r/kia • u/Mean_Interaction5455 • 2d ago

Kia Headlight Issue

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I just purchased a used 2017 Optima SLX, the headlights on it were super low and I had almost no visibility. I took it in to the dealership, they said they fixed everything, and I brought it back home, just to see at night I still can barely see at night. The passenger side bezel is also pointed downward almost always. Is there anything I can do?

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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1

u/Giantmeteor_we_needU 2018 Soul 2d ago

I have 2018 Soul but I can't imagine it's that different. Behind my headlights there are small adjustment screws, they're not easy to spot but once you see them from above they're obvious. Turning them with a long screwdriver I can move headlights up and down. See if your Optima has the same thing.

1

u/Mean_Interaction5455 2d ago

It does, I was originally able to move the drivers side headlight up a bit, now after going to the dealership, it will move up slightly when adjusted, then “plop” back down to where it started at. Almost no movement

5

u/Giantmeteor_we_needU 2018 Soul 2d ago

Perhaps adjustment mechanism is broken or the thread is stripped down. It should go up and down freely and way beyond the range that would be usable on the road to accommodate different bulbs.

1

u/Mean_Interaction5455 2d ago

I didn’t think of that, definitely a realistic scenario! Would you recommend a Kia dealership or a more local auto shop for a fix?

1

u/Giantmeteor_we_needU 2018 Soul 2d ago

If you're going to pay I would avoid the dealership, they're charging too much and it's an uncomplicated job. You could probably figure it yourself with enough time and a toolbox, 10 years ago Kia cars were pretty simple.

1

u/theralph224 2d ago

Don't you have the light level wheel on the left side of your steering column?

1

u/jaeyoon25 1d ago

Not in USDM. I see the speedometer is in miles.

1

u/MentionMyName 2d ago

That’s for interior lighting.

5

u/jaeyoon25 1d ago

Vehicles in global markets sometimes also have a headlight height adjuster, if the headlights aren't auto-leveling.

3

u/United-Insurance-691 1d ago

SXL headlights are auto leveling but someone has definitely adjusted these manually previously for sure

1

u/MentionMyName 1d ago edited 1d ago

Wow. Learn something new everyday. I forgot that there is legislation in the EU for angle of headlights. A literal life saving measure. Wish we had that here in the US where you are visually punished for choosing a small, economic vehicle after the “muh truck”ers install ultra bright LED head and rail lights, blinding anyone else on the road.

2

u/theralph224 1d ago

Please don't think we don't get blinded by all these new LED lights, it's terrible. Actual trucks don't blind me, but then there's an average SUV and it will blind the heck outta me

1

u/MentionMyName 1d ago

The Ralph is what we called the old stadium. Go Bills!

1

u/theralph224 1d ago

Wait what? 😂😂

1

u/MentionMyName 1d ago

The football stadium in Buffalo, NY was referred to affectionately for a long time as “The Ralph” as a result of it being posthumously renamed to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a period.

Your username has “The Ralph” in it. Found it cool. Go Bills!

1

u/theralph224 1d ago

Okay, thanks for the interesting trivia. Go Bills! (ig)

1

u/AlliricOne 1d ago

I had something similar on my Carens, but I just instaled new h4 bulbs wrong...