2007+ sealed headlight shutter adjustment - LotusTalk

RoadDad · 02-13-2008, 05:29 PM

My 2007, with its sealed headlamp units, has a level low beam cutoff and does not "flare" up to the right. I haven't yet taken a dig into the headlamp unit to see if the beam shutter can be reached and retracted, like the unsealed units can, to allow the right sided upsweep.

Has anyone with a sealed unit tried to retract the shutter yet? If so, tips for success would be greatly appreciated. If not, I will try to take some pictures and post them (if it is possible) or hang my head in failed shame (I won't take a picture of that -- it would blind too many of you with the amount of glare from the top of my dome

).

apk919 · 02-14-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadDad

My 2007, with its sealed headlamp units, has a level low beam cutoff and does not "flare" up to the right. I haven't yet taken a dig into the headlamp unit to see if the beam shutter can be reached and retracted, like the unsealed units can, to allow the right sided upsweep.

Has anyone with a sealed unit tried to retract the shutter yet? If so, tips for success would be greatly appreciated. If not, I will try to take some pictures and post them (if it is possible) or hang my head in failed shame (I won't take a picture of that -- it would blind too many of you with the amount of glare from the top of my dome

).

I'm curious too... I just put in an HID kit last weekend, and while it's hard to tell definitively, it seems that the Lotus throws more light off-axis than my other (OEM) HID cars.

Searching didn't find anything on aligning/adjusting the '07 style headlights.

RoadDad · 02-15-2008, 05:13 AM

If I have time, I plan on taking a look at it this weekend.

MickOpalak · 02-15-2008, 06:20 AM

I posted about this a few weeks ago. Adjusting the low beams verticaly is actually very easy. You can do it without removing the wheel if you have a shorty phillips screw driver.

1. Remove the wheel liner (3 screws)
2. Next to the round, lower weather cover is an exposed silver screw. This adjusts the headlights (high and low) Simple as that.

apk919 · 02-15-2008, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickOpalak

I posted about this a few weeks ago. Adjusting the low beams verticaly is actually very easy. You can do it without removing the wheel if you have a shorty phillips screw driver.

1. Remove the wheel liner (3 screws)
2. Next to the round, lower weather cover is an exposed silver screw. This adjusts the headlights (high and low) Simple as that.

This is a picture of my right side headlight assembly with the high beam bulb cover removed. Do you mean the silver screw next to the label that says "1.2 %" (I guess that's a hint)? Is there a similar one for the low beams (can't see it in the picture), or does that one screw adjust both?

RoadDad · 02-16-2008, 12:06 PM

Mick, thanks for the info but my vertical adjustment is fine. I'm talking about the "dip beam cut off pattern" created by the shutter. It makes the low beam pattern a straight horizontal line instead of flaring up on the right side. My low beams are set as in the left side of this picture. Retracting the shutter allows for the upflare pattern seen on the right of the picture. It allow the right side of the road to be lit without blinding on coming drivers.

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Name: shutterpattern.jpg
Views: 315
Size: 12.4 KB

Photographic Copyright Infringement from Sandsmuseum

http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elis...headlamps.html

RoadDad · 02-16-2008, 12:09 PM

As of now I have been unsuccessful in finding access to the shutter in the sealed headlamp unit. I will try to bring home a flexible endoscope from work to see if I can "look deeper" into the unit.

shay2nak · 02-16-2008, 04:37 PM

where is the low beam height adjustment in the above picture?

MickOpalak · 02-17-2008, 08:28 AM

Sorry, I don't know about adjusting the shutter. I was refering to beam angle adjustment. Yes, the one screw mentioned above adjusts both high and low beam at the same time.

RoadDad · 02-17-2008, 02:34 PM

Shay,

The alignment relationship between main and dip beam lamps is fixed, but two cross-head adjusters are provided on the back of the headlamp housing by which the whole lamp unit may be adjusted. The outboard screw adjusts vertical alignment, and the inboard screw horizontal.

shay2nak · 02-20-2008, 06:43 PM

ah, thank you. CW raises and CCW lowers the aim?

RoadDad · 02-23-2008, 07:37 PM

I just ran a flexible endoscope into the dip (low) beam housing. There is no adjustable shutter that would allow an up-flaring of the lighting to the right. Instead there is a solid cut off shroud. If one really wanted to up-flare their dip beam lighting to the right, as can be accomplished in the '05-'06 by adjusting the shutter, one could file off the right side of the shroud. I, personally, will just live with the horizontal beam

.

