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TIFU: I loosened the headlight adjustment screw too much. Help!

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Old 03-27-2014, 07:13 PM
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TIFU: I loosened the headlight adjustment screw too much. Help!

Well, I really hope this is something I can fix...but anyways.

tl;dr at the end...

I have an 04 JCW and was recently in a front end collision (not my fault). I got the car back from the body shop and noticed the passenger headlight was wonky. Pointed downward and somewhat of a broad beam of light at a diagonal angle away from the center of the car.

So I called the body shop and they said, you can bring it back to us if you want, but you can easily adjust them yourself with the two adjustment screws on the back. So, being the man that I am, I was confident I could just do it myself. I didn't consult the internet or anyone any further and proceeded to play with the adjustment screws.

I tried the up/down screw first and noticed that it barley moved the headlight at all while I adjusted it. So I started turning away and after maybe 3 turns or so I heard this sound resembling a bolt dropping off the end or something. I assume that's what it was anyways. Now the headlight is pointed even further down and it does not move any other direction but down no matter how far I screw the bolt in or out.

Am I screwed? Can I disassemble the headlight and set up the adjustments correctly again? I can't believe I was so stupid, but honestly, I think something was wrong from the beginning...I have read in several threads that the adjustment screws should make a significant difference per quarter turn or so and mine were not doing anything close to that...

So again, am I screwed? Can someone please give me some advice? The headlight is worse off now than it was before :(

Pictures of the before and after:
http://imgur.com/a/YF5ew

tl;dr TIFU by unscrewing the adjustment screw out of its socket. How do I fix it?
 
Attached Thumbnails TIFU: I loosened the headlight adjustment screw too much. Help!-u9xyl9u.jpg   TIFU: I loosened the headlight adjustment screw too much. Help!-vdjwrmq.jpg  
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Old 03-28-2014, 06:33 AM
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Could really use some advice here, please
 

Last edited by jcwmc40; 03-28-2014 at 06:33 AM. Reason: Formatting
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Old 03-28-2014, 02:20 PM
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Old 03-28-2014, 05:00 PM
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Sounds like it was broken or wacked in the crash....
A new unit is about $700 from the dealer...about 60% of that from the "Hella" store on Amazon.... Thecauto leveler could be disconnected too....
But why stress it...
It is not your problem....bring it back....
P.S. it looks like you need new bulbs...the color changes to a pinkish hue just before they burn out...
 
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