I had my headlights aligned before the NCT/MOT but still failed it. So I brought it back to the garage who said "thats the best we can do with them" "they wont alignment any better than that". I even asked the garage to try different bulbs as I was using PIAA super bright bulbs but they still wont align with normal H4 bulbs. The mechanic says there must be something wrong with the actual headlight.

So, the mechanic suggested that my only option now is to buy a pair of new headlights and try aligning those ones.
These are the headlights I have. Standard SUBARU parts as far as I can tell.


Anybody had problems aligning their headlights on a 98 STi?

Is it the fact that they are Crystal Headlights that they wont align?

 

My 98 wagon points in the sky im going to get it looked into with these dark nites. So i will let you know. (do u know which one of adjuster is the up/down?)

 

Its not really a concrete answer for you mate but i had a similar problem, have a look at this....

https://www.scoobynet.com/lighting-o...eadlights.html

It may be that they are after market ones and the adjuster doesn't fit properly. I'm going to get some 6mm stud, put a weld on the end and grind it down.

Andy.

 

Not strictly the same but similar.

On a MY02 bug eye I found the headlights were too low for me even on fully raised adjustment. I undid all the bolts, removed the headlights and refitted them with washers under the bottom set of bolts and pop in pins. After that I ran on height setting 2 normally when before that setting 1 had been too low.

Sounds like you need to take it to a helpful back street garage that emplys proper old school mechanics who are prepared to approach these things with some thought. Your current garage sounds like one that only employs rote learned muppets who just mindlessly tests things and replace with new (at your expense) if there's the slightest problem.

 

I can only see part of a number plate on your car, but it DOESN'T look like UK?

Are you sure you don't have, say, LHD lights on an RHD car? Or RHD lights being driven on the continent, etc?

Failing that, aftermarket lights COULD be the culprit.

Stand the car about 4 metres from a wall, and put the lights on dip beam.
Look at the beam pattern on the wall.

For a RHD car driven on the left, (UK, Japan, Australia etc), you should see the following:

\____ \____

For a LHD car driven on the RIGHT, (Europe, USA etc), you should see this:

____/ ____/

HTH Alcazar

 

thanks for all the replies guys you have been most helpful.

Alcazar. I have a JDM STi driving in Ireland.

Your corecet in stating that this diagram is what I should have... \___

In the test the downward angle line is perfect but the straight line is coming out all over the place. So I have this instead
\
\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Whoever had the car in Japland has installed the Crystal Clear headlights and I think thats what is causing the problems.

Now I just have to find 2 standard headlights from somewhere

 

borrow some and refit the old ones when the MOT is passed..done it for years with bald tyres..only joking

 

Try breakers, and/or borrow a pair. A pity you're not closer, I have a pair of '98 lights sitting in my loft, as I've fitted Morettes, you could have borrowed those.

Alcazar

 

I borrowed a pair of standard lights. Just have to book a retest now. I will post back if I pass.

thanks.