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Headlight Bulb Removal and Headlight Adjustment

Yahoo Message Number: 40088
Hi Folks,

Bulb removal is from the back, pulling the wire connector off the rear of the bulb assembly, turning the black collar one quarter turn counter clockwise and pulling backward and then removing the bulb. On the 2000 Allure, a 9004 is used. The left light is accessible in some cases from the left front bay, the right light is from the underside and requires some arm stretch.

If for some reason the headlight assembly has to be removed such as replacing the step switch, then marking the original adjusting rod positions with finger nail polish is suggested. Otherwise, adjusting the headlights is accomplished with the three threaded rods ? 2 on top and one at the bottom.

The two on top are used for left/right adjustment and the one at the bottom for up/down adjustment.

The rod tips are six sided and require a 5/32 socket to rotate them, the rods are ¼-28 NF threaded.

To adjust the two top rods require, in most cases, removal of the headlight bezel. This is accomplished by prying up the center plastic head of the pop-up fastener with a knife blade. There are 3 of these fasteners on the top and 3 on the bottom of the bezel. The bottom rod is accessed from the rear of the headlight assembly. For the bottom rod, I removed the clinch washer (discarded it as it was a poor design approach) from the back and then removed the rod, using a 1/4-28 die, the rear of the rod was threaded, the rod was returned to the headlight assembly and after headlight adjustment, a washer and nut was used to secure the rod to the fiberglass cutout. On this coach, some rubber strips were used to prevent headlight assembly vibrations.

Adjusting the headlights consist of attaining Travel mode (air suspension bags must be at their correct height), vertically measuring the horizontal center of the headlight to the ground, measuring horizontally from the headlight 5 feet forward, a vertical target (I used a large piece of cardboard) is erected and the vertical distance is marked on the target as a horizontal line for each light. After the sun goes below the horizon, turn on the headlights and select Bright. Adjust each light to split the horizontal line on the target.
For left/right adjustment, the center of the beam should be inward by the same distance the center of the headlight is from the outside edge of the coach. In other words, each beam should point straight to start with. Road testing will dictate final left/right adjustment.

Note ? the headlight assemblies were custom fit from car/truck vehicles, mine were made in Taiwan and could be better. Lack of brightness on the road has been a topic. I'm still looking for a replacement. I looked into washing the inside of the headlight assembly but there is a black rectangular insert that might be disturbed.

Fred Kovol

2000 Allure 30593

Re: Headlight Bulb Removal and Headlight Adjustment

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 43345
Fred or others,

Have you found a replacements for OEM headlights. Holland in SD suggested HID at about $1250 which includes installation. They buy the kit form local Off road company and then install for about $600.00 There must be something better, or less expensive, that I can do myself.
I drove back from Las Vegas with about 20 feet of illumination projected in front of the bus. JCity techs adjusted to get about 40 feet. Just had to follow trucks and trust to get home.

Suggestions please.

Rick Wilson

08 Allure 470 31658

Quote from: fredkovol
Hi Folks,

Bulb removal is from the back, pulling the wire connector off the rear > of the bulb assembly, turning the black collar one quarter turn > counter clockwise and pulling backward and then removing the bulb. On > the 2000 Allure, a 9004 is used. The left light is accessible in some > cases from the left front bay, the right light is from the underside > and requires some arm stretch.
> If for some reason the headlight assembly has to be removed such as > replacing the step switch, then marking the original adjusting rod > positions with finger nail polish is suggested. Otherwise, adjusting > the headlights is accomplished with the three threaded rods ? 2 on

top

Re: Headlight Bulb Removal and Headlight Adjustment

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 43350
Rick,

If you are capable of replacing a headlamp bulb, you can also convert your halogens with a HID conversion kit. It's not complicated and not expensive. You can find the conversion kits on e-bay for as little as sixty bucks.....shipped. This includes the ballast, bulb and all the connective wiring to make the conversion. Check it out.
I did it about 6 months ago on my daily driver, and love it!

