I still haven't done this but will be taking a road trip next weekend and need to do it this weekend. Does anyone of pics of the disassembled gear mechanizm? I would like to see exactly what two self tapping screws I need to removed to adjust the cable/gear for adjustment.

I do not want to strip or break any of the plastic gear teeth off. I'll gladly remove the bumper and headlight and spend an hour doing it the right way the first time.

I have an 03 with standard HID in cabin adjusters.

 

Okay I attempted this crap tonight. With no love for me.

Here is a pic of the gear that some say controls the HIDs. This gear did nothing to my HIDs on my car but it did raise the HI BEAM.



Below is a picture of the HID controller. This adjusts all the aiming of the HID in my car. I did not see how to adjust this unit.



Lastly is a pic of where these different controllers are located.



My car is a 2003 with HID and control unit inside the car. With the plastic gear completely off the metal gear I could still control my HIDs from inside the cabin. In fact when adjusting the HIDs that big gear didn't even move. Only the HID controller made the adjustments. I could independently aim my HI BEAMS to the sky and my HIDs would remain in place.

 

the small gear there with the cable going to the HID controller is what adjusts your low beam. if the gear is stripped it won't move when turning the large gear. when all is well, they move together when turning the large gear. when the cable is seized you have to nudge the smaller gear along with a screwdriver or something.

that is the HID leveler motor for the in-cabin control of the HID's. do not mess with this. some people take the metal tabs off and use a screwdriver to adjust the low beams but then the motor will go crazy trying to set itself back up. this is for the in-cabin leveler control only, leave this unit alone. where the cable goes into it from the high beam is what will adjust the low beam.

 

Well that makes a little more sense..... So I need so spin the little black plastic gear thing to adjust the HIDs...... Hmm maybe I'll try that today.

 

yes, it's designed where it's supposed to turn with the big gear for the high beams so you adjust the whole lighting unit at once. however, for some reason or another the combo of cheap plastic gears and a cable that seizes up sometimes makes this a difficult task. if it was all metal gears(an extra few pennies to 's production costs), none of us would have this issue.

 

Okay.... Mission Complete. I removed the black plastic gear from the metal one and used a pliers to spin the gear. I did this with the headlight on passenger side first then drivers side and it worked like a charm. Very easy to do.

 

What do you mean you took off the gear? You literally just popped it off to spin the metal one?

 

No. The little black plastic one is the one the controls the HIDs. The hi beams didn't need adjustment. I removed those two screws and used a pliers to spin the gear and adjust the HIDs. Then I screwed it back in. Walla perfect adjustement.

 

I did the headlight adjustment last night... WHAT A PAIN!!!
Mitsubishi ... what the hell were you thinking putting a plastic gear in place.

Anyways... here is a drawing that i tried to explain what everyone was looking at a little better. Since there is so much confusion about the topic.
Just for a reference... this is a 2003 EVO 8 with HID

 

very fast and very easy! thanks!

 

does anybody know how to adjust headlamp for lancer es? everyone is posting for evos.. i just installed hid on es. since the car is lowered, the light is aiming very low.. someone help me how to adjust the lamp

 

Darn... i wish i read through all the posts before i attempted this... However after reading through the first set of confused posts I think I finally have a better picture from TomSounds' post. Thanks! I'll give it another try this weekend and try to manually move that low beam gear. Just one question.

After i adjust the passenger side do I need to adjust driver side before turning on my lights to check? Or is it possible to just adjust one side first then turn them on to check level?

 

I did one at a time. I marked the stock height then adjusted the dial to two clicks low. Then manually set the lights back to the stock level (while set two clicks low on the dial).

 

this doesnt work!

i even took out my headlight to try to adjust the HID unit. the small black gear that connects to the high head adjuster wont budge..i even took out the whole black gear and it still wont budge..i have no idea how to adjust my headlights. it only moves inside the cabin.

 

I notice that the HID controller box was trying to resetting itself over and over again. until I tapped the headlight then it went away. Sometime it would start doing it again, then finally stop by itself. Am I doing something wrong? I tried to squish the socket into place for the passenger side, but it won't go in. I had to used the short extension socket to attach the 10mm socket together. There's no room for it to fit. How did you guys do it?