Here is a picture of the shroud taken through the lamp hole. It is a solid piece of metal with no adjustments possible. I ran the endoscope to each end of the piece and underneath. No way to change the position of the shroud. Sorry I couldn't take a picture through the scope. The camera set up to do that is just too big to carry home.
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Name: 2007 shutter.jpg
Views: 222
Size: 12.8 KB

apk919 · 02-24-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadDad

I just ran a flexible endoscope into the dip (low) beam housing. There is no adjustable shutter that would allow an up-flaring of the lighting to the right. Instead there is a solid cut off shroud. If one really wanted to up-flare their dip beam lighting to the right, as can be accomplished in the '05-'06 by adjusting the shutter, one could file off the right side of the shroud. I, personally, will just live with the horizontal beam

.

Here is a picture of the shroud taken through the lamp hole. It is a solid piece of metal with no adjustments possible. I ran the endoscope to each end of the piece and underneath. No way to change the position of the shroud. Sorry I couldn't take a picture through the scope. The camera set up to do that is just too big to carry home.
Attachment 74657

Wow, above and beyond, nice work.

RoadDad · 02-24-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apk919

Wow, above and beyond, nice work.

Thanks but it was unfortunately all for naught

.

codymac · 02-24-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadDad

I just ran a flexible endoscope into the dip (low) beam housing.

Love it!

RoadDad · 02-24-2008, 01:52 PM

Gotta put 18 years of medical education to some kind of good use

.

shay2nak · 02-24-2008, 08:14 PM

polojcp · 09-12-2008, 12:26 AM

So, do you mean adjust here? (Red Arrow) CW for higher?

Thanks!!

polojcp · 09-12-2008, 07:52 AM

anyone can confirm it?

Arno · 09-12-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadDad

If one really wanted to up-flare their dip beam lighting to the right, as can be accomplished in the '05-'06 by adjusting the shutter, one could file off the right side of the shroud. I, personally, will just live with the horizontal beam

.

I guess with the '07 onward and the end of some of the exemptions for Lotus in the US (eg. bumpers, etc.) you now have official USA 'DOT' approved headlights instead of having the normal european headlights (with the 'flares' to one side) fitted like the earlier cars.

Here in europe the 07 onward still have the 'flare' as it's part of the road law requirements.

Bye, Arno.

02-13-2008, 05:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
RoadDad 道のお父さん Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hell Posts: 4,051	2007+ sealed headlight shutter adjustment My 2007, with its sealed headlamp units, has a level low beam cutoff and does not "flare" up to the right. I haven't yet taken a dig into the headlamp unit to see if the beam shutter can be reached and retracted, like the unsealed units can, to allow the right sided upsweep. Has anyone with a sealed unit tried to retract the shutter yet? If so, tips for success would be greatly appreciated. If not, I will try to take some pictures and post them (if it is possible) or hang my head in failed shame (I won't take a picture of that -- it would blind too many of you with the amount of glare from the top of my dome ). __________________ "There are two things no man will admit he cannot do well: drive and make love." -- Stirling Moss Nunquam est ponenda pluralitas sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda, nisi ubi est necessitas. Add RoadDad To My Ignore List

02-15-2008, 05:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
RoadDad 道のお父さん Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hell Posts: 4,051	If I have time, I plan on taking a look at it this weekend. __________________ "There are two things no man will admit he cannot do well: drive and make love." -- Stirling Moss Nunquam est ponenda pluralitas sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda, nisi ubi est necessitas. Add RoadDad To My Ignore List

02-15-2008, 06:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
MickOpalak LOG29 Co-chairman Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,570	I posted about this a few weeks ago. Adjusting the low beams verticaly is actually very easy. You can do it without removing the wheel if you have a shorty phillips screw driver. 1. Remove the wheel liner (3 screws) 2. Next to the round, lower weather cover is an exposed silver screw. This adjusts the headlights (high and low) Simple as that. __________________ 2007 Exige S265 - Krypton Green - Gotham 265 ECU - Volk TE37s - Toyo R888s - B&M Shifter - QuickSilver exhaust - stripes - harnesses - Pagid pads - Green air filter LOG29 - http://www.log29.org President - Lotus Limited Southeast http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/LLSE/

