NO passenger headlight up and down adjust

[JApol]

On wednesday night I was helping the repair shop get my truck in running order so I could go to friends place for turkey day. WE finally got done around 9PM. We went to adjust the headlights and noticed that the up and down adjust for the passenger side wasn't there. We dropped the bumper back down, pulled the light and there was a plug in its place. I scrounged up my old passenger side light and noticed that it didn't have it either. The drivers side has both the up/down left/right. Anyone have any idea on why?

 

[Patriot_RAM]

If I remember correctly, the adjustment on the side of the light adjusts it up and down. It's a torx head screw... I think... .

 

[JApol]

On the drivers side there are two adjustments, one for up/down which is on the bottom and then one left/right which is on the inboard side of the head light. For some reason there is not an up/down on the passenger side. I am wondering if there is a purpose or is DC getting cheap on us again?

 

[JVolpe]

Strange, on my 04. 5 there is only one adjustment on both lights. It is on the inside of each light case. Only adjusts up and down. I have no left/right adjustment screws.

 

[Matt400]

Its because modern aerodynamic headlamps don’t have a distinct edge that non contact modern aimers can use to facilitate a horizontal aim. They rely on the reflector to keep the light beam in check and make no consideration for a vehicle with a damaged mounting area.

Funny thing is I thought for sure they were there on my 03 but sure enough they are not on the 05.



From Daniel Stern’s Site:



HORIZONTAL AIMING

Because US DOT VOL and VOR headlamps cannot be visually aimed horizontally, and in many cases, cannot be aimed horizontally by any means at all, because no provision for horizontal aim adjustment is provided. [This is because US regulators believe there is no way to define a visual cue, such as a kink in the cutoff, that would allow accurate left-to-right placement of a headlamp beam and that cars will not get in fender-benders that will knock the headlamps out of horizontal alignment.