This is from a discusion at Consumer Reports' website. I'd love to hear any comments or reactions:


I have a new 2004 TSX. When the headlights are on low beam, they cast a distinct, straight line of light that is so low it doesn't iluminate stop signs or street signs. Above this line of light, it's dark and things aren't easily distinguishable. When driving down a hill, the visible distance becomes even more pronounced, as the distance illuminated feels uncomfortably short which gives one an uneasy comfort level. I've taken the car in to be checked, and the service rep said it's within the specs. If I have the high beams on, the field of vision is comparable to other model cars. I drove another Acura TSX, and the headlights were identical to mine. Have you had any other complaints about this car or other models with this kind of headlight? Do you have any suggestions on how I might deal with this problem?



From: CR_Expert_John_Ibbotson Nov-11 1:47 pm

We have been doing headlight tests on vehicles and we have found the Acura's with HID (high intensity discharge) lights to be very low. I would check with another dealer to make sure the headlights are aligned properly. Ask them how they did it. There are several ways I have seen garages and dealers align headlights and only very few ways are correct. They may be able to move them up slightly for you. We have found on the Acura's that it does not take much adjustment up before they begin to get too bright for oncoming traffic and you will start to get flashed by that car passing by. As far as the line of light and darkness you are seeing, that will always be there and there is not much you can do except possibly move it up if the headlights can be moved up, but again remember you can only go so far and that line will never go away.

 

I wouldnt mind having my headlights higher, but I am already getting the occasional highbeam flash so I had better not.

 

I get flashes as well, but it's good to know that I'm not the only one who's noticed the low lights. I've never had HIDs before, so I thought it wa normal.

 

Will the factory fog lights help to illuminate the area not covered by the HID?

 

Nope. I have the factory foglights (which I really like, btw). As should be the case, they are lower than the HID lights.

And, yeah, bondgrrl, I've been a LITTLE unhappy about how low the lights are as well.

 

yes i must agree i dont like how low the lights are at all. its low visibility goin uphill or downhill.
or even small inclines or declines.
AKay

 

No problems for me. Lights up stop signs and stuff just fine

 

Fine for me..........same beam pattern with the S2000 also.

 

i already raised mine the 2nd day i had the car. i moved he lights up about an inch from where they were originally on a flat wall at about 15 feet. on a flat road i can clearly see the lights lighting up just below the rear window of a car i am following. i have come to the conclusion that no matter if they are adjusted a little hiogh or set at stock spec they will eventually blind people if the car goes over bumps or hills. so why worry about it.

 

i am happy with mine and it really lights up the road and the signs

 

I didn't really notice it before, but the other night I was at a light and the car in the opposite direction had headlights much more intense than the car with the halogens next to it. As it drove past, it was a TSX. I really don't think it's the aim of the light, but perhaps Acura is giving you guys some really strong HIDs. It actually looked like the headlights were only a fraction less bright than a car with its high beams on.

 

Bass -- on a separate note, do you know how to adjust the HID lights on the other 2 axis? I know how to raise and lower the beam, but I want to also "tilt" the left one back into stock position.

When i hit a deer a few months ago the left HID was replace, but it is slightly "slanted. this profile can clearly be seen if i pull up to my garage door at night.

 

It took a while to get used to the HID's. My ex-girl had a GS400 with the auto leveling system. I sure wish Acura would implement this in there cars. If we had this... This thread would have no use. My

 

I have the Helms manual open to the "Headlight Adjustment" section (22-165) and there seems to be one, and only one, adjustment axis possible and that's controlled by the vertical adjuster wheel. Could the headlight mounting area have been damaged by the deer?

 

Hmmm thats not good. In that case it looks like the only way to fix this would be to open up the HID unit and manually adjust the projector profile thingy -----____ manually.

I could take it back to the body shop that did the work. But not only has it been months ago since they did the work, I really dont want to ask them to do all this work only to move a small part 2 mm.

and btw, i ordered my Helms manual a week ago from monday and still havent received it yet....how long does it take to ship?

 

It's fine with mine. I drove my wife's CRV 2 days ago and I can not believe the CRV headlight was already on. It's no where compare to the HID.

 

Do you mean the driver side HID? You should notice a distinct difference in the two lines. This is done so that the driver side light has less of a chance of blinding oncoming traffic.
It looks something like this ___----- With the lower side being the driver side HID. Just saying left side is a little confusing since we don't know which left side... looking at the nose or looking at the tail, that you mean.
If you knew this already and I am the confused one I apologize.

 

Let me clarify. I am aware of the distinct difference in the two lines as to not blind oncoming traffic. What the problem is the left HID is SLANTED TO THE LEFT. Another way to think of is this: the left and right HID anre now slightly off - almost like a "double" vision effect, when really the line should be sharp.

