Headlight brightness

[rydfree]

I get flashed a lot here lately. Not sure why all of a sudden but I do. I have adjusted my headlights down (running the MM) and still have the flashers. Truth be told anytime you do any adjustment to the headlights or suspension (which I have both) someone is going to flash. If I adjust my lights any further down I cant see in the distance very well. So at some point people just need to get over it

When behind a sedan at night your low beam cutoff line should never be shining through their back window . If you're too close then back off and if they are still shining inside the rear window from a couple car lengths back then they are adjusted too high . If you're blinding me I'm probably not going to get over it .

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[Porpoise Hork]

I have always used this method for adjusting headlights, especially OEM HID's or LED's in projector housings. You need to be on level ground for this. Use a tape measure and mark or remember where the light cutoff is at the vehicle. Since the OEM projectors have a notched cutoff want the measurement on the upper cutoff line. Now pace out 50' from the front of the truck and measure where the cutoff is from the ground. You want it to be between 1-1.5" (26-38mm) lower than the first measurement. Adjusting the cutoff this way has always provided the best light coverage and virtually no night time flicker flashes from on coming drivers. It works nearly the same for reflector style lights but you may need to take the second measurement at 30' as the cutoff is usually no where near as sharp as it is with projectors.

 

[HotShotOffroad]

When behind a sedan at night your low beam cutoff line should never be shining through their back window . If you're too close then back off and if they are still shining inside the rear window from a couple car lengths back then they are adjusted too high . If you're blinding me I'm probably not going to get over it .

You have to realize though that even lowered down a sedan will still be shined from behind from a lifted vehicle. I have my light pattern adjusted to sit below my actual headlight lens. if you're driving a low vehicle you're going to get light in the back of your window.

 

[docarter]

You have to realize though that even lowered down a sedan will still be shined from behind from a lifted vehicle. I have my light pattern adjusted to sit below my actual headlight lens. if you're driving a low vehicle you're going to get light in the back of your window.

That and the danger from crash structure incompatibility are great reasons why people shouldn't be driving lifted or lowered vehicles on public roads.




The risk illustrated here is amplified the greater the incompatibility.

 

[rydfree]

You have to realize though that even lowered down a sedan will still be shined from behind from a lifted vehicle. I have my light pattern adjusted to sit below my actual headlight lens. if you're driving a low vehicle you're going to get light in the back of your window.

Only if you're still too close . If you have lifted your vehicle so much that this is an issue then it is your responsibility to modify your driving habits as well . Back off .

 

[rydfree]

That and the danger from crash structure incompatibility are great reasons why people shouldn't be driving lifted or lowered vehicles on public roads.




The risk illustrated here is amplified the greater the incompatibility.

I would not go to that extreme . Do you only want all cookie cutter style cars on public highways ? Probably coming to that anyway once EVs are mandated . They will most likely build them all the same after awhile and make you pay a monthly subscription if you want to use remote start , or have heated seats etc . Oh wait , Toyota is already ahead of their time ,LOL .

 

[docarter]

I would not go to that extreme . Do you only want all cookie cutter style cars on public highways ? Probably coming to that anyway once EVs are mandated . They will most likely build them all the same after awhile and make you pay a monthly subscription if you want to use remote start , or have heated seats etc . Oh wait , Toyota is already ahead of their time ,LOL .

I know it's an unpopular opinion. Don't see how it relates to EVs though.

 

[JesseS]

Only if you're still too close . If you have lifted your vehicle so much that this is an issue then it is your responsibility to modify your driving habits as well . Back off .

When I was in the Army we had a guy driving around base with a lifted truck that would pull up right on your bumper and light up the inside of your car like the sun at high noon. I mounted a Aircraft landing light (24vdc) on my rear deck and the next time he did it turned it on, damn near melted his hood paint. With today's attitude on the road they just pull out a gun and start shooting.

 

[D Fresh]

54" is a common maximum height by statute, but for courtesy's sake 42" is more reasonable. Otherwise you'll necessarily be blinding sedan and coupe drivers. The Ranger's low beam reflector on a stock 4x4 is about 40" from the ground, but my Cadillac ATS's roof is about 54" so adjusting the beam to the maximum allowable height is no different than me driving around 24/7 with my highbeams on.

The Federal Government sets a maximum low beam height for passenger vehicles: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2004-title49-vol5/xml/CFR-2004-title49-vol5-sec571-108.xml

States have similar requirements:
https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec1904.html
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4501-15-01

The previous poster was correct. It is not a static measurement. Ride height of the vehicle comes into play. And 85.2% of vehicles on this site are altered from factory with respect to ride height.

Despite your feelings about it.

Here is the installation manual for the FFP level kit. Check page 21 for the proper procedure, specifically step 2 calls for an initial measurement of light position. Again. Not a static measurement.

The whole point of adjusting your headlights is to have them level @ 25ft out. If you don't begin by measuring the height of the headlamp you cannot ensure level, your lights may indeed be pointing up, blinding others.

If you point 2wd passenger sedan headlights @ 42" @ 25ft. you are definitely aimed too high.


I'll just leave the asinine comment about lifted and lowered vehicles alone.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Dealer did a 3.5" lift on mine before I got the truck. Headlights were at maximum height adjustment when I picked it up. I don't know if they adjusted them or if they were factory set, but they were way to high.

 

[rydfree]

I know it's an unpopular opinion. Don't see how it relates to EVs though.

I figured the next sentence was pretty clear but to go a little further , it's not a huge leap what could lie ahead considering . The performance gains now being advertised with EVs are quite enticing . Very few would be willing to switch without the performance and cool tech being thrown around . Legislators would be thrilled to have a platform where they could limit vehicle height , speed , range etc . Once we all buy in the changes will come . Cookie cutter vehicles with nannies controlling how , where and when you travel may just be a future right up your ally ,LOL .

 

[rydfree]

Dealer did a 3.5" lift on mine before I got the truck. Headlights were at maximum height adjustment when I picked it up. I don't know if they adjusted them or if they were factory set, but they were way to high.

One dealer here is known for installing a lift , bigger tires/wheels on their lot vehicles so they can add a bunch to the sticker but the headlights and speedometer calibration are never touched .

 

[docarter]

Despite your feelings about it.

Not sure why you're making it personal. The allowable maximum is set out in statutes and Ford doesn't make laws. See: "The headlamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher . . . than forty-two inches above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of seventy-five feet ahead."

At any rate, the issue OP was facing is that they were being flashed by other drivers. It is obvious to that adjusting the headlights to be level with the headlamp assembly can easily either make it so that the beams are blinding other drivers and/or illegal depending on the height of the vehicle.

 

[KNI]

Thank god in EU the light adjustment is just a knob in the cabin.

Too bad they designed those in Australia and this is the result..

Yes, they're frozen inside. The LEDs barely keep out the ice from the top & middle and the ice cuts light to the bottom.. Was going to went about it on some thread, but luckily this one was about lights.

 

[BassRanger]

"The headlamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher . . . than forty-two inches above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of seventy-five feet ahead."

Those three dots usually mean there's more text not shown. Typically happens when you copy something from a search rather than from the actual site or document.
"The head lamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high intensity portion of the light shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher than a level of five inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes..."

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