Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Adjust Headlights Using a Headlight Tester
2018 Tesla Model 3 BaseSECTION Adjust Headlights Using a Headlight Tester
Special tools required for this procedure:
| Supplier | Part Number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla | 1133367-00-A | Beissbarth Headlight Tester, Model 815 |
- Park the vehicle on a level surface.
- Make sure that all 4 tires are inflated to specification.
- Open the front trunk hood.
- On the touchscreen, touch Controls
(vehicle icon), and then touch the Software
tab to display the vehicle firmware version.
- If the vehicle is running firmware version 2018.36.8 or higher, proceed to Step 5.
- If the vehicle is running an earlier firmware version, update the vehicle firmware to version 2018.36.8 or higher. See FIRMWARE UPDATE .
- On the vehicle touchscreen, enter headlight adjustment mode: Controls > Service > Adjust Headlights .
- Turn on the headlights.
- Position the headlight tester tool ~11 in. (30 cm) from the front of the LH headlight lens.
- Adjust the height of the headlight tester tool to ~27.5 in. (70 cm) above the ground to align with the center point of the headlamp.
- Connect the headlight tester tool to an electrical outlet, and then turn on the headlight tester tool.
- Adjust the knobs on the base of the headlight tester tool until the tool is leveled, as indicated by the bubble gauge on the tool.NOTE: The bubble must be entirely inside of the center ring in order to properly align the headlights.
- Turn on the alignment laser near the top of the tool, and then rotate the tool as necessary to align the laser with the base of both hood struts.NOTE:
LH Hood Strut
- On the headlight tester tool, select Test US , then select Applications >Free Test .
- On the headlight tester tool, select Headlight , and then use the + or - buttons to change the Headlight type to "VOR".
- On the headlight tester tool, select Light , and then use the + or - buttons to change the Light type to LED .
- On the headlight tester tool, select Inclination
, and then use the +
or -
buttons to set the inclination.NOTE: Inclination information is located on the headlight.
- On the headlight tester tool, select Height
.
- On the headlight tester tool, select Laser , and then position the laser in the middle of the headlight.
- Move the headlight tester tool up or down on the column to the indicated height.
- On the headlight tester tool, select OK .
- Choose settings to test and adjust the fog lights, if necessary. See LIGHT - FOG - FRONT (ADJUST) .NOTE: Or click OK to skip the Fog Light setup screen.
- On the headlight tester tool, select Laser to turn on the headlight laser guide.
- On the headlight tester tool, select Left low beam
, and then select Low beam
near the bottom of the screen.NOTE: The "L" and "R" indicators at the bottom of the screen are reversed. For example, "L" is on the right side and "R" is on the left side.
- Adjust the headlight laser guide crosshair to line up with the vertical and horizontal marks on the LH headlight.NOTE: Or place a piece of paper against the LH headlight, and then adjust the tool to place the headlight laser guide crosshair over the brightest spot on the paper.
- On the headlight tester tool, select Laser to turn off the headlight laser guide.
- On the steering wheel, use the left scroll wheel to adjust the beam level: Target 0.00" +/- 1.0"CAUTION: Do not sit in the vehicle, as this will affect headlight alignment.
RENDER: 1.0x
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.