Setting lights to drive on continent

[Bazza]

I've found that beam benders don't work but You can set them using this technique.



TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN No.73/1999
Car and Light/Medium Commercial 22.07.1999


Section: 32 (417-01)

Model: Cougar

Markets: All

Subject: Temporary headlamp conversion for driving on the left/right

Summary

In order not to dazzle oncoming traffic, the headlamps should be removed according to Operation No 32 115 0 (Workshop Manual/TIS-CD) and converted for driving on the left/right.


Service Instructions

See Summary.

1. Remove the headlamp according to Operation Number 32 115 0 (Workshop Manual/TIS-CD).


Note:
Do not touch the glass of the bulb with the fingers.

2. Remove the headlamp bulb.


Note:
In its base setting the lever will always be upright. Move the lever to the right on RHD vehicles, to the left on LHD vehicles.

µ 3. Make the temporary change to the headlamp direction, e.g. for RHD vehicles driving on the right, by moving the lever to the right (RHD vehicle shown).
1 Move the lever from its vertical position to the right until it reaches the stop.
2 When the lever is moved, the headlamp glass will be seen to turn when observed through the bulb aperture.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for the other headlamp.

5. When a LHD vehicle is temporarily modified for driving on the left, the same procedure applies, except that the lever is moved to the left.

6. Install the components in reverse order.

7. Check the headlamp alignment and if necessary adjust it according to Operation No. 32 113 0 (Workshop Manual/TIS-CD).

[Skinful]

Not sure about this.
When you remove the headlight and take off the back cover you will find a flimsy silver lever. Difficult to spot at first. If you move this lever it will throw beam over.
Perhaps we are saying same thing but I don't know what that picture is!
Mike.

[Cliverea]

Yep Guys you are both correct. The lever to move is that flimsy silver thing...doesn't look like a lever at but more like a part of the reflector. Swing the lever over and it masks the dip portion of the beam. I can vouch for the fact it works it just makes the crummy lights even crummier! As I am of to France for a few day trips in the coming month I will have to do the same again. Can't blind our French Chums can we!

Mon Dieu, Le Rosbifs est Arrivee!!

[LeonsCat]

Clivera, are you SURE you want to drive your Cougar to the continent? :confused: The last time you were there was your 'The Italian Job'...:cover: By the way, how do you cross the channel? Ferry? Hovercraft? Train? Attach boat floats and a propeller?:)

[Bazza]

It is brilliant driving Cougars on the continent they are as rare as rocking horse poo!

I was filling up in Holland and the guy in a van at the pump across from me just stared at it.

While he was staring he reached for a cigarette (at a petrol station, those crazy foreigners!) and put it in his
mouth the wrong way and tried to light the filter!

[Cliverea]

HA Leonscat ..crossing the great divide holds no fears for me:biggrin: I won't let a little thing like a seized engine put me off. I am made of sterner stuff than that. (my top lip is permanently in stiff upper lip mode) As for crossing the English Channel I have used several methods. I have used a ferry boat to between dover and Calais, Dover and Boulogne and Ramsgate to Dunkirk. I have used a Hovercraft between Ramsgate and calais..sadly a service no longer used. A High Speed catamaran ferry (nicknamed the vomit comet as its wave riding/rolling action makes many folk throw up!:puke;) and my favourite way the Channel Tunnel. The Float kit for the Cougar has not yet arrived;).
The Tunnel is a great service. Very fast and efficient but like all crossings it can be expensive. Its great if you or your passengers get sea sick. I am ok on that front though I must admit 12 hours at Force 10 in the english channel is not pleasant as I found out whilst doing some work on one of the ferry boats! It was impossible to sleep and my bunk was the top bunk. The effect of this was I kept hitting the deckhead (ceiling to you land lubbers) when the ship hit particularly nasty waves !

No this time I am just going shopping and enjoying a meal out. One of our National Newspapers printed coupons to Travel to France via the Channel Tunnel for £5. (thats about $7.50) as lots of things in France are cheaper than the UK like Booze, Cigarettes and Gas it makes for a fun day out. I only live about 40 miles from the Tunnel so It makes sense to take advantage whenever I can. Plus If I take my Father we get to see his friends. They met during World War 2 when he and a bunch of other British soldiers liberated a village. They Billeted there for a short while and Dad has been in contact ever since. Quite a nice story really plus the people are good folks.

