How to Aim the Headlights on Your Jeep

Did you recently lift your Jeep or add bigger tires? Or add new Oracle Lighting headlights to your Jeep? Those high-beam flashes from oncoming traffic are not congratulatory. They are letting you know that your LED headlights are bright and blinding or impairing their visual ability.

Properly aimed headlights are crucial for safe nighttime driving. If your Jeep’s headlights are misaligned, you could be compromising your visibility and causing glare for other drivers. Fortunately, aiming your headlights is a task you can tackle on your own with a few basic tools. Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure your Jeep’s headlights are perfectly aimed.

A point to note: Start by parking your Jeep on a flat surface that faces a vertical wall or garage door. Make sure the ground is level to avoid inaccurate adjustments

Tools and Materials Needed:

Masking tape (blue painters tape works best)

Driver (Phillips or Torx driver, depending on your Jeep model)

Tape measure or ruler

Flat surface and a vertical wall (like a garage door)

Owner's manual (for specific headlight adjustment screw locations)

Step 1: Mark the Wall

There are two methods to get good results for this. My preferred method: pull close to the garage door or wall (within two to three feet), then take one piece of tape for each side and mark the horizontal center of your low beam with a horizontal piece of tape. Take another piece of tape and place it vertically in the center of each beam. Your garage or wall should now have two plus (+) signs. Using masking tape, mark a vertical line directly between the center of each headlight. To find the center, measure the distance between the two headlights and divide by two, then mark this center point on the wall with tape creating vertical and horizontal marks.

Using a tape measure, you can measure from the center of the headlight to the ground. Using this measurement you can get the horizontal height of the headlights. To get the vertical distance, measure from the center of each headlight to the other. Take note of the halfway point. You can now use those measurements to put your tape marks on the wall directly infront of your Jeep.

Step 2: Distance from the Wall

Position your Jeep 25 feet away from the wall. This is a standard distance for headlight alignment. Make sure this is at a 90° angle to the wall with the headlights aimed at the center mark.

Step 3: Adjust the Headlights

1. Locate the headlight adjustment screws. These are typically found on the top and side of each headlight assembly. Refer to your owner’s manual for the exact locations. With the JK models, there is only one adjustment screw. It is located on the upper-outside of each headlight. The adjustment for this screw is either up and out or down and in. You can purchase another adjuster screw for the lower-inner position.

 OR

1. The adjustment screw may be located on the back of the housing for the light, such as the example of the Oculus BI-LED headlights. Remove any cover that might be used to protect the adjustment screw. Using the appropriate tool as specified by the Owners Manual or manufacturer you can turn to aim.

Cover the passenger side headlight with an opaque material such as a blanket or towel to focus on the single driver’s side light source. Use the tool required to adjust the vertical. Turn the adjustment screw until the top of the brightest part of the headlight beam is at or just below the horizontal line on the wall. In addition to the height of the beam pattern, the brightest part of the beam should be as close to centered on the vertical line on the wall as you can get.

Cover the driver side headlight and repeat the procedure with the passenger light.

Step 4: Test Your Adjustments

After adjusting both headlights, remove any covering, step back and check the alignment from a distance. Ensure both beams are even and aimed correctly. Take your Jeep for a short drive to ensure the headlights are providing adequate illumination with a clear cutoff line of light and not blinding other drivers.

A Few Safety Tips: 

• Always ensure the vehicle is turned off and the parking brake is engaged while making adjustments.
• Be aware of local regulations regarding headlight height and alignment to ensure compliance.
• For specific details on your Jeep model, always refer to the owner's manual.

By following these steps, you can ensure your Jeep’s headlights are properly aimed, enhancing your visibility and ensuring a safer driving experience for everyone on the road. Regularly checking and adjusting your headlights is a simple yet essential part of vehicle maintenance. Happy driving!

Jeepin’ Terry is the Events & Offroad Guru for Oracle Lighting. In his spare time, he is the host of the Jeep Life Podcast and co-founder of the Jeep Enthusiasts of Eastern Pennsylvania, one of the largest Jeep clubs in the state. His obsession with Jeeps started in the 80s with his boss’s big bad blue CJ5. Growing up in the mountains of Tennessee, Terry spent plenty of time on the trails and in the outdoors. His 2017 Wrangler, named Kylo, has been to California and back and everywhere in between, finding trails and adventures everywhere… and constantly asks for more.