Leveling Xenon Headlights

[carlosr]

New in the place so first of all I want to say hello to everybody. Congratulations for this amazing forum!

My 2004 9-5 Vector is equiped with xenon headlights and I have noticed that the left beam is too low. I know that xenon lights are automatically leveled but there should be something to set the "zero" level.

Looking at this:



I suspected that the screw located beneath the ruber cap (red arrow) was intended to adjust the beam level. I removed the cap, screwed and undscrewed but, aparently, the beam did not move.

So now I have 2 questions:

How can I adjust the level of the beam?

What's the purpose of the screw that I operated?

Thanks to all and apologizes if the subject has been already treated.

[carlosr]

Ok, I've got the answer to question two: this screw allows lateral adjustment (beam to left or right).

[nordwulf]

The workshop manual shows the vertical aiming screws are next to the hood latches. I checked on my car (with Xenon headlights) and they seem easy to adjust.

I posted the instructions for aiming headlamps here:
http://saabworld.net/f29/saab-9-5-he...lignment-1274/

Welcome to SaabWorld!

[carlosr]

Thank you very much Wulf. It worked out!!!

I thgought these screws were only for the high beams. So both beams are adjusted along with the same screw? ... No way to asjust the high beam independently?

[nordwulf]

Xenon bulbs always have the same light output. The difference between low and high beam is a shutter/screen that blocks part of the bulb when on low beam. I haven't seen anything on how to adjust the shutter and I don't think it is possible without dismantling the headlight unit.

[carlosr]

Xenon bulbs always have the same light output. The difference between low and high beam is a shutter/screen that blocks part of the bulb when on low beam. I haven't seen anything on how to adjust the shutter and I don't think it is possible without dismantling the headlight unit.

Ok, clear.

So the one that now is a bit too high is the one used for passing which turns on along with the high beam. Can it be adjusted without moving the xenon beam?

[nordwulf]

Do you mean the inner two halogen lights used for flash-to-pass? These normally only come on when the Xenon lights are turned off. And they are high beams which means there is no use for adjusting those.

[jlrSAAB]

welcome Carlosr to SW.

I can show you a picture of the illumination angles from a distance, more or less, of 10 metes to the wall.




the H7's are not used only for "flash to pass" and also to drive by the dark roads and no cars in the front that may bother them.
I think than the bulbs in the headlamps come adjusted from the supplier and alignment in the assemble hole in the body by a top end and three bolts. then, the headlight is aligned and no require more adjustments.
check the bulb position in the socket, is my suggestion.

[carlosr]

Thanks to all for helping. I have discovered were the problem was. It seems that something was stalling the vertical movement of the left bulb. When I started to turn the screw I heard a "clok" and the beam went up at once.

So, before this (with the bulb stalled down) when I moved all the headlight upwards, the halogen beam was to high.

Will pay atention to it and see if it happens again.

[SaabScott]

If I recall, the inner bulbs are not adjustable.
There was some talk regarding those who have enable them for hi-beams (I am one of those) and the fact that they just threw light out, not in any particular pattern.

And unless you have had a modification done to your lighting system, those H7 bulbs shouldn't ever come on unless you don't have DRL enabled.