Whats this dial switch do under steering wheel column

[Curmudgeon]

Yeh its an Ozzie rig. So rang the dealer and wasnt until i got to the 3rd fella on the phone that i was told its to adjust the headlights. Its a Laramie so do you guys have this feature on your trucks?

I don't have it on mine. Although I have the projector lamps, the bulbs are halogen, and the truck is a 2014 4th Gen.

And the low beams have a very sharp and well defined cutoff.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Tried the garage wall and didnt see any change. Spoke to another dealer today who had better knowledge. They said the adjustment is very small and will be mostly noticable on the open road so going to try it out when im able. I'll report back.

Yeah, on my wife's Eclipse the garage wall would also be much too close.
Find a brick wall somewhere and get the front a good 50 feet away.

Angles being what they are, the further away you are, the more noticeable the beam change will be.

 

[RamDiver]

I was kind of hopeful and, from listening to the chatter among the Ford employees, looking forward to seeing auto-leveling headlamps installed in all vehicles (this was back in 2016). Doesn't look like that happened.

This sounds like a great idea, especially for trucks. I don't know if 3/4 & 1-ton trucks have the same amount of movement when loaded, but most 1/2 tons I've owned or used suck.

I would seriously consider adding this feature to my Warlock if it moved the beam height sufficiently to offset a large load in the back and didn't cost too many body parts worth.

It is getting to the point where sunglasses are becoming a requirement for nighttime driving.

I've been wearing yellow lenses while driving at night for decades.

Driving in the city isn't nearly as bad as in rural areas, but most of my driving is rural and very dark before it's illuminated by headlights. Ferds & Jeeps with LED headlights seem to be the worst offenders, but sometimes a small compact car will have the LEDs set too high and even with the yellow lenses, I have to look away.

I recall frequently visiting friends at night, about 30 minutes away and, on occasion, misplacing the yellow lenses. I tried driving without, but quickly decided wearing regular dark sunglasses was easier on the eyes.

I agree, in recent years, the amount of LED headlights versus incandescent has exploded, at least in my area.
I've added a backup set of yellow lenses to the glove box, so I'm never without.

.

 

[Rayzr]

This sounds like a great idea, especially for trucks. I don't know if 3/4 & 1-ton trucks have the same amount of movement when loaded, but most 1/2 tons I've owned or used suck.

I would seriously consider adding this feature to my Warlock if it moved the beam height sufficiently to offset a large load in the back and didn't cost too many body parts worth.




I've been wearing yellow lenses while driving at night for decades.

Driving in the city isn't nearly as bad as in rural areas, but most of my driving is rural and very dark before it's illuminated by headlights. Ferds & Jeeps with LED headlights seem to be the worst offenders, but sometimes a small compact car will have the LEDs set too high and even with the yellow lenses, I have to look away.

I recall frequently visiting friends at night, about 30 minutes away and, on occasion, misplacing the yellow lenses. I tried driving without, but quickly decided wearing regular dark sunglasses was easier on the eyes.

I agree, in recent years, the amount of LED headlights versus incandescent has exploded, at least in my area.
I've added a backup set of yellow lenses to the glove box, so I'm never without.

.

This: didnt even think of it until you mentioned it. The new 79 series landcruiser tray backs with the halo ring headlights loaded up with factory suspension always appear to be on high beam when on low beam. When i flash them to dip their lights i get hit back with every spotlight and led light bar its like close encounters of the 10th kind And the lenses on halogen cars with led upgrades just arent matched to precisely aim the beam correctly. I fitted airbags to my last car (100 series) so when towing a trailer camper i air up. I used my phone bubble level App to get the rear end height correct so my lights were ok as i got tired of people flashing me.

 

[RamDiver]

This: didnt even think of it until you mentioned it. The new 79 series landcruiser tray backs with the halo ring headlights loaded up with factory suspension always appear to be on high beam when on low beam.

When i flash them to dip their lights i get hit back with every spotlight and led light bar its like close encounters of the 10th kind.

I've had that experience too many times to count. Your comment got a big laugh out of me.

More often than not, with LEDs, it's just too difficult to determine who drops their lights and who doesn't.
Sometimes, it's just easier to look the other way, because the yellow lenses I use at night make a huge difference by reducing the pupil constriction.

I fitted airbags to my last car (100 series) so when towing a trailer camper i air up. I used my phone bubble level App to get the rear end height correct so my lights were ok as i got tired of people flashing me.

Installing airbags might be much easier/cheaper than adding adjustable headlights.

I will investigate both so I'm ready when my warranty expires in about a year.

.

