Acura TSX - Headlights
I have had my TSX for a week and noticed that my rear window vibrates also.
In addition - when driving at night the headlights are distracting especially on dark roads that go uphill or downhill. (I previously had a CL with similar headlights but did not find them distracting at night). For example - when stopped at a traffic light the bottom half of the car in front of me will be illuminated from the bumper down to the street and from the bumper up the car will be dark. As my car travels uphill or downhill this lighting effect goes up and down on the road in front of you causing a distraction.
Anybody else experience this - maybe the lights are pointed to low?
In addition - when driving at night the headlights are distracting especially on dark roads that go uphill or downhill. (I previously had a CL with similar headlights but did not find them distracting at night). For example - when stopped at a traffic light the bottom half of the car in front of me will be illuminated from the bumper down to the street and from the bumper up the car will be dark. As my car travels uphill or downhill this lighting effect goes up and down on the road in front of you causing a distraction.
Anybody else experience this - maybe the lights are pointed to low?
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Comments
One additional issue I have with the lighting is the way the NAVI screen flips to black with headlights on...my LCD screen image looks like a stretched graphic all of the time (probably to fill the 8" screen?).The image quality is far superior on the older NAVI screens (also MUCH brighter in daylight).
Overall, I think the TSX is a mixed-bag of great ideas, and just "so-so" actual functional features in an '04 car.
By the way...why doesn't the voice tell you when fuel is low, or headlights are on? My '81 Nissan 200sx did this and it was actually pretty cool.
Love everything else about it, so far.
"5. I don't like the HID headlights because of the issue with oncoming drivers and because it is a propagation of a myth--that we have to eliminate nighttime with ludicrously bright lights in the name of 'safety.' In fact, glare and the excess contrast between what is and isn't illuminated by bright lights (HID, gas stations, etc.) is more of a problem than if all headlights illuminated moderately. If you let your eyes become accustomed to a level of light, you will see fine."
ahh. good point. Very similar to this is what people mistakenly do for security lighting around their homes. They think that "I want bright light to scare away the burglars".
Well, if you do that, you better be darn sure that you've illuminated every nook and cranny of your home. If not, criminals can work within the shadows to gain access. The better advice is to have LESS intense lighting, therefore, the contrast between the lit and unlit areas will be lessened and thereby creating an atmosphere where it's harder to go unnoticed.
Perhaps the same can be said about automotive lighting. Several people complain that they think there is less visibility at night. Not from areas within the HID beam range, mind you, but outside of it. Everything else is now more difficult to see because of that greater contrast.
Exactly my feeling about them. I also heard that they are VERY expensive to replace.
As far has being low I kind of agree with that but I think it is more apparent because they cut off so quickly, I still get "flickered" at buy on coming traffic if the road ahead is angled up at me at all.
I suggest test driving one at night and parking your car and the TSX facing a building the same distance away and see the difference. If you like it good if you don't.. well bummer, maybe a vehicle with auto leveling would be a better fit for your wife.
I thought auto leveling headlights were for heavy loads where the lights would be tilted up- like auto leveling suspension on nicer SUV's. Will they auto level with bumps in the road?- seems it would be too expensive in this form except for something like an S Class, etc.
The cutoff on the HIDs for the TSX is very sharp, and the lights are low. I could see better with the Halogens in my last Accord.
my uncle has a is300 and his auto leveling seemed more then "over rated" just because he has a sloped driveway and when he turned the lights on they conformed to the drive slope of the drive way.. now if that is the only time they level I would assume that would be pretty dangerous because he would have to back out onto a level road, if they didn't level themselves again would kind of make the lights very unusable I would think? BUT I have a TSX and the TSX doesn't have auto leveling so I don't know.
you may want to try the IS300 just to compare lights I know the IS300 has HID and auto leveling but I don't think they are projector beam?? so there is a different and you may bet a bit more dispersing??
But, either way, I'm not impressed by the HIDs int he TSX. I think standard halogens work better.
HIDS are a matter of opinion if you want to get down to technical data I would say HIDS are better.. but stats don't always tell the truth.
problem is I am a tech junky so technology gets me every time!!
More power to you uncledavid 2 of the 3 sedans you own have the lights you like better!! can't argue with you their!
My daily driver is the TSX. My dad drives the Beemer, and my sister drives the Audi. I find the sharp cutoff in my own car to be distracting, and I don't like it. But, I understand why you feel HIDs are better. Maybe this is just one of those additions that is useful, but not yet perfected.
I will say that when i first got the car I wasn't a bit fan of the low cut off, but since then I don't even think about it anymore, but then again I am in the city most of the time..
In contrast, the HIDs in the TSX are merely average..
I'm not an engineer, but maybe it has something to do with the more traditional round projector of the BMW..
I know that Honda can make them better.. and probably will....
regards,
kyfdx
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The left (drivers side) headlight, at least in non autoleveling ones at least, is usually aimed slighlty lower than the right for the purpose of not blinding other drivers.
Hopefully if any problems with my car come up you guys can steer me in the right direction for a fix.
(fingers crossed hopefully did not pick up a :lemon: )
_______/------------
where the '/' is the center of the beam.
Right-hand drive vehicles have a beam pattern that looks like this:
-------------\_______
When shined against a wall about 8 feet in front of the car, the difference in height between the right and left sides of center is about 2.5". At greater distances, such as 100 feet, the difference is much larger.
The reason for this, as previously suggested above, is to compensate for road crown (center of road is higher than shoulders) and to decrease glare to oncoming drivers. Contrary to others' statements, the left headlamp is not aimed lower than the right [on left-drive cars]. If aimed improperly, the right headlamp is just as effective as the left at blinding oncoming drivers. Both headlamps are aimed level. The headlamp beam pattern affects the amount of glare. Therefore, left and right-side headlamps have identical beam patterns. Both have the jagged-horizontal-line cutoff pattern.
I am not sure if that outer headlamp cover is supposed to be sealed (which I imagine). Are there any adverse effects short or long term by having moisture in that outer headlamp cover shell? What can be done?
Thanks.
Is there any way for me to remove the cover myself and clean and reseal it (before I lose another headlight or is this something only the acura service department can do?
2004 TSX
The center lights of the dash on my wifes 04 Acura TSX are out.The navigation screen illuminates properly however ALL the controls surrounding the nav system are DARK at night as well as the clock(top CENTER)ALL the contols work properly for the climate control and with a flashlight you can see that the clock is working as well.My question is does anyone have any experiance with this? Is there a seperate FUSE that controls the Illumination of this area?Thank you for any input!
Christian Schulze