As a test when i pull up to my garage door, and completely block the LEFT HID, the right profile looks like this -----____. When i block the Right HID, the left profile looks like this ----____, but that entire profile is SLANTED down to the left. When the two are together they do not line up!

 

That's sounds like the only fix. This is my first car with HID, and I think it sucks. Can't see enough of the road when there is a mild include (i.e. on-ramp), and other cars flash me, cuz they think my hi-beams are on. Only cool (but useless) thing is when I drive home at night, my street is really dark, and the lights illuminate the entire street about 180 degrees.

 

your lights are supposed to be like that, the lines look like this (the dots are there to make the lines look correct)
............._______ _______
______/ ______/

they come together at a point if you can see them reflect on somthing farther away.
in other words the left beam is on the left and the right on the right until about 30-40 feet away from you they will eventually pair together to look like this
.............________
______/

 

Auto-levelling won't do jack for what you're complaining about. Auto-leveling is to LOWER the lights when more weight is in the rear of the car.

 

...Along with xenon HID systems come leveling systems and lamp washers to keep the bright lights from blinding approaching motorists. From there, it's mere steps to the so-called adaptive front lighting systems now being developed. These systems propose shutters and lamp combinations to put light where and when it's needed most. from the article "let light be there" by Paul Sharke, Associate Editor Mechanical Engineering

 

I'm sure it could be done and would be a welcome addition, but as it stands, no car on the market has these.

Auto-levelling, as from the Lexus example given above, won't do this. I guess the only benefit is that they are aimed a bit higher since they don't need to allow margin for back end loads.

 

I wouldn't go so far as to say the HID lights "suck" but I vaguely disappointed in how low they are.

 

if you are really worried about it all it takes is a screwdriver and 5 minutes to fix the problem. You should try to make sure you dont' blind people though

 

By "suck", I'm expressing my disappointment that I feel safer driving my 86 Accord at night. The headlights aren't as bright, but overall performance is better.

 

the Lexus' have DYNAMIC Autoleveling, they are not just for back end loads... a few years ago they were just for loads but the new germans and Lexus' have dynamic autoleveling now...not to mention they swivel in direction the car is travelling.

 

Here is my problem.

 

Hmmm... the way how the light pattern is tilted would bother me too. I would definitely get it fixed.

 

i would think if its that far off the lense would be noticably crooked. is it possible that the bulb was inserted wrong or is there some peice behind the lense that can be turned that wasnt installed correctly?
i would try taking the whole headlight out and inspecting it to make sure its not damaged or reassembles wrong. otherwise take it to the dealer for replacement.

 

Thanks, i may ask my dealer to take a look on my next oil change. however i might have to pay unless i take it to the body shop who did the work - which i really dont want to deal with.

the lights are useable, and it really bothers me more than not functioning properly.

 

My lights are fine and I do see everything.

The fogs do help a little.

I do get high beam flashes when I put the petal to the metal. My car tilts up and I see that line of light shoot up over all the cars in front of me. But I flash them back just to let them know what's up.

 

I love flashing people at me.. its like them saying "excuse me, but your brights are on" and you reply by further blinding them by saying "you wanna see bright? HERE'S MY BRIGHTS!".

Sigh.

Small note- drove to Detroit today to go shopping at Abercrombie. Saw a MSM TSX... you may not have heated mirrors... but that colour is awesome.

J.

 

lol I'm the exact same way

 

Haha thats what i think too. Take THIS bitch!!!

 

HID's aren't bright unless you stare directly at them, kinda' like the sun... Don't do it!!

 

I don't get it... I know not to stare directly into any lights... but to say HID are not bright unless you are looking directly into them... well who's the bright one here? They are bright whatever way you look down the road. Not a big deal if you know how to drive but to dismiss this issue by saying not to stare at them is rediculous.

To me it's more a function of the projector lens... on the S2000 and I believe the TSX, the light is higly concentrated. I can't tell you how many people have pulled over to let me by because they are so god damn annoyed with my lights... hey, I can't get there faster without somebody in front of me... so I like them. Anyway, on my friend's MB S-class, his HID are just as bright but the lens difusses the light in a lot more places so you don't get the concentration of light that you get with the S2000 lens. Plus they self level which helps as well. Take notice the next time you are near an MB with HID and see how they did it. You will notice that you can look at the lights directly without too much of a problem... whereas you can't say the same with the S2000 len's.

 

Once more I have to say that I LOVE this site. I'm learning so much just from reading your conversation about this issue.

 

Yes, it is a ridiculous statement. Who the hell would say something so stupid?

 

Yeup... I do that all the time. I have even done this to a police officer... I just do it to let them know that I don't have my brights on... so it's only for an instance. I was so sure he was going to turn around.... but he didn't.