[Skinful]

Clive,
I agree the Tunnel is awesome.
Drive on and in France 35 minutes later.
Perhaps this is a good idea for a Club trip this year?
If we did a Saturday, leave after 12 noon and come back before 12 midnight then we can buy cheap tickets. I did this in November and it cost less than £40 for 2 adults and the car.
Given that I saved £10 on a tank of petrol over there and shed loads on wine, beer and spirits I soon got that back and more!
If I lived in Kent I think I'd go to Auchan in Calais rather than Tescos!
I wonder if anybody would be interested.........
Mike.

[Cliverea]

If anyone is interested the Daily Telegraph is currently running a £5 tunnel trip. Go to the Eurotunnel web site on Channel Tunnel (http://www3.eurotunnel.com/rcs/etun/pb_english/en_wp_home/en_pg_home_gateway_1/index.jsp) and when you are asked for the code for the offer put in STET96. the offer runs out soon and travel has to be taken by end of february. But for a fiver go over with an empty tank and you can get that £5 back on the saving on fuel alone. Its even more of a saving if you use a dirty smelly diesel!

[Bazza]

I've booked mine!

I'll treat the missus and book a hotel in London then over to France on Monday.

[sat1]

The small lever actually moves a small piece of metal in front of the low beam to mask the side of the normal headlight offset , however the actual headlight pattern once adjusted does not provide the opposite offset but simply blocks the beam offset so has not cause the headlight pattern to blind other drivers travelling in the opposite direction.

I use this frequently has i travel a great deal in Europe

Sat 1:)

[LeonsCat]

Is the set up to change for left/right hand aim only on non-North American market cars?
Cliverea, on 2 trips in 1980's, did a London/Paris combo, purchasing a package in London for Paris return on the train/hovercraft. Recall one trip where it got a bit rough, and so did my stomach, but moved around, and felt better. Hovercaft is weird - it's like a flight that doesn't leave the ground. It is no wonder they are discounting the Chunnel. Have heard that it hasn't done as well as expected and have to pay off the huge overrun costs. I remember during a trip to UK in late 1996(?) was that bad fire that shut it down for a while! I've heard of the deals on short hops via the chunnel to France and people stuffing their cars with food, beer and drink for the return. A fiver for France from UK is cheaper than a ride down to the NJ shore for me (we have toll roads in some areas like NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, as well as many longer bridges and tunnels, including ones to NY City). Such shopping trips are one way of screwing the tax collectors/govenment:evil: Like the part of your post that your father has friends in France from WWII - gives you a real good excuse to go there and learn history too. I know that is uncommon for the 'rostbifs' to be friends with the 'frogs' :goofy:, good to hear someone who has a posititive attitute toward the French.

[Cliverea]

Leonscat.. good to see some of you from across the pond actually get over here and appreciate our little Island;) The Tunnle is very successful . The fire did slow things down for a while but now that its all fixed up it's as if it never happend. The cheap trips always occur this time of the year. Both the ferry and tunnel operators offer promotions usually tied up with a national newspaper or some similar deal. The winter trade is normally non existant so discounting means the train/ferry is filled with folks and the operators make some money by selling overpriced cafeteria food and cheap booze. The Ferries also are allowed to run gaming machines whilst in "international" waters. Longer trips also run casinos.
The main draw for the brits to cross the channel is to buy booze and smokes.:beer: :smoke-t:Our tax laws make cigarettes and alcohol very expensive compared to our European neighbour who oblige the Brits by building huge shopping malls close to the channel ports. The only real loser is the British Government:shrug:
I suppose I am a bit of an internationalist. I seem to have friends all around the world. I guess that must be Dads influence. During WW2 part of his job involved him dealing with both US and Canadian troops as well as interpreting French and German for his CO. He is pretty much Fluent in both French and German and picked up some Greek and Arabic along the way thanks to a spell in Egypt ,Palestine and Cyprus. I have been out to France every few years since I was 14 visiting his friends. They only live a couple of hours from the Tunnel and it's great to take Dad out there so he can reminiss. The reason the French and English don't seem to get on is cos we are so alike! Both imperialists with a colonial past! My advice for getting along with "johnny foreigner" is learn a few words of his language. Just saying hello and Thank you, opens doors that otherwise stay shut through ignorance.