Headlight beam alignment check (Every 12 months - regardless of mileage)

Routine maintenance and servicing / Headlight beam alignment check (Every 12 months - regardless of mileage)

1 Accurate adjustment of the headlight beam is only possible using optical beam-setting equipment, and this work should therefore be carried out by a VW dealer or service station with the necessary facilities. In an emergency, however, the following procedure will provide an acceptable light pattern.

2 Position the car on a level surface with tyres correctly inflated, approximately 10 metres in front of, and at right-angles to, a wall or garage door.

3 Draw a horizontal line on the wall or door at headlamp centre height. Draw a vertical line corresponding to the centre line of the car, then measure off a point either side of this, on the horizontal line, corresponding with the headlamp centres.

4 Switch on the main beam and check that the areas of maximum illumination coincide with the headlamp centre marks on the wall. If not, turn the crosshead adjustment screw located on the inner vertical edge of the headlight to adjust the beam laterally, and the crosshead adjustment screw located on the outer lower corner of the headlight to adjust the beam vertically (see illustration). O n models with a headlight adjustment on the instrument panel, make sure that it is set at its basic setting before making the adjustment.

11.4 Headlight beam adjustment screws

A Vertical adjustment B Horizontal adjustment