Hello everyone,


I just bought a 2000 Mercury GM LS with 41,112 miles on it for $4,300. Its has more options that my Caddy Sevillehad. There are so many options that I can''t remember them all. What a nice car it is.


Question # 1-There is a brand new headlight assembly onthe passengerside but thedrivers side was kind of dull so I bought one from Autozone for $119.00.


I installed it ok but the light bulb itself is shinning on the ground and way to the right.


I see a flat edge at the end of the installing screws. Will I need a tool to adjust the headlight?Does the bulb itself move during a adjustment? Do I have a defective headlight assembly? Or will the adjustment correct it?


Question #2 How long before the plastic manifold will go on it. I have heard different theorys on this so I would like the pros here to tell me if there is a set failure mileage or years on not.


Anything else I should know about that should be repaired or replaced?


Thanks in advance,Mike.

not sure about adjusting the aim of the headlight. there should be some directions that came with the assembly. if not, go back to autozone and ask them, they should be able to get the info. the best way to quick set the aim is to pull up to a wall - about 2-3 feet away (perpendicular to it so that both headlights are the same distance from said wall) and then adjust the headlamp to match the height and angle of the other headlight that has not been modified. to really get it set right, you may have to get a dealer/mechanic with the headlight aiming rig to adjust it.

from what I''ve read, the plastic manifold usually lasts till about 80-130K miles if regular commuter driving. the replacements from autozone with the aluminum section for the coolant generally don''t have issues. The general idea is that the more temperature cycles it has, the closer to failing it comes. so if the car is used for a LOT of LONG trips, it should last for a lot more miles than the every day go to work and come home short trips. but I''m basically going on what I''ve read from other people. I have older cars with real metal engines.

-


Thanks for the reply and info slymer. This headlight is driving me crazy. The headlight holder itself is sticking out crookedand I don''t think any adjustment will correct it. If no more tips i''m gonna end up sending itback for another one.


I bought a Haynes book for it but it shows what I don''t have for the headlights.


I hope I don''t have an oddball year.


Are you saying that Autozone has the replacement intake manifold?


I''m gonnacheck it out on their web site.

if the headlamp is sticking out at an odd angle, then it may not be mounted correctly. you may have to remove it and reinstall it.

-


You know, I do know a lot about Cars but this headlight has got me.


I checked about the angle like you said and sure enough the drivers side assembly that I put in is sticking way out (about 3/4 of and inch). I''m sure that if I set the outside plastic adjuster to go in that 3/4 of an inch or until its flush that will settle the to the right angle problem.


I''m gonna do that first right after the holiday and then work on the hieght. I wish I had a camera that works on the web to show you the setup that my headlight assembly has. Its nothing like the one in Hanyes. I rechecked the box and I found a plastic bag with the little horse shoe clamps like Haynes shows but there not for mine.


slymer I can thank you enough.[img]smileys/smiley4.gif[/img] Most times the fix is right in front of our eyes but we look beyond that.

yup. I''ve dealt with it too many times. Person can''t turn on their computer. Worked fine the day before. Ends up the power cord wiggled free but didn''t actually fall out. Sometimes it pays to just start with the simplest things.

-


Looks like we have other things that we both do besides cars.


I build puters too. Back in the late 1990''s I got tired of asking the kids to turn my puter on soI joined Sharkey Extreme and went on from there.


One of the kids just got that new bug out there now. It was a PITA but I got it cleared up.


There are 3 studs sticking out from the old and new assembly with 2 plastic nuts on each stud. Its just a matter of adjusting the front nut until its seated flush and then tighten the other one towards that until it tightens up.I should have set the nuts at the same distance out from the metal as the old one was. I''m sure i''ll find (I hope) them at a different setting thanthe old one.

-


THANK YOU, THANK YOU SLYMER. Its done and its also flush.


[img]smileys/smiley20.gif[/img]

nice. not only will it function better now, but it should look a great deal better too. being able to see where you''re going at night does help. [img]smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]