02-16-2008, 12:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
RoadDad 道のお父さん Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hell Posts: 4,051	Mick, thanks for the info but my vertical adjustment is fine. I'm talking about the "dip beam cut off pattern" created by the shutter. It makes the low beam pattern a straight horizontal line instead of flaring up on the right side. My low beams are set as in the left side of this picture. Retracting the shutter allows for the upflare pattern seen on the right of the picture. It allow the right side of the road to be lit without blinding on coming drivers. Photographic Copyright Infringement from Sandsmuseum http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elis...headlamps.html __________________ "There are two things no man will admit he cannot do well: drive and make love." -- Stirling Moss Nunquam est ponenda pluralitas sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda, nisi ubi est necessitas. Add RoadDad To My Ignore List

02-16-2008, 12:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
RoadDad 道のお父さん Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hell Posts: 4,051	As of now I have been unsuccessful in finding access to the shutter in the sealed headlamp unit. I will try to bring home a flexible endoscope from work to see if I can "look deeper" into the unit. __________________ "There are two things no man will admit he cannot do well: drive and make love." -- Stirling Moss Nunquam est ponenda pluralitas sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda, nisi ubi est necessitas. Add RoadDad To My Ignore List

02-16-2008, 04:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
shay2nak GGM ENFORCER Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 12,736	where is the low beam height adjustment in the above picture? __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 GG EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEO CLIPS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

02-17-2008, 08:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
MickOpalak LOG29 Co-chairman Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,570	Sorry, I don't know about adjusting the shutter. I was refering to beam angle adjustment. Yes, the one screw mentioned above adjusts both high and low beam at the same time. __________________ 2007 Exige S265 - Krypton Green - Gotham 265 ECU - Volk TE37s - Toyo R888s - B&M Shifter - QuickSilver exhaust - stripes - harnesses - Pagid pads - Green air filter LOG29 - http://www.log29.org President - Lotus Limited Southeast http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/LLSE/

02-17-2008, 02:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
RoadDad 道のお父さん Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hell Posts: 4,051	Shay, The alignment relationship between main and dip beam lamps is fixed, but two cross-head adjusters are provided on the back of the headlamp housing by which the whole lamp unit may be adjusted. The outboard screw adjusts vertical alignment, and the inboard screw horizontal. __________________ "There are two things no man will admit he cannot do well: drive and make love." -- Stirling Moss Nunquam est ponenda pluralitas sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda, nisi ubi est necessitas. Add RoadDad To My Ignore List

02-20-2008, 06:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
shay2nak GGM ENFORCER Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 12,736	ah, thank you. CW raises and CCW lowers the aim? __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 GG EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEO CLIPS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

02-23-2008, 07:37 PM	#12 (permalink)
RoadDad 道のお父さん Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hell Posts: 4,051	Update I just ran a flexible endoscope into the dip (low) beam housing. There is no adjustable shutter that would allow an up-flaring of the lighting to the right. Instead there is a solid cut off shroud. If one really wanted to up-flare their dip beam lighting to the right, as can be accomplished in the '05-'06 by adjusting the shutter, one could file off the right side of the shroud. I, personally, will just live with the horizontal beam . Here is a picture of the shroud taken through the lamp hole. It is a solid piece of metal with no adjustments possible. I ran the endoscope to each end of the piece and underneath. No way to change the position of the shroud. Sorry I couldn't take a picture through the scope. The camera set up to do that is just too big to carry home. __________________ "There are two things no man will admit he cannot do well: drive and make love." -- Stirling Moss Nunquam est ponenda pluralitas sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda, nisi ubi est necessitas. Add RoadDad To My Ignore List

02-24-2008, 01:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
RoadDad 道のお父さん Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hell Posts: 4,051	Gotta put 18 years of medical education to some kind of good use . __________________ "There are two things no man will admit he cannot do well: drive and make love." -- Stirling Moss Nunquam est ponenda pluralitas sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate. Pluralitas non est ponenda, nisi ubi est necessitas. Add RoadDad To My Ignore List

02-24-2008, 08:14 PM	#17 (permalink)
shay2nak GGM ENFORCER Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 12,736	LOL __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 GG EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEO CLIPS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

09-12-2008, 12:26 AM	#18 (permalink)
polojcp Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upland, California Posts: 145	Sorry to bring this up again.... So, do you mean adjust here? (Red Arrow) CW for higher? Thanks!! Attached Images __________________ 2007 Elise Phantom Black Touring Pack Hard Top Star Shield

09-12-2008, 07:52 AM	#19 (permalink)
polojcp Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upland, California Posts: 145	anyone can confirm it? __________________ 2007 Elise Phantom Black Touring Pack Hard Top Star Shield

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