Headlight adjustment

Tiny
QV238300
  • MEMBER
  • 2016 DODGE DURANGO
  • 3.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 117,000 MILES
I have a 2016 Dodge Durango Citadel. It has the headlight auto leveling technology. Unfortunately, when driving at night many people think my high beams are on. Is there a way to manually adjust the headlights lower? My dealer tells me this is not possible. That's hard for me to believe. Am I stuck blinding drivers coming toward me? That does not make sense.
Thursday, March 11th, 2021 AT 4:17 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
I-SMOGEM
  • MECHANIC
  • 118 POSTS
Hi qv238300,

They are correct, and not. Check the pic below on what I found. I have no idea what happens if you don't use a scan tool for adjustments, but likely the 'auto adjusting' will try to fix any adjustments made. But, short story is, they can be adjusted.

Glenn
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Thursday, March 11th, 2021 AT 7:09 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,254 POSTS
Hi,

To the best of my knowledge, they can be adjusted. However, the automatic adjustment needs to be turned off when it is done.

Here are the directions for adjustment. The attached pics below correlate with the directions.

____________________________________

2016 Dodge or Ram Truck Durango 4WD V6-3.6L
Front Lamp Alignment
Vehicle Lighting and Horns Headlamp Adjustments Front Lamp Alignment
FRONT LAMP ALIGNMENT
FRONT LAMP ALIGNMENT

VEHICLE PREPARATION FOR LAMP ALIGNMENT
Check for and correct any burnt out bulbs.
If the vehicle is equipped with headlamp leveling, be certain that the headlamp leveling switch is in the 0 position.
Repair or replace any ineffective, worn or damaged body or suspension components that could hinder proper lamp alignment.
Verify proper tire inflation pressures.
Remove any accumulations of mud, snow or ice from the vehicle underbody and clean the front lamp lenses.
Verify that there is no load in the vehicle (cargo or passengers), except for the driver.
The fuel tank should be FULL. Add 2.94 kilograms (6.5 pounds) of weight over the fuel tank for each estimated gallon of missing fuel.
Verify correct vehicle suspension height.

LAMP ALIGNMENT SCREEN PREPARATION

pic 1

The procedure that follows will prepare a suitable front lamp alignment screen.

Tape a line on a level floor at the appropriate distance away from and parallel to the flat wall that will be used as the lamp alignment screen. Refer to the Lamp Alignment Screen Distance table for the appropriate measurement. The level floor will be used as the horizontal zero reference.
An adjacent wall or floor member that is perpendicular to the alignment screen can be used as the vertical zero reference. If there is no adjacent wall or floor member that is perpendicular to the screen, tape a second line on the floor perpendicular to both the alignment screen and the first line, and outboard of either side of where the vehicle will be positioned. This will be used as the vertical zero reference.
Position the vehicle so that the side of the vehicle is parallel to the vertical zero reference, and so that the front of the lamp lenses are in the vertical plane of the parallel line taped on the floor in Step 1.
Rock the vehicle side-to-side three times to allow the suspension to stabilize.
Jounce the front suspension three times by pushing downward on the front bumper and releasing.
Measure the distance between the optical center of one of the lamps being aimed (head or fog) and the floor (horizontal zero reference). Transfer this measurement to the alignment screen with a piece of tape placed horizontally to the floor. This line will be used as the lamp horizontal reference.
Measure the distance between the vertical zero reference and the optical center of the nearest lamp being aimed (head or fog). Transfer this measurement to the alignment screen with a piece of tape placed vertically across the appropriate (head or fog) lamp horizontal reference. This is the centerline reference for the first lamp.
Measure the distance on center between the first and the second lamp being aimed. Transfer this measurement to the alignment screen with a second piece of tape placed vertically across the appropriate (head or fog) lamp horizontal reference. This is the centerline reference for the second lamp.

Pic 2

HEADLAMP ALIGNMENT

NOTE:
Vehicles equipped with the optional High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps include an automatic headlamp leveling feature, which uses axle sensor inputs to the Automatic Headlamp Leveling Module (AHLM) to automatically adjust the headlamp level to compensate for changes in vehicle cargo or passenger load. This feature must be disabled in order to successfully perform a manual headlamp alignment. Follow the steps outlined in the diagnostic scan tool under the AHLM Electronic Control Unit (ECU) Actuator menu item for HEADLIGHT LEVELING POSITION. The Actuator must be set to the DELIVERY POSITION during manual headlamp alignment, then remain in DELIVERY POSITION once adjustment is completed.

Pic 3

Halogen

pic 4

High Intensity Discharge (HID)

NOTE:
Due to the linear nature of the headlamp cutoff, a properly aimed low beam headlamp will project the top edge of the high intensity pattern on the alignment screen from the horizontal line to 50 millimeters (2 inches) below the horizontal line for domestic market vehicles, or to 104 millimeters (4.125 inches) below the horizontal line for export market vehicles. No horizontal (right/left) adjustment is required for this headlamp beam pattern in domestic market vehicles. Export market vehicles have a second horizontal (right/left) adjustment screw (2) provided. The high beam pattern will be correct when the low beams are properly aimed.

Turn the headlamps ON and select the LOW beams for vehicles in all markets except Japan. Vehicles for the Japanese market should have the headlamp HIGH beams selected.
Use a screwdriver to access the vertical adjustment screw (3) on the back of each front lamp unit housing (1). The adjustment screw is accessed through an oblong clearance hole provided in the right or left fender close out panel between the square hood bumper and the hexagonal hood stop. Rotate the headlamp vertical adjustment screw to adjust the beam height as required.
For export markets only, use a screwdriver to rotate the headlamp horizontal adjustment screw (2) on the back of each front lamp unit housing to adjust the beam horizontally to the right or left as required.

_____________________________________

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions.

Take care and God Bless,

Joe
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Thursday, March 11th, 2021 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
QV238300
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Thank you for your response. I have two more questions. First, it sounds like my vehicle needs to be connected to a diagnostic scan tool so the automatic headlight leveling function can be turned off prior to any manual headlight adjustment. Does this mean I need to go to a dealer to have this service performed? Second, the adjustment screw located down in the oblong access hole, my vehicle has no such adjustment screw. On my vehicle there is nothing down in that hole. The dealer says there is no adjustment screw because vehicles with the automatic headlight leveling system are not adjustable. If the adjustment screw is not down inside the access hole, where might it be located?
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Friday, March 12th, 2021 AT 11:23 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,254 POSTS
Hi,

According to the manual, that is where it should be located. No other location is indicated. As far as the scan tool, you will need to find someone that has a scanner that can perform this function.

Joe
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Friday, March 12th, 2021 AT 6:11 PM
Tiny
I-SMOGEM
  • MECHANIC
  • 118 POSTS
The Dealer knows, or should know, how to adjust the headlights. If they insist that there is no way to adjust them, check another dealer in you area, or call body repair shops in your area for references. After an accident, the headlights will need to be adjusted properly, and it 'can' be done.

When I had a shop, I adjusted these. It's actually quite simple, with proper equipment, and know how. And I loved adjusting lights in the fog. Forget all the fancy whatnots because the fog shows ya when it's wrong, and right. Not recalling your specific adjustment screws, but they could be torx, square head, allen, or others.

Simply, check around. Someone understands your issue, and has the ability to take care of it.

Glenn
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Saturday, March 13th, 2021 AT 8:20 PM

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