Dave Trottter
01 Intrigue 11215

Quote from: Richard Wilson
>

Fred or others,

Have you found a replacements for OEM headlights. Holland in SD > suggested HID at about $1250 which includes installation. They buy

the

Quote
kit form local Off road company and then install for about $600.00 > There must be something better, or less expensive, that I can do

myself.

Quote
>

I drove back from Las Vegas with about 20 feet of illumination

projected

Quote
in front of the bus. JCity techs adjusted to get about 40 feet.

Just

Quote
had to follow trucks and trust to get home.

Suggestions please.

Rick Wilson

08 Allure 470 31658

Quote from: fredkovol"[/quote
Quote
>]
>

> Hi Folks,

> Bulb removal is from the back, pulling the wire connector off the

rear

Quote
of the bulb assembly, turning the black collar one quarter turn > > counter clockwise and pulling backward and then removing the

bulb. On

Quote
the 2000 Allure, a 9004 is used. The left light is accessible in

some

Quote
cases from the left front bay, the right light is from the

underside

Quote
and requires some arm stretch.
>

> If for some reason the headlight assembly has to be removed such

as

Quote
replacing the step switch, then marking the original adjusting rod > > positions with finger nail polish is suggested. Otherwise,

adjusting

Quote
the headlights is accomplished with the three threaded rods ? 2 on > top

> and one at the bottom.

> The two on top are used for left/right adjustment and the one at

the

Quote
bottom for up/down adjustment.
> The rod tips are six sided and require a 5/32 socket to rotate

them,

Quote
the rods are ¼-28 NF threaded.
> To adjust the two top rods require, in most cases, removal of the > > headlight bezel. This is accomplished by prying up the center

plastic

Quote
head of the pop-up fastener with a knife blade. There are 3 of

these

Quote
fasteners on the top and 3 on the bottom of the bezel. The bottom

rod

Quote
is accessed from the rear of the headlight assembly. For the

bottom

Quote
rod, I removed the clinch washer (discarded it as it was a poor

design

Quote
approach) from the back and then removed the rod, using a 1/4-28

die,

Quote
the rear of the rod was threaded, the rod was returned to the > > headlight assembly and after headlight adjustment, a washer and

nut

Quote
was used to secure the rod to the fiberglass cutout. On this

coach,

Quote
some rubber strips were used to prevent headlight assembly

vibrations.

Quote

> Adjusting the headlights consist of attaining Travel mode (air > > suspension bags must be at their correct height), vertically

measuring

Quote
the horizontal center of the headlight to the ground, measuring > > horizontally from the headlight 5 feet forward, a vertical target

(I

Quote
used a large piece of cardboard) is erected and the vertical

distance

Quote
is marked on the target as a horizontal line for each light. After > > the sun goes below the horizon, turn on the headlights and select > > Bright. Adjust each light to split the horizontal line on the

target.

Quote
For left/right adjustment, the center of the beam should be

inward by

Quote
the same distance the center of the headlight is from the outside

edge

Quote
of the coach. In other words, each beam should point straight to

start

Re: Headlight Bulb Removal and Headlight Adjustment

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 43351
Rick: You might want to try PIAA bulbs. Their number is 1-800-525- 7422. Tell them the number of your bulb and they will give you their number of the brighter bulbs. Their bulbs are 120/110 wattage. You do not have to do anything to your wiring, just replace the bulb in your headlight. You'll find a marked difference in the light. They run about $80 to $90 a pair. Well worth it. You may want to consider this. Hope this helps. Jim W.

Quote from: Dave Trotter
>

Rick,

If you are capable of replacing a headlamp bulb, you can also

convert

Quote
your halogens with a HID conversion kit. It's not complicated and > not expensive. You can find the conversion kits on e-bay for as > little as sixty bucks.....shipped. This includes the ballast, bulb > and all the connective wiring to make the conversion. Check it

out.

