GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

The visual optical headlamp aiming system has been preset at the factory and should need no further adjustment.

However, If the vehicle is damaged in an accident, the headlamp aim may be affected and adjustment may be necessary.

If oncoming vehicles flash their high beams at you, this may also mean the vertical aim needs to be adjusted.

It is recommended that the vehicle is taken to your dealer/retailer for service if the headlamps need to be re-aimed. It is possible however, to re-aim the headlamps as described in the following procedure.

The vehicle should be properly prepared as follows:

    • The vehicle should be placed so the headlamps are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from a light colored wall.
    • The vehicle must have all four tires on a perfectly level surface which is level all the way to the wall.
    • The vehicle should be placed so it is perpendicular to the wall.
    • The vehicle should not have any snow, ice, or mud on it.
    • The vehicle should be fully assembled and all other work stopped while headlamp aiming is being done.
    • The vehicle should be normally loaded with a full tank of fuel and one person or 160 lbs (75 kg) sitting on the driver's seat.
    • Tires should be properly inflated.

Headlamp aiming is done with the low-beam headlamps. The high-beam headlamps will be correctly aimed if the low-beam headlamps are aimed properly.

To adjust the vertical aim, do the following:


    Object Number: 1198055  Size: B2
  1. Open the hood. See Hood Release for more information.
  2. Find the aim dot on the lens of the low-beam lamp.

  3. Locate the aim dot on the lens of the low-beam headlamp.
  4. Measure the distance from the ground to the aim dot on the lamp. Record the distance.

  5. Object Number: 1656201  Size: B2
  6. At the wall measure from the ground upward (A) to the recorded distance from Step 3 and mark it.
  7. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B) on the wall the width of the vehicle at the height of the mark in Step 4.
  8. Turn on the low-beam headlamps and place a piece of cardboard or equivalent in front of the headlamp not being aimed. This should allow only the beam of light from the headlamp being aimed to be seen on the flat surface.
  9. Notice: Do not cover a headlamp to improve beam cut-off when aiming. Covering a headlamp may cause excessive heat build-up which may cause damage to the headlamp.

    Driver's Side shown


    Object Number: 1566423  Size: B3
  10. Locate the vertical headlamp aiming screws, which are under the hood, near the headlamps. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp beam is aimed to the horizontal tape line.
  11. The adjustment screws can be turned with a 6 mm hex key bit socket or a 6 mm hex key.


    Object Number: 1656218  Size: B2
  12. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp beam is aimed to the horizontal tape line. Turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to raise or lower the angle of the beam.
  13. Make sure that the light from the headlamp is positioned at the bottom edge of the horizontal tape line. The lamp on the left (A) shows the correct headlamp aim. The lamp on the right (B) shows the incorrect headlamp aim.
  14. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for the opposite headlamp.