GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 206
Headlight adjustment may
be temporarily made using a wall, as described
below, or on the rear of another vehicle. When adjust ed, the lights should not
glare in oncoming car or truck windshi elds, nor should they illuminate the
passenger compartment of vehi cles driving in front of you. These adjustments
are rough and should always be fine-t uned by a repair shop which is equipped
with headlight aiming t ools. Improper adjustments may be both dangerous and
illegal.
For most of the vehicles covered by th is information, horizontal and vertical
aiming of each sealed beam unit is provided by two adjusting screws which
move the retaining ring and adjusting plat e against the tension of a coil spring.
There is no adjustment for focus; this is done during headlight manufacturing.
Because the composite headlight asse mbly is bolted into position, no
adjustment should be necessary or possibl e. Some applications, however, may
be bolted to an adjuster plate or may be retained by adjusting screws. If so,
follow this procedure when adjusti ng the lights, BUT always have the
adjustment checked by a reputable shop.
Before removing the headlight bulb or di sturbing the headlamp in any way, note
the current settings in order to ease headlight adjustment upon reassembly. If
the high or low beam setting of the old la mp still works, this can be done using
the wall of a garage or a building:
1. Park the vehicle on a level su rface, with the fuel tank about
1/2 full and
with the vehicle empty of all extra cargo (unless normally carried). The
vehicle should be facing a wall whic h is no less than 6 feet (1.8m) high
and 12 feet (3.7m) wide. The front of the vehicle should be about 25 feet
from the wall.
Fig. 5: Location of the aiming screw s on most vehicles with sealed beam
headlights
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 207
Fig. 6: Dual headlight adjustment screw locations - one side shown here (other
side should be mirror image)
2. If aiming is to be performed outdoors, it is advisable to wait until dusk in
order to properly see t he headlight beams on the wall. If done in a
garage, darken the area around the wall as much as possible by closing
shades or hanging cloth over the windows.
3. Turn the headlights ON and mark the wall at the center of each light's low
beam, then switch on the bright lights and mark the center of each light's
high beam. A short length of masking tape which is visible from the front
of the vehicle may be used. Althoug h marking all four positions is
advisable, marking one position from each light should be sufficient.
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 208
Fig. 7: Low-beam headlight pattern alignment
Fig. 8: High-beam headlight pattern alignment
4. If neither beam on one side is working, and if another like-sized vehicle is
available, park the sec ond one in the exact spot where the vehicle was
and mark the beams using the same-si de light. Then switch the vehicles
so the one to be aimed is back in the or iginal spot. It must be parked no
closer to or farther away from the wall than the second vehicle.
5. Perform any necessary repairs, but ma ke sure the vehicle is not moved,
or is returned to the exact spot from which the lights were marked. Turn
the headlights ON and adjust the beams to matc h the marks on the wall.
6. Have the headlight adjustment c hecked as soon as possible by a
reputable repair shop.