Quote
I did it about 6 months ago on my daily driver, and love it! >

Dave Trottter
01 Intrigue 11215

[quote author=Richard Wilson"

>
>

> Fred or others,
>
>
>

> Have you found a replacements for OEM headlights. Holland in SD > > suggested HID at about $1250 which includes installation. They

buy

Quote
the

> kit form local Off road company and then install for about

$600.00

Quote
There must be something better, or less expensive, that I can do > myself.
>

> I drove back from Las Vegas with about 20 feet of illumination > projected

> in front of the bus. JCity techs adjusted to get about 40 feet.
Just

> had to follow trucks and trust to get home.
>

> Suggestions please.
>

> Rick Wilson
>

> 08 Allure 470 31658
>

[quote author=fredkovol"

>]
> >

> > Hi Folks,

> > Bulb removal is from the back, pulling the wire connector off

the

Quote
rear

> > of the bulb assembly, turning the black collar one quarter turn > > > counter clockwise and pulling backward and then removing the > bulb. On

> > the 2000 Allure, a 9004 is used. The left light is accessible

in

Quote
some

> > cases from the left front bay, the right light is from the > underside

> > and requires some arm stretch.
> >

> > If for some reason the headlight assembly has to be removed

such

Quote
as

> > replacing the step switch, then marking the original adjusting

rod

Quote
> positions with finger nail polish is suggested. Otherwise, > adjusting

> > the headlights is accomplished with the three threaded rods ? 2

on

Quote
top

> > and one at the bottom.

> > The two on top are used for left/right adjustment and the one

at

Quote
the

> > bottom for up/down adjustment.
> > The rod tips are six sided and require a 5/32 socket to rotate > them,

> > the rods are ¼-28 NF threaded.
> > To adjust the two top rods require, in most cases, removal of

the

Quote
> headlight bezel. This is accomplished by prying up the center > plastic

> > head of the pop-up fastener with a knife blade. There are 3 of > these

> > fasteners on the top and 3 on the bottom of the bezel. The

bottom

Quote
rod

> > is accessed from the rear of the headlight assembly. For the > bottom

> > rod, I removed the clinch washer (discarded it as it was a poor > design

> > approach) from the back and then removed the rod, using a 1/4-

28

Quote
die,

> > the rear of the rod was threaded, the rod was returned to the > > > headlight assembly and after headlight adjustment, a washer and > nut

> > was used to secure the rod to the fiberglass cutout. On this > coach,

> > some rubber strips were used to prevent headlight assembly > vibrations.
> >

> > Adjusting the headlights consist of attaining Travel mode (air > > > suspension bags must be at their correct height), vertically > measuring

> > the horizontal center of the headlight to the ground, measuring > > > horizontally from the headlight 5 feet forward, a vertical

target

Quote
(I

> > used a large piece of cardboard) is erected and the vertical > distance

> > is marked on the target as a horizontal line for each light.

After

Quote
> the sun goes below the horizon, turn on the headlights and

select

Quote
> Bright. Adjust each light to split the horizontal line on the > target.

> > For left/right adjustment, the center of the beam should be > inward by

> > the same distance the center of the headlight is from the

outside

Quote
edge

> > of the coach. In other words, each beam should point straight

to

Re: Headlight Bulb Removal and Headlight Adjustment

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 43356
Thanks Jim and Dave

I like the change the bulb idea. I think I can do that!
I have also tracked down the Holland Motor home source and that supplier will sell direct for $300 and will install for additional $150 which is a savings of $800 from dealers service department.

I will Call PIAA and thanks for the help.

Rick Wilson from San Diego where you never need to winterize

08 Allure 470 31658

Re: Headlight Bulb Removal and Headlight Adjustment

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 43370
Rick,

I'm not familiar with "HID" Lights, can you explain to me.

