Symtech Frequently Asked Questions

Optical headlamp alignment is the measurement of the lamp’s position using an electronic or mechanical system. The Symtech systems are designed around and incorporate a precision lens, which has a prescribed focal length. Systems of this nature measure the light emitted from the lamp and assess the position of the light at 25 feet in front of the vehicle.

Before 1990, vehicle manufacturers made headlamps with aiming nibs—the bumps on the outer lens of the lamp that destroyed your bug sponge when washing the vehicle. The nibs were for registering and positioning a mechanical alignment system to the lamp lens using suction cups. Aiming pads were on all US headlamps until 1991. The Grand Prix was the first on the market without aiming pads and utilized level vials. This has rendered the mechanical alignment devices with the suction cups obsolete.

Today, most automobile manufacturers make headlamps that do not have aiming nibs, and the truck market is gradually moving in that direction. All Symtech systems can align lamps with or without aiming pads.

The SCA1, HBA5 CVA3EZ, and DVA6 have all been found to meet the requirements of the SAE Standards. Due to certain characteristics, the BCA 4 will not meet the specifications of the state and federal standards.

All our systems can align all of the past, present, and what we understand as the future of forward lighting systems. This includes high beam, low beam, and fog/auxiliary lighting for both foreign and domestic automobiles.

Please contact Symtech Corporation for your state’s most recent regulatory requirements or click here.

Not if they are DESIGNED for ease of use. Symtech optical systems require less training; in fact, you can get answers to the most complex questions with a quick phone call. This means it requires less time to perform a headlamp alignment. For example, checking alignment on a two-headlamp application can be performed in less than 2 minutes if no adjustment is required.

All Symtech systems allow for calibration in the field by the operator. There is no return to the manufacturer for costly calibration assurances and no downtime.

NO! All Symtech systems utilize a laser-accurate floor slope assessment system. Electronic systems incorporate rechargeable power supplies making our equipment a highly portable system with utility throughout a shop.

All systems are warranted for one full year from the date of purchase. However, the warranty does not apply to equipment subjected to misuse, neglect, or accident.

All Symtech systems are designed for modular component replacement, with repairs 98% of the time performed at your facility by you. Should any component of the system malfunction or become damaged, a phone call to Symtech Technical Assistance can assess the problem, advise of a replacement component and instruct you on the repair upon receipt of the component.

Downtime is costly. By shipping components instead of a complete unit—coupled with your ability to easily perform repairs on-site—Symtech lowers the manufacturer’s shipping costs and downtime while your Symtech system is offline. Symtech’s 24-hour turnaround of replacement components saves you money and assures you of quality parts designed specifically for your equipment.

Optical headlamp alignment is the measurement of the position of the lamp by means of an electronic or mechanical system. The Symtech systems are designed around and incorporate a precision lens, which has a prescribed focal length. Systems of this nature measure the light emitted from the lamp and assess the position of the light at 25 feet in front of the vehicle. Previous to 1990, all lamps were manufactured with aiming nibs, that is the bumps on the outer lens of the lamp that destroyed your bug sponge when washing the vehicle. The nibs were for the distinct purpose of registering and positioning a mechanical alignment system to the lamp lens using suction cups. Aiming pads were on all US headlamps until 1991. The Grand Prix was the first on the market without aiming pads and utilized level vials. This has rendered the mechanical alignment devices with the suction cups obsolete.

Today, most automobiles are manufactured with headlamps that do not have aiming nibs, and the truck market is gradually moving in that direction. All Symtech systems can align lamps with or without aiming pads.

The SCA1, HBA5 CVA3EZ, and DVA6 have all been found to meet the requirements of the SAE Standards. Due to certain characteristics, the BCA 4 will not meet the specifications of the state and federal standards.

All our systems can align all of the past, present and what we understand as the future of forward lighting systems. This includes high beam, low beam and fog/auxiliary lighting for both foreign and domestic automobiles.

Please contact Symtech Corporation for the most recent regulatory requirements in your state or click here.

Not if they are DESIGNED for ease of use. Symtech optical systems require less training, in fact, most questions can be answered by a phone call. This means less time to perform a headlamp alignment. For example, checking alignment on a two headlamp application can be performed in less than 2 minutes if no adjustment is required.

All Symtech systems allow for calibration in the field by the operator. There is no return to the manufacturer for costly calibration assurances and no downtime.

No! All Symtech systems utilize a laser-accurate floor slope assessment system. Electronic systems incorporate rechargeable power supplies, making our equipment a highly portable system to be used throughout the shop.

All systems are warrantied for one full year from the date of purchase. However, the warranty does not apply to equipment that has been subjected to misuse, neglect or accident.

All Symtech systems are designed for modular component replacement, with repairs 98% of the time performed at your facility, by you. Should any component of the system malfunction or become damaged, a phone call to Symtech Technical Assistance can assess the problem, advise of replacement component and instruct you on the repair upon receipt of the component. Downtime is costly. The shipping of components instead of a complete unit, coupled with your ability to do repairs on site, allows for lower shipping costs and less time that your Symtech system is offline. Symtech’s 24-hour turnaround of replacement components not only saves you money but assures you of quality parts designed specifically for your equipment.

