What tool do you use to adjust the headlights?
#16
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
OK , now that I managed to strip the adjustment nut out of the housing what do I do?
What should be easy is absolutely maddening.
I can't say I wasn't warned.
G
What should be easy is absolutely maddening.
I can't say I wasn't warned.
G
#17
Rennlist Member
The adjustment screws (which I believe are cast aluminum) can "pop" out if you exert a little force. They are held in by an O-ring gasket. Before you pop it back it, see if you can see the plastic gear that it meshes with. Make sure it is not chewed up. Also see if you can spray a little light lube (wet silicone - NOT grease) just to get the gears to turn a little easier. If everything looks okay, then push in the adjustment screw until it pops into place.
Also, you should only need to turn the screws a few revolutions each to get it back into alignment (unless you somehow get them way out of alignment). If either screws shows increasing resistance to turn, you are probably reaching the outer limits of light adjustment. Turn them back the other way. Like I said before, it sounds simple, but requires a bit of finesse.
Lastly, it can be really frustrating to get BOTH adjustments dead on. But if turning one screw doesn't seem to get you what you want, try turning the second screw a bit in the direction of one markings and that might also correct the other adjustment. Like a few RL'ers have said on this post, one screw does not ONLY adjust headlights in either true vertical or horizontal directions. They turn the headlights in a more of a diagonal direction. It's confusing, I admit.
Good luck.
Also, you should only need to turn the screws a few revolutions each to get it back into alignment (unless you somehow get them way out of alignment). If either screws shows increasing resistance to turn, you are probably reaching the outer limits of light adjustment. Turn them back the other way. Like I said before, it sounds simple, but requires a bit of finesse.
Lastly, it can be really frustrating to get BOTH adjustments dead on. But if turning one screw doesn't seem to get you what you want, try turning the second screw a bit in the direction of one markings and that might also correct the other adjustment. Like a few RL'ers have said on this post, one screw does not ONLY adjust headlights in either true vertical or horizontal directions. They turn the headlights in a more of a diagonal direction. It's confusing, I admit.
Good luck.
#18
Race Director
Also, if you happen to have aftermarket HID kit installed (I do) make sure the ballast and other parts installed in the headlamp assy. are not impeding the movement. It can be a little tricky to get those cables/parts in there and not affect the adjustment movement.
It's been a while since I installed my HID kit and re-alligned the headlamps so I can't make any more suggestions.
It's been a while since I installed my HID kit and re-alligned the headlamps so I can't make any more suggestions.
#19
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
You sir, Rock!
Mission accomplished. Silicon spray and a delicate hand while looking at what was happening on the inside with an angled mirror.
Thanks
G
Mission accomplished. Silicon spray and a delicate hand while looking at what was happening on the inside with an angled mirror.
Thanks
G
The adjustment screws (which I believe are cast aluminum) can "pop" out if you exert a little force. They are held in by an O-ring gasket. Before you pop it back it, see if you can see the plastic gear that it meshes with. Make sure it is not chewed up. Also see if you can spray a little light lube (wet silicone - NOT grease) just to get the gears to turn a little easier. If everything looks okay, then push in the adjustment screw until it pops into place.
Also, you should only need to turn the screws a few revolutions each to get it back into alignment (unless you somehow get them way out of alignment). If either screws shows increasing resistance to turn, you are probably reaching the outer limits of light adjustment. Turn them back the other way. Like I said before, it sounds simple, but requires a bit of finesse.
Lastly, it can be really frustrating to get BOTH adjustments dead on. But if turning one screw doesn't seem to get you what you want, try turning the second screw a bit in the direction of one markings and that might also correct the other adjustment. Like a few RL'ers have said on this post, one screw does not ONLY adjust headlights in either true vertical or horizontal directions. They turn the headlights in a more of a diagonal direction. It's confusing, I admit.
Good luck.
Also, you should only need to turn the screws a few revolutions each to get it back into alignment (unless you somehow get them way out of alignment). If either screws shows increasing resistance to turn, you are probably reaching the outer limits of light adjustment. Turn them back the other way. Like I said before, it sounds simple, but requires a bit of finesse.