Thanks, Mike 03 Allure 1st Ave #30898

Quote from: Dave Trotter
>

Rick,

If you are capable of replacing a headlamp bulb, you can also

convert

Quote
your halogens with a HID conversion kit. It's not complicated and > not expensive. You can find the conversion kits on e-bay for as > little as sixty bucks.....shipped. This includes the ballast, bulb > and all the connective wiring to make the conversion. Check it

out.

Quote
I did it about 6 months ago on my daily driver, and love it! >

Dave Trottter
01 Intrigue 11215

[quote author=Richard Wilson"

>
>

> Fred or others,
>
>
>

> Have you found a replacements for OEM headlights. Holland in SD > > suggested HID at about $1250 which includes installation. They

buy

Quote
the

> kit form local Off road company and then install for about

$600.00

Quote
There must be something better, or less expensive, that I can do > myself.
>

> I drove back from Las Vegas with about 20 feet of illumination > projected

> in front of the bus. JCity techs adjusted to get about 40 feet.
Just

> had to follow trucks and trust to get home.
>

> Suggestions please.
>

> Rick Wilson
>

> 08 Allure 470 31658
>

[quote author=fredkovol"

>]
> >

> > Hi Folks,

> > Bulb removal is from the back, pulling the wire connector off

the

Quote
rear

> > of the bulb assembly, turning the black collar one quarter turn > > > counter clockwise and pulling backward and then removing the > bulb. On

> > the 2000 Allure, a 9004 is used. The left light is accessible

in

Quote
some

> > cases from the left front bay, the right light is from the > underside

> > and requires some arm stretch.
> >

> > If for some reason the headlight assembly has to be removed

such

Quote
as

> > replacing the step switch, then marking the original adjusting

rod

Quote
> positions with finger nail polish is suggested. Otherwise, > adjusting

> > the headlights is accomplished with the three threaded rods ? 2

on

Quote
top

> > and one at the bottom.

> > The two on top are used for left/right adjustment and the one

at

Quote
the

> > bottom for up/down adjustment.
> > The rod tips are six sided and require a 5/32 socket to rotate > them,

> > the rods are ¼-28 NF threaded.
> > To adjust the two top rods require, in most cases, removal of

the

Quote
> headlight bezel. This is accomplished by prying up the center > plastic

> > head of the pop-up fastener with a knife blade. There are 3 of > these

> > fasteners on the top and 3 on the bottom of the bezel. The

bottom

Quote
rod

> > is accessed from the rear of the headlight assembly. For the > bottom

> > rod, I removed the clinch washer (discarded it as it was a poor > design

> > approach) from the back and then removed the rod, using a 1/4-

28

Quote
die,

> > the rear of the rod was threaded, the rod was returned to the > > > headlight assembly and after headlight adjustment, a washer and > nut

> > was used to secure the rod to the fiberglass cutout. On this > coach,

> > some rubber strips were used to prevent headlight assembly > vibrations.
> >

> > Adjusting the headlights consist of attaining Travel mode (air > > > suspension bags must be at their correct height), vertically > measuring

> > the horizontal center of the headlight to the ground, measuring > > > horizontally from the headlight 5 feet forward, a vertical

target

Quote
(I

> > used a large piece of cardboard) is erected and the vertical > distance

> > is marked on the target as a horizontal line for each light.

After

Quote
> the sun goes below the horizon, turn on the headlights and

select

Quote
> Bright. Adjust each light to split the horizontal line on the > target.

> > For left/right adjustment, the center of the beam should be > inward by

> > the same distance the center of the headlight is from the

outside

Quote
edge

> > of the coach. In other words, each beam should point straight

to

Re: Headlight Bulb Removal and Headlight Adjustment

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 43372
Merry Christmas Rick. HID stands for High Intensity Discharge. They provide much brighter and whiter light. They also are know in the aviation business for lasting much longer than incandescent bulbs. In fact, the normal aviation warranty is 5 years.

Jim Hill

2008 Tribute 260
81138