Yes, Using BRIGHT SOLUTIONS on your lenses may improve your night visibility by as much as 80%! Driving with yellowed or clouded lenses is a safety hazard. After restoring an aged lens, you will notice that you no longer need to drive with your lights on bright all the time.

Yes. We strongly recommend this. Follow all three steps as if you are restoring an aged lens. We recommend repeating this every 12-24 months for the best results.

This is dependent upon a number of different factors such as, climate, amount of UV (sun) exposure, salty ocean air, high mineral content in water, improper cleaning and caring for your vehicle, and other factors. BRIGHT SOLUTIONS was developed and tested in southeast Florida where vehicles are subject to the worst of these elements and on the cars we’ve tracked, protect up to 2 years.

It’s possible, depending on the car and how well the headlight is sealed. Some headlights do have a little bit of yellow coming from the inside. This is usually just a small portion of the damage you are seeing, and using our system will still drastically improve the appearance and your nighttime visibility.

Yes. This type of repair takes a little more work, but you’ll still be done with both headlights in less than 10 minutes.

Yes. This system can be used on any type of plastic. It doesn’t even need to be automobile-related.

Yes. The Shine Restorer/Protector not only increases the shine, but it protects and seals the lens. If you do not use the Shine Restorer/Protector the ens will start to dull within a few days.

When properly used, this BRIGHT SOLUTIONS PROFESSIONAL SERIES kit allows you to clean both (2) headlights on 60-70 vehicles.

Yes. However, when applying at temperatures that are below 60° F, you will need to turn on your headlights to warm up the surface before using the products in the kit. Using BRIGHT SOLUTIONS in a heated garage is another effective method. For best results, BRIGHT SOLUTIONS should be used at temperatures above 60° F.

Yes. Never allow the products contained in a BRIGHT SOLUTIONS kit to freeze or store them in such a way that they are exposed to freezing temperatures. Always wet the sandpaper with the water-based pretreatment to avoid damage to your plastic surfaces. For the best results, do not apply the Shine Restorer/Protector in direct sunlight or temperatures below 60°F. Also, do not use or store these products near fire, sparks, flame, or any heat source. Do not smoke while using these products, as some are flammable.

Yes. BRIGHT SOLUTIONS is suitable for restoring other plastic surfaces such as motorcycle windshields, boat windshields, convertible top windows, emergency light bars as well as tail lights and signal lights. BRIGHT SOLUTIONS also works on non-automobile plastics such as, bicycle reflectors, helmet face shields, plastic outdoor furniture table tops and other similar items.

If your ATF machine won’t power up, you should:

• Check for improperly installed fuse(s) Watch Video
• Check for blown fuse(s)

When your ATF machine powers up but will not function, use these tips to try fixing the issue.

• If “New Display” reads “32.0,” the tank is overfilled
• If “New Tank” “Low Tank Level” LED is lit, there is not enough fluid in the “New Fluid Tank” to perform the exchange, and new fluid needs to be added to the tank; watch video
• If “Used Tank” “High Tank Level” LED is lit, there is not enough room in the “Used Fluid” tank to perform the exchange, and the tank needs to be emptied; watch Video

• Filter needs to be serviced; watch video
• Screen on Extraction Wand needs to be cleaned
• Bad connection to vehicle battery
• Low vehicle battery
• Extraction wand is kinked

Here are a few reasons an exchange cannot start in cooler line mode.

• Vehicle not running
• No vehicle pressure present on gauge; watch video
• Cooler lines are reversed; watch video
• Vehicle transmission not at operating temperature

If the “Reverse Polarity” LED is lit, the battery connections to the vehicle are reversed; watch video

If displays read “LO BAt” then check the following:

1. Check connection to the vehicle battery
2. On Board battery is low
3. Vehicle battery is low
4. Battery connection cables are bad
5. Improperly installed fuse(s) Watch Video
6. Blown fuse(s)

Fluid has been spilled into machine cabinet and needs to be cleaned out

If your ATF machine drains but doesn’t refill the vehicle pan, use the following to troubleshoot.

• Shuttle valve failure, call tech support @ 1-816-525-9263
• On board pump failure, call tech support @ 1-816-525-9263
• Kinked extraction wand
• Filter needs to be serviced; watch video
• Screen on Extraction Wand needs to be cleaned

If you do not have the proper adapter for a vehicle, additional adapters are available from Symtech. Call us toll-free at 1-816-525-9263

When your ATF machine won’t empty, troubleshoot with these options:

• Valve on end of hose not opened
• 3 to 5 second delay when valve is opened is normal

If the pressure gauge jumps to 100+ pounds of pressure in cooler mode, don’t worry. This is normal and occurs when the machine needs to catch up with the vehicle

If your ATF machine is not pulling the full 1.6 quarts during each cycle in dipstick mode, check the following:

• Extraction wand not reaching the bottom of the vehicle pan
• Vehicle pan has a “step” in it
• Vehicle pan has a low capacity