DIY 2006 S60 Headlight Adjustment (previous years a bit different

[Wildman]

For some reasons my headlights are pointing too far down and I can't see the road far enough. I need to adjust my headlights vertically up. I saw some strange type of screws on the headlights. My manual says I must remove a cover on the left front side of the engine compartment and use a 6mm hex. Its not exactly clear to me how I can adjust the vertical? Can I do it without special tools?

Here is the image from the manual, maybe you can make sense of it:

[StarmanDXE]

Hmm... My car has the driver's side headlight way-low and I need to adjust it up. Looked around and found a few sites:

http://volvoforums.com/m_20176/tm.htm
(with a link to: http://www.volvoxc.com/resources/how-to ... stment.php)

and http://s60r.fadainc.com/info.html
(with links to: http://s60r.fadainc.com/pics/adjust_hea ... switch.jpg
http://s60r.fadainc.com/pics/adjust_hea ... wrench.jpg)

But, does anyone know how the lights are supposed to be set up? Like, park in front of a wall and have the light beams stop at "X" feet up?

[JRL]

Follow the instructions!
As for the height, I like mine about a half turn HIGHER than the "law" allows. I just installed a new pair of C70 lights on one of my older R's today.
Get your car against a garage wall, adjust as necessary. You should be able to figure out the proper height.
The other way (at night) is to place you car about 50 feet behind another (full size) car. Aim your low beams so they don't shine above the trunk of the car in front or into his rearview mirror, set them just below that threshold.

[StarmanDXE]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, yes. I see my wording was quite vague. I think the other sites explain well enough how to do the adjustment. Was hoping someone knew how high they should be. (Didn't realize there's a legal height limit, so I'll see if that search yields any results. But I like the trunk-height idea...)

[StarmanDXE]

Well, turns out my problem was as one of the other sites had mentioned. The bulbs were installed in this car completely incorrectly. I have no idea who did it, but I hope the previous owner didn't pay them...

Also, half of the plastic part of the plug for the passenger's bulb broke off. Anyone know about fixing/replacing that? Or should I just go with some HIDs?

[cn90]

The 2006 S60 HL is funny...
- L side pointing a bit too high.
- R side pointing a bit too low.

Tried to adjust using the 6-mm socket...while I turned
the white plastic screw, I did not hear any funny noise, but I also did not see any movement (up or down).

So I searched forum but could not find any DIY for broken HL adjuster.

Anyone out there knows how to fix this?

This is the HL assembly that I have (halogen). Photo taken from eBay just to show what I have...

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[cn90]

OK,

This is for my 2006 S60 (previous model years have slightly different setup).

For those with HL pointing downward and you cannot adjust it, I have the answer for you.

The ball of the adjuster was out of the socket (the socket used for adjustment on the reflector).
I don't know how it came off, my theory is that: the previous owner/mechanic adjusted UPWARD
way too much and pulled the ball out of the socket, just a theory.

BTW, for the 2006 Volvo S60, when you turn the 6-mm screw on top of the HL assembly:
* CW: pointing DOWN.
* CCW: pointing UP.

I made the "mistake" of removing the HL assembly to see better, but you DON'T have to remove
the HL assembly, you can simply fix this in situ!

- Most HL works like this: the bottom has a pivot and the top has a socket used for adjustment.
- To remove the adjuster, turn it CCW (when viewed from the front of the car). This is for the RIGHT
HL assembly.

- Now turn the screw on the adjuster so it sticks out as far as possible.
- Now insert the ball of the adjsuter screw in the reflector socket (from the top).
- Once the ball is inside the socket, re-install the Adjuster Mechanism by turning it CW (when viewed
from the FRONT of the car).

- If you are in a hurry and have no time to adjust, just turn the white platic end so it is about 2 mm
INSIDE the black tube (I took the photo with the plastic end sticking OUT, but for proper alignment,
it should be INSIDE the black tube), this should get you close to the ball park.

- Then wait until night time and do proper adjustment using info from the internet: the idea is how
to see far enough WITHOUT blinding drivers in front or from opposite traffic.

Easy fix...

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[abscate]

Thread title changed to conform for search, thanks cn90