Rep Power: 0

stock headlight housing on 2002 civic coupe.. So i was adjusting my headlights the other day and the drivers side adjusted no problems, but during the passenger side adjustment i noticed the plastic screw or whatever that adjuster thing is called was stripped.. so i can't adjust that headlight up and down grr.. is there any other way to adjust my headlight up and down? or any suggestions how to get this thing to spin?

not really sure what honda was thinking using plastic for that piece as a metal screwdriver + plastic screw = recipe for disaster..

 
Rep Power: 192

I literally just came out of the garage from trying to adjust the passenger headlight on mine lol. I bought aftermarket lights and retrofitted projectors, my adjuster screw is fine but the linkage on the inside of the headlight is snapped so it wont adjust. We're both SOL.

Side note: besides the screwdriver adjuster mine can also be adjusted by a small bolt on the back of the adjuster housing, not sure if your headlights will be equipped with that but its something to check for.

 
Rep Power: 255

im 90% certain my 04 has metal screw adjusters its been awhile since i adjusted them though.

 
Rep Power: 0

i noticed that the hole is hex shaped as well.. might be able to find a really long hex bit that will reach it if only i had one or knew exactly what size it was lol.

 
Rep Power: 255

i definitely know the adjustment on the 04 is a phillips head.

 
Rep Power: 0

Kludge tip: if you have a metric 1/4" socket set with extensions... you can jam the bit size you think it is, into its corresponding socket with a bit of Ziploc bag or thin cloth to hold it in, and use the extensions to get the bit where you need to go. Should be good enough for this task.

 
Rep Power: 242

A long #2 Phillips is all you need. The adjuster piece is metal.

 
Rep Power: 255

yeah plastic screws seemed a little far fetched unless maybe were talking about hyundai.and yeah a really really long phillips head sounds about rite i think i made my own .

 
Rep Power: 0

yes, i know its a phillips. thats how i stripped the thing, now the phillips part of the plastic is stripped, but there is also a hex shape around the spot where u put the phillips screwdriver into, so if i could get a hex bit in there somehow i could still turn it lol.

and yes, they are plastic i'll post a pic.

it's a 2002 civic coupe, maybe they started using metal in the later models?

first few pics are of the passenger side (stripped one). as you can see, what used to be a spot for a phillips screwdriver has now turned to a big mess of stripped cheap plastic.

The other photos are of the drivers side, u can still see the phillips slot, but it also looks like it is going to strip very soon, im afraid it's going to strip next time i try to adjust it.

such a P.I.T.A!

 
Rep Power: 242

I have an 01 and mine are metal, But my adjuster screw also doesn't look like that. I'll take a pic of mine.

Here is a pic I found on Google:



Are you sure yours are the original lights? They will say Stanley on the lens.


Another pic:

 
Rep Power: 0

I believe they are stock. They say honda on them, SAE DOT and a buncha numbers or watever. anyways i got a hex bit and managed to adjust them accordingly worked like a charm!