Lastly, it can be really frustrating to get BOTH adjustments dead on. But if turning one screw doesn't seem to get you what you want, try turning the second screw a bit in the direction of one markings and that might also correct the other adjustment. Like a few RL'ers have said on this post, one screw does not ONLY adjust headlights in either true vertical or horizontal directions. They turn the headlights in a more of a diagonal direction. It's confusing, I admit.
Good luck.
#20
Rennlist Member
G
So glad you got it to work! I think what happens is that these plastic bolts, since they are 16 years old now and can have acquired a bit of debris, get both hard to turn and become a bit brittle. So you have to try to free them up somehow. Like I said, I was most successful by using some silicone lube after trying other methods first.
As you can see from my pics, one of my gears got chewed up and another one just snapped. I really wish that Porsche would sell replacement screws but they don't. To be honest, I think there's a flaw in their design by using metal on plastic gear meshing. The metal screw heads can easily put too much stress on the plastic teeth and break them.
My last idea was to see if they can be remade by using a 3D printer. Then we could mass produce a replacement screw to save so much cost in replacing the entire headlight assembly. Perhaps someone on RL who has one might try this idea.
So glad you got it to work! I think what happens is that these plastic bolts, since they are 16 years old now and can have acquired a bit of debris, get both hard to turn and become a bit brittle. So you have to try to free them up somehow. Like I said, I was most successful by using some silicone lube after trying other methods first.
As you can see from my pics, one of my gears got chewed up and another one just snapped. I really wish that Porsche would sell replacement screws but they don't. To be honest, I think there's a flaw in their design by using metal on plastic gear meshing. The metal screw heads can easily put too much stress on the plastic teeth and break them.
My last idea was to see if they can be remade by using a 3D printer. Then we could mass produce a replacement screw to save so much cost in replacing the entire headlight assembly. Perhaps someone on RL who has one might try this idea.
#22
Rennlist Member
You can ask them what they know (your 3D printer friends) but there's a few 3D scanners coming onto the market for pretty cheap.
Here's an example of one:
http://www.ohgizmo.com/2013/04/03/ph...f-3d-printing/
Marc G.
Here's an example of one:
http://www.ohgizmo.com/2013/04/03/ph...f-3d-printing/
Marc G.
#23
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
You can ask them what they know (your 3D printer friends) but there's a few 3D scanners coming onto the market for pretty cheap.
Here's an example of one:
http://www.ohgizmo.com/2013/04/03/ph...f-3d-printing/
Marc G.
Here's an example of one:
http://www.ohgizmo.com/2013/04/03/ph...f-3d-printing/
Marc G.
G
#24
Rennlist Member
Gad, Had no trouble adjusting the left light, but the right one is giving me fits. Doesn't seem to matter what I do, I can't get the light adjusted.
I've not stripped anything, that I can see, but the damn bubble in the spirit level will not move. I'll try again today after some silicone lube. The plastic rods turn, but I'm not seeing what's downstream....the light housing doesn't move.
I've not taken the entire light housing apart, but that's the next step.
I've not stripped anything, that I can see, but the damn bubble in the spirit level will not move. I'll try again today after some silicone lube. The plastic rods turn, but I'm not seeing what's downstream....the light housing doesn't move.
I've not taken the entire light housing apart, but that's the next step.
#26
Rennlist Member
Gad, Had no trouble adjusting the left light, but the right one is giving me fits. Doesn't seem to matter what I do, I can't get the light adjusted.
I've not stripped anything, that I can see, but the damn bubble in the spirit level will not move. I'll try again today after some silicone lube. The plastic rods turn, but I'm not seeing what's downstream....the light housing doesn't move.
I've not taken the entire light housing apart, but that's the next step.
I've not stripped anything, that I can see, but the damn bubble in the spirit level will not move. I'll try again today after some silicone lube. The plastic rods turn, but I'm not seeing what's downstream....the light housing doesn't move.
I've not taken the entire light housing apart, but that's the next step.
Wet silicone is a fairly benign lubricant and does not leave a residual. That's just my thoughts. Other RL'ers may have more to add to say about that.
Good luck!
Marc G.
#27
I would not use WD40. WD40 has lubricants and solvents that are good for cleaning. But it does leave a residual and I worry that it make compromise the integrity of the plastic.
Wet silicone is a fairly benign lubricant and does not leave a residual. That's just my thoughts. Other RL'ers may have more to add to say about that.
Good luck!
Marc G.