillips screwdriver head basically forms an right-angle gear interface. To adjust the vertical, simply turn the the screwdriver clockwise to aim the beam DOWN; and turn the screwdriver counter-clockwise and to aim the beam UP. To adjust the traverse, clockwise for right and counter-clockwise for left. The following are pictures of the passenger side adjustment walkthrough.


headlightadj_02.jpg


headlightadj_03.jpg
 
My was a tad different. Maybe it's a 2004 model thing. Same clear white cap covering the adjustment but not gear mechanism. Just a phillips screw adjustment undernieth the cap. I used a #2 stubby which worked great for the tight quarters. I also set default at 2 instead of 1 giving me a little more height adjustment as I have never used the adjustment wheel at all.
 
Cool beans, glad I could help out. How bout some night pics with comparison of your new level adjustements?
 
It must be an '04 thing like rbmazda3 said. Mine is also just a phillips head screw. After adjusting them up, I went to far and people are pissed at me so I'll angle them down a little bit. But good job on the info icspots!
 
the headlight aiming from the factory is set to legally allowed aiming specs... aiming them higher is ILLEGAL and causes glare to other drivers
 

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