2002 Elantra, headlight alignment

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

Brian Nystrom wrote:

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

Brian Nystrom wrote:

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

Go to

, 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.

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

Rick wrote:

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

Here's an example:

Merry Christmas to you, too!

changed the headlight

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

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