Going to france next week - went to check headlights(1998 Laguna) re beam alignment.
All my previous cars have had headlights with prisms on the glass, which you can mask with black tape or orange deflectors. Does the same apply with modern headlights - or is the beam adjustable? There are 5 settings to compensate for load, but no sign of any way to adjust the left -right alignment.
Also does the law require you to carry spare bulbs in France, or is it just advised?
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Spare bulbs advisory, but strongly recommended.
Take a look at www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/overseas/europe_advice....l
the advice you can download is a bit thin in places but looks accurate for the countries I have checked.
as for left - right alignment on Laguna?? generally you can still stick on masks but it is more hit and miss I find with clear lenses. Why not wind the load compensation all the way to the bottom if you will not be doing much night driving?
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Would have thought that masking would be easy enough using the 'garage wall - black tape' method. Load compensating adjustment, if used after masking, might cause dazzle as the beam would be 'shifted' away from the mask.
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You might find that the handbook shows where to mask the lights for driving on the right, my Saab has this information.
Back in the good old days, I had a succession of Renault 12s. The headlamp lens was symetrical & there was a mechanism for adjusting the lights to RH or LH drive.
At least you are thinking about it. Have you noticed that when the brits go abroad, 90% sort their lights for driving on the right. When the europeans come over here, less than 10% bother to sort them for driving on the left. Strangely, our police aren't interested.
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If you are going to mask the lights with tape then the area to blank off is the lower left quadrant as you look at the lens from the front.
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It doesn't always follow that the lower left is taped. On my Xantia, the top right and the bottom left of each lens is covered. Try to find a Lucas kit for your particular vehicle and copy the shape.
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On most cars it's the bottom right;the part that on conventional headlights has prisms built into the glass.
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Careful with generalisations - my Saab 9-5 has conventional headlights with prisms built into the glass, but these are taped in a couple of funny places! I have tried it & it works....
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The handbook for my Grand Cherokee says to use the load adjustment. Seems to work (ie doesn't annoy oncoming drivers in France).
Terry
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terryb,
Don't kow about the jeep, maybe the whole lamp unit moves when it's adjusted. The few levelling lamps I've come across have the lamp and lens bolted to car. The adjustment is made by moving the reflector.
steve.
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