2002 Elantra, headlight alignment

I have a 02 Elantra that I purchased about 1 1/2 months ago. The
headlights are all over the place. Where are the adjustment screws to
adjust them? I have looked all over but cannot find anything.

Thanks, Rob

 

Have you changed the bulb(s) recently? If so, there's a good possibility
that you have one of both of them in upside down, as it's very easy to
do (actually, it can difficult NOT to put them in incorrectly). Before
making any adjustments, take the headlight assemblies out and check that
the bulbs are in correctly. Also, make sure that the headlight
assemblies are reinstalled correctly, particularly at the bottom where
they have a peg that fits into a plastic sleeve in the frame. These two
things fix ~99% of Elantra headlight aiming issues.

There is an adjustment for the elevation of the headlights. It's a black
screw at the top of the headlight assembly, between the covers for the
high and low beam lamps.

 

How do you KNOW if the bulb is upside down or not? I replaced the
right low beam bulb recently, without removing the headlight assembly,
and found there is no way to tell from feel if the bulb in in the right
place or not. There is no "locating mechanism" in the design. When I
slide the bulb in there, there is no detent or slot to line up with or
snap into place.

I took out the good bulb on the left side to see if I could tell how it
was installed. Now BOTH headlights are out of alignment. One points
up, the other down.

There is a little tab on the flange of the bulb. Does it go at the
top, or the bottom?

Thanks,

Rick

 

Reply to message from "Rick" <> (Sun, 17 Dec 2006 13:09:
34) about "Re: 2002 Elantra, headlight alignment":

R> How do you KNOW if the bulb is upside down or not? I replaced the right
R> low beam bulb recently, without removing the headlight assembly, and
R> found there is no way to tell from feel if the bulb in in the right
R> place or not. There is no "locating mechanism" in the design.

The flange of the H7 bulb is flat in one place and has a tab that fits into
a slot in the hole in the reflector. The tab and slot are supposed to be
oriented at the bottom pointing downward.

Best Regards
Wayne Moses <> Sun, 17 Dec 2006 18:53:24 -0600

=== Posted with Qusnetsoft NewsReader 3.3

 

No, I have not changed the headlights, they were that way when I bought
the car used. I do not have an owners manual for this car. How do you
change the headlights, and in reference to Rick's question how do you
know which way is the correct way? Assuming that someone put one in
wrong (right low beam seems really low), how can I tell if the high
beams are installed correctly? If you or someone out there has a link
as to how to replace Hyundai headlights correctly I sure would
appreciate it.

Thanks, Rob

 

There's a strong possibility that the original owner installed the bulbs
incorrectly.

Go to www.hmaservice.com , sign up for a free account and you'll be able
to access all the maintenance manuals for the car online at no charge.
Also, if you call Hyundai Customer Service, I'll be they'll send you an
owner's manual and maintenance log at no charge.

It's not very likely that the high beam bulbs have been replaced, since
they're not used nearly as much. Both bulb types are keyed to their sockets.

See Wayne's post. You can also go to the Elantra Club website and look
in the DIYs. http://elantragtclub.tripod.com/elantra/

 

Rick, I have a 2002 Elantra. BOTH of my son's (low beam) headlights burned
out late last week, and I had to replace them both (have been using the
Sylvania SilverStar, which has made a huge difference in the brightness of
the headlights, but which, unfortunately, have a relatively short bulb
life).

That 'tab' you refer to is to go UP, not down. If you hold the bulb by its
electrical connectors (the only way you are supposed to), and keep spinning
the bulb around, eventually, you will find the proper detent, and you will
see (especially from the outside) that it is in correctly.

When I replaced both headlights, the notch was straight up, and the
connectors on the back of the headlight were one straight on top of the
other. They look right, they are aimed right, and they work great. Sadly,
the only way you know it to look at the bulb from the outside, through the
lens. Also, you will have a bit of a time getting the retaining spring back
on if it is not on right. And bluntly (thoough this is subjective), it just
won't feel right.

Having a Kia Sedona minivan that uses the same headlights, and the same
logic, this job is getting simple for me.

Hope this helps.

Tom Wenndt

 

I asked if the H7 bulb should be installed with the flat part of the
flange with the tab facing up or down. I received one reply saying UP
and one reply saying DOWN.

Would anyone care to cast the tie breaking vote?

Thanks,

Rick

 

They should face inward on both lights.

 

This is going to be confusing because Hyundai changed the headlight design
somewhere around 2003 or 2004, if I recall correctly. The way I tell is
to remove the dust cover and look into the back of the lamp. If the flat
edge is at the top, the tab goes there. If it's at the bottom, that's
where the tab will go.

When looking into the front of the lamp to see if the bulb is installed
correctly, you should be able to see the bulb in the hole in the
reflector. It should be flush with the front of the hole and even all the
way around the circumference.

 

Thanks for all of your help. Unfortunally my head is too large to fit
in that small space behind the headlight, therefore I can barely see
the back of the headlight when the dust cover is removed. I took one
responders advice and removed the entire headlight assy from the car
and was then able to see how the lights were installed and held in
place. Next time it will be a much easier task. Yes the right low beam
light was installed upside down (tab goes up, quite obvious when you
can see all the way in).

Once again, Thanks to all and Merry Christmas

Rob

 

A tool that might help you next time is a mirror on the end of a telescoping
handle. No home mechanic should be without one <g>

Here's an example:

http://www.shop.com/op/~Lisle_Magne...ion_Mirror-prod-17014194-23916500?sourceid=57

Merry Christmas to you, too!

 

For what it's worth, the tab faces downward on my 2003.

The comment about making sure the flange is flush in the hole i
important and that may be the problem. It is possible to install th
bulb with the tab correctly seated in the slot, seat the tensio
spring, and still have the bulb slightly cocked in the housing. Havin
done it myself unintentionally, I know it can happen if you don'
verify that the bulb flange is fully seated before you button thing
up. The easiest way to check it may be to look at the bulb itsel
through the headlight lens and make sure that the angle of the bulb i
pointing straight ahead and isn't angled up, down, or to either side