 

[Rayzr]

Got out on a quiet road last night. Vehicle stopped and adjusted the dial switch up and down. The headlights never moved an inch so it appears its either not hooked up or the headlight hardware isnt there. Ive got some dealer warranty issues that are due to be rectified in 4 weeks so I'll ask the question. Just dosnt make sense to have something in the car that dosnt work if a switch is there. Also just downloaded the alphaObd2 App and odered the OBD Link MX+ and 12+8 SGW cable from amazon.

 

[Curmudgeon]

@Rayzr Good luck and let us know what happens.

An Eclipse is not a Ram of course, but that adjustment on my wife's little scooter is very noticeable. Her vehicle is stock as well as the headlamps.
Obviously her headlamps sit much closer to the ground.

 

[rvance]

I would pay to have that feature.

I avoid picking up a cord of wood after dark, especially after upgrading to LED headlights.
Now that I think of it, if we ever use my truck for a North Florida Cave diving trip, I would have to tweak the headlight position after loading.

I wouldn't want to drive about 20 hours (each way) through the eastern US, blinding oncoming traffic.

.

Just put Airlift bags on your rear springs and relax.

 

[rvance]

@Rayzr Good luck and let us know what happens.

An Eclipse is not a Ram of course, but that adjustment on my wife's little scooter is very noticeable. Her vehicle is stock as well as the headlamps.
Obviously her headlamps sit much closer to the ground.

My 96 Goldwing had an adjustment knob on the dash and the effect was noticeable.

 

[Marshall]

I use to like driving at night way back, when I worked 3 hrs away, no police or much traffic, you could burn some cheap gas in the 410 motor.
These days just going yo town after supper can be a chore. I have yellow glasses, and they help, same with my clip on to my glasses, but with them on I can't see my dash, and my left eye does not contract with changes in light.
the new ford 1/2tons really get me.

Rayzr,
I wonder if you lifted the hood and stuck your head down by the head lights and had someone adjust the switch if you could hear a motor running, there could be another set of wires for that , could be unhooked,
there may be a fuse for that setup, and it should be listed in the book, if you have one.

 

[turkeybird56]

My 96 Goldwing had an adjustment knob on the dash and the effect was noticeable.

Same on my 2006 Honda Gold Wing. Headlight Adjustment. And when you shine against a door, very noticeable ref adjustment.
Just fer reference:
1) Compressor controls for rear load
2) Alternator charge rate
3) PSI rear end/shocks (compressor regulated)

 

[Rayzr]

I use to like driving at night way back, when I worked 3 hrs away, no police or much traffic, you could burn some cheap gas in the 410 motor.
These days just going yo town after supper can be a chore. I have yellow glasses, and they help, same with my clip on to my glasses, but with them on I can't see my dash, and my left eye does not contract with changes in light.
the new ford 1/2tons really get me.

Rayzr,
I wonder if you lifted the hood and stuck your head down by the head lights and had someone adjust the switch if you could hear a motor running, there could be another set of wires for that , could be unhooked,
there may be a fuse for that setup, and it should be listed in the book, if you have one.

Great idea and had the same thought but thought Id wait until i get it to the dealer for a few warranty fixes and hit them up about it. Just downloaded the E-Manual for my truck tonight and hoping to get some additional info on the system if possible.

 

[8_ball]

Amazon.com

 

[49ers]

Looked in user manual and cant find it anywhere. Its under the steering wheel. Thought it may be a headlightlight adjuster. Im stumped.
View attachment 580497

Bed lights

 

[MJCs18Diesel]

First adjust them at night away from outside street lights. One is the dashboard brightness, the other might be the foot illumination brigheness under the dash...

 

[Gary Fields]

Wow, the lengths that people will go to not read the owners manual.

 

[xcursion88]

It's a dial adjuster for toe nail length...you need to turn yours down some.

Funniest thing I've read all year. Maybe even this week.

 

[TRK_GANG74]

Wow, the lengths that people will go to not read the owners manual.

Exactly! Most questions are answered there.

 

[Rayzr]

First adjust them at night away from outside street lights. One is the dashboard brightness, the other might be the foot illumination brigheness under the dash...

Know exactly the 2 switches yoir referring too. Those 2 are adjacent to each other. Ones the dash lights as you mention. The other is for the interior/foot lighting. I have another slightly off centre below the steering column. I'll know a bit more and whether its functional once i get to the dealer. Have a good relationship with the tech there and hes worked on rams all his life. Hell know what the go is once i have a face to face with him.

 

[Panduh]

It is an Australian requirement that the dial provide vertical headlamp adjustment. There are a few discussions about it on Facebook.

Is the stupid fad of lifting only the front end of pickups in Australia too?