How to Adjust the Headlights in a Ford F-Series

Whether you see your headlights illuminating an oncoming driver or the trees off to the side of the road, you can bet it's time to adjust the headlights in your Ford F-Series. The way you adjust your headlights depends on the type of headlight assembly you have on your Ford F-Series truck.

Instructions

1

Park your truck 25 feet from a wall and put your Ford F-Series in its normal driving condition. If you haul cargo in the bed, plan to add the average amount of weight. Other factors to check include the level of fuel in the tank and the tire pressure.

2

Determine the type of headlight assembly you have. Ford usually uses a halogen bulb or a sealed beamed headlight. If you have a sealed beam headlight, your access the adjustment screws from the exterior of the truck, which may require you to remove the bezel. Halogen bulbs have screws on top of the housing that you access through a hole in the radiator. You'll need to raise the hood to reach any interior adjustment screws.

3

Mark the center of the headlight's trajectory on the wall. You should measure from the center of the headlight to the floor to determine this measurement. Mark the center for each headlight with masking tape or a writing utensil.

4

Insert a Phillips screwdriver into the gear-drive mechanism through the hole in the radiator crossbeam. For Ford F-Series trucks with exterior adjustment screws, insert the Phillips screwdriver directly into the adjustment screws. Keep in mind you may need to avoid the mounting screws for the headlights.

5

Adjust the headlights individually so the low beam hits within 2 inches of the center on your mark. The high beam lights should hit the center directly.