Headlamp Change

[bossvette]

additional steps to change bulbs

I took these further steps:
1 removed cover
2 removed spacer or mounting bracket
3 removed two screws on outside holding lense to mechanism
4 swung lenses out and changed bulbs
reverse to assemble
a little more work but I didn't cut up my hands :L

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Boy, am I lucky to have little hands!

 

[silverstreak04]

Headlight Change

Well, we've discussed how bright the new lamps are, now, what's involved in alignment of the C5 Headlights? The user manual isn'vt very clear. I found the adjuster discussed in the manual, but it doesn't seem to do anything but mover the fixture forward or back. I need to move slightly up and more to the left with my driver's side. What's the trick to even finding the adjusters to do that?

Silverstreak04

 

[jimmie jam]

80 watts

How do aim 80 watt low beams and be D.O.T. legal? You can't. 80watt low beams are illegal unless they are used off road.

Never said they were legal, did I ????

 

[bossvette]

There is supposed to be an adjustment for the rotation of the assembly, but in the shop manual all the screws but the one for adjusting the stop are numbered. :confused I'll figure it out next time I take it apart; I upgraded to PIAA fog/driving lights while I replaced my Facia yesterday and they are actually better then my headlights, they light up the road in front just great.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

The is a long shaft(about 5") gold colored that adjusts the side rotation for the low beams. It has a reverse torx head on it. If you take off the black surround on the headlight assembly, you will see it.

 

[silverstreak04]

Headlight Alignment

Well, if that's the adjuster that you can get to thru a round access door on the black surround bezel, it doesn't do that on my car, as I've tried it. I also saw another similar adjustor further in and lower that can only be accessed with the black surround bezel removed. I couldn't see how that had any effect either. Anyone with any other ideas?

Silverstreak04

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I'm sorry I was wrong about the adjusters.

The long shaft is for up and down adjustment and the one just inboard on the side of the lamp assembly is for side to side adjustment. The up and down adjusters won't move on mine, and I don't want to force them. There's a little white plastic nut behind the adjuster, anybody know what that does? Is it a lock for the adjustment?

My lights are pointed at the pavement about 40 Ft. in front of the car and I they don't even point the lights on the license plates of the cars in front of me!

 

[silverstreak04]

Headlite Alignment

I did notice 2 different long what I think are adjusters. The one to the inside of each lite can be accessed by removing the circular door that you do a 1/4 turn and remove. You don't have to remove the entire bezel to access. It doesn't seem to do much other than it appears that it moves the fixture forward and back. The other cannot be accessed without removing the bezel and it's recessed well behind the fixture. When I adjusted that one, nothing seemed to happen at all. I can't seem to find ny other "adjusters".

Silverstreak 04

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I think there are only two adjustments, up and down and side to side. Since the whole assembly is one piece and the high and low beams don't move separately.

UPDATE________

It's that the adjusters are frozen up inside and wont turn on the threaded shaft.
I took the whole thing apart and the shaft just wont move. Well, it moves , but it won't go in and out. Looks like time for some new ones.

Next Update--------

After talking to the parts counter guy at the dealership who didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about even though I had the part in my hand, I decided to follow the advice that C4/C5 Specialist gave me on his site. I took the assembly apart and put some PB Blaster on the shaft(he said to use WD-40) and after sitting for a little while it broke the rust loose on the shaft so that I could unscrew the plastic gear off the shaft. Sure enough it was rusted in the center, so I wire brushed it clean and reassemmbled it with some lithium grease on the shaft to keep it from rusting again. Seems to work so far. it adjusts in and out with very little effort.

Pete.

 

[thesurvivor]

Hi Chrisr.....did the changeout in under 2 hours. Put the pass. high beam in, locked it in place, and closed the headlamp door linkage on the connector! Fixed that (it's a bit bent - the lamp mount is fine) by putting it back in the CORRECT position. The low beams look low; I guess I'll spent some time in "adjustment".


Thanks for the tips!!

 

[Chrisr]

Hi Survivor!
My low beams look low also. From what Ive read on the forums, and if I understand it correctly, there's not a whole lot you can do to "raise" the beam.

Glad to hear you swapped out the bulbs. I still have to do my high beams.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Hi Survivor!
My low beams look low also. From what Ive read on the forums, and if I understand it correctly, there's not a whole lot you can do to "raise" the beam.

Glad to hear you swapped out the bulbs. I still have to do my high beams.

Yes, you can raise the the lamp as long as the adjusters are not rusted up. If they don't adjust, the adjusters will have to be removed and de-rusted with some PB-Blaster or WD-40.
The headlamp assembly comes off with 3 bolts on the back of the lamp housing. The adjusters are held on with 2 phillips screws. The ball on the end of the adjuster pops out of the socket on the lamp holder. Once you get the adjuster out, pry the mounting base tabs to get the assembly apart to get to the gears inside. Spray some PB Blaster on the threaded rod and let it sit for a few minutes. Hold the gear with a pair of pliers and use the torx driver to turn the shaft. Once you get it loose, clean off the threads with a wire brush and apply lithium grease to the threads. Then put it all back together again.

 

[Terry Holtz]

>>>>>>bought some "hyperwhite" 80Watt low beam bulbs for 34.95 + shipping.... They are 80W not stock 55W <<<<<<

Has anyone tried one of these 8000K 9006 Xenon Corvette C5 HID Conversion Kits?
ViewItem&tc=photo&item=7968218369&category=36476

The same e-bayer offers a 6000K kit as well.

How do these HID kits compare to the much cheaper "hyperwhites" discussed in this thread?

This is a great thread but I will also start an HID thread.