How to adjust headlamp retracted postion?

[Paul 290T]

Hi,

Thirty minutes of web research hasn't uncovered the method of adjusting how far the headlamp retracts down into the engine bay when I turner off my lights.

Th problem is that that passenger side lamp needs to carry on travelling another 5mm to get the leading edge of its cover flush with the adjacent edge of the badge panel.

The driver side lamp sits flush. I suspect that when my indy replaced the CHG and hoses he might have disturbed the mechanism. Whilst I've no doubt he'd happily rectify the situation, its a bit inconvenient for me to get to him. So if its a simple adjustment I'd sooner tackle the job myself.

Can anyone advise on the method?

Regards

 

[Hairyarse]

Hi Paul

Double check that the bonnet release cable isn't fouling with the mechanism, it could be as simple as that - happened on mine although it stopped it moving altogether

Cheers
Andy

 

[edh]

If its not something catching, next thing to try is to undo the nut on the motor shaft. You should be able to move the lights to the right position & re-tighten the nut

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Just keep your fingers out of the way!

Or disconnect the battery!

 

[Paul 290T]

Thanks everyone. I'll look into the problem next week.

 

[spyro_x]

And make sure if you completely dismantle it that you get the rod connected to the motor the right way around when you reconnect it- I ended up reversing it and so when I turned the lights on they went down and the lamp was one, when I turned them off they popped up but the lamps went out!

 

[sulzeruk]

You don't touch any of the operating mechanism. There are 2 mounts that mount on the front chasis rails that are held in by 2 10mm headed bolts. These are slotted to provide adjustment. Crack both the bolts and move it either forward to lift the pod or backwards to lower the pod.
Alasdair

 

[edh]

Well it worked for me...

I had the motor and coil off to give me some room to remove the washer bottle. When I put it all back one of the lights was slightly out, so I loosened it off & moved it..

The lights had been aligned before, so I figured it must have been something I'd done.

 

[colin944]

If the lamps have not been out then do as Alistair says and don't touch the motor.If the lamp unit has been removed then you will find a trianglular plate on the pivot point on each side of the lamp pod,you can loosen and adjust the position of the light pod with these as well as they are bolted through the body through enlarged holes in order to give adjustment.I know this as I have spent a bit of time today putting the headlight mechanism back into my car.

 

[944 man]

My advice is that unless your car has been crashed or disassembled, then dont under any circumstances touch the triangular 914 headlamp pivots.

 

[colin944]

They are a B*****D to get right.It took me about 40 mins today and that was with the badge panel and bott wings off for better access. However you may be able to see if they have been moved by marks on the paint or disturbed underseal etc.

 

[944 man]

Youve done well. Id have said that theyre an absolute b*****d, with an almost infinate number of combinations available between the the lift mechanism and the two pivots per lamp.


Simon

 

[colin944]

In truth is it was more blind luck than skill in getting the buggers back in.But I had to remove everything from the engine bay in order to get it painted.I have been putting it all back in now for about 6 weekends.It's a total mind F**k I must have had most bits in and out several times.Like today when I put the driver side headlamp pod in I discovered that I had the loom for that side of the bay in the wrong place as it fouled the pod when it was shut.So had to take all the ties off and start again.The big bits are easy it's the wee bits that you never notice that are really hard to get right. But I soldier on in the hope that it will see the road before the summer is over.