We just traded in our 02 TL for the 05 RL...the only problem we seem to be having is that when we are at a dark area with no street lights, we cannot see beyond 20 feet of the road. This was really scarry when there was a car parked very close to us and we couldn't see it...we never had this problem in the TL...any fixes, solutions, or comments? Also, are you guys having this potentially dangerous problem?

Thanks...

 

This never seems to be a problem for me.

 

Are you only using your Daylight Driving Lights at night? Flip on the lights... they are the best I've every experienced.

 

Agreed. The TL, TSX and RL all have been the best lighting system I have used...

 

No probs with the lights here....

 

We are using our night lights...the only way to make it possible to see is to have the high beam on...but that's a distraction to oncoming traffic...i don't know, maybe we just got used to the extrememly bright 02 TL lights...

 

The RL/TL/S2000 use projectors which have a very sharp horizontal cutoff in their headlights. This is done so that it reduces the glare for oncoming drivers.

If you park your car in a garage or next to a wall, you'll be able to see the line clearly.

It gets worse whenever youre travelling through dark hilly roads. You wont be able to see beyond the crest of the hill in front of you. But you'll eventually get used to it.

If it really annoys you, you may be able to lift the beam up a little, but be warned. You'll be blinding the hell out of any drivers in front of you or coming towards you. If you search S2ki.com, you'll see that some drivers have had near physical confrontations with other drivers accusing them of flashing them.

 

I guess im just going to have to get used to it...Thanks for the help guys...

 

I have to agree with the rest of the posters here that the RL's lights are amazing. I think that the other posters have covered the possible reasons for your problem, ie. either only the DRL's are on or it is your perception of the different type of lighting produced by the HID's. The only other thing that I can think of is that only your fog lights are on, but I don't think that it is possible to have only the fog lights on.

 

Ok some have suggested DRLs and fogs only are in use Everyone has praised the RLs lights, and I have no reason to dispute this. No one has suggested an actual problem. If its as bad as you say, you may have a problem.

I do not recommend that you just "get used " to seeing only 20 feet up the road. IF you can indeed see only 20 feet at night AND IF you do not night vision problems I'd recommend having the dealer check it out! Is it just you; or do others agree YOUR RL has poor night illumination?

 

Good point.

 

There's likely something wrong with your lights. That said, the RL's headlights do take some getting used to. The overall patterns aren't as uniform as patterns thrown with old style headlights. Low beams have a sharp cutoff and you're out of luck to see much above that cutoff. In addition the low beam pattern is purposely uneven, with the left one lower than the right one. Even with the agressive cutoff, on the country roads I frequent, I'm still getting flashed by oncoming vehicles. I believe other drivers are reacting to the brightness because the lights do not appear to be misaligned. I'm not that impressed with the high beams. And this might be only due to the fact that the low beams are so bright...the high beams do not appear to illuminate down the road as well as the ones in my old '94 Honda. Caveat: I haven't tried a side by side test. The fog lights are a different matter. The RL's are far brighter and have more coverage, particularly out to the sides than the ones on the Honda. BTW, I'm getting flashed with the fog lights off.

 

We just had a side by side comparison on the lights with the dealership's demo car...they are the same...they just dont cover as much distance as the old cars...not only that, its a solid line cut off...within 20ft of the car distance is totally bright...after that, there is a clear line and that's where the problem is...if there is a car parked or someone walking in dark clothes, if ure driving to fast, then there wont be enough time to stop....sorry for the confusing paragraph

 

I don't owned the RL, but I know for a fact that the Legend has auto-leveling, I don't know if they took this feature out for the US RL. I didn't think so. If they are, then you can't adjust!!!

 

The reason that I assumed that iRiverRox's problem was likely NOT related to a malfunction was that his compaint was very similar to those I have heard from practically every driver who drives for the first time with HID's (regardless of the vehicle). Even though HID's are a superior lighting source, the type of light and the pattern of illumination are very different than old halogens and it does take some getting used to.

 

IRiverRox: Assuming that your RL's headlight is properly adjusted, always leaving the fog lights on MIGHT help as they are more diffuse.

 

I am one of the few who agree with iRiverRox. The headlights are bad on low beam especially in very dark hilly conditions. The cut-off is too harsh and the left light height needs to be the same as the right. I suspect that most on this thread that think that these lights are "the best" have never used HID's before. My Cadillac was far superior to the RL that I now drive.

 

this is how any projector hid will be...

 

I suspect that what is happening here is a difference in how the lighting is perceived between HID & non-HID systems. From what I can tell in my RL, the HIDs actually project further forward & certainly wider than my other cars with halogens.

BUT, and this is a non-trivial difference, that sharp cut-off means that I can't see street signs well or other items that I'm used to seeing. The only time I've felt this difference may cause safety issues is when I'm headed downhill and I'm trying to see ahead, especially near the bottom of a U-shaped area (heading down into the dip). Then I really can't see the road ahead at all.

 

I love my RL, but I have to say that it's the first time I've been afraid to drive the local hilly Maryland roads at night. I have to constantly cycle the bright lights to see far enough ahead when going down hill.

We've got lots of deer around here ( my wife and I have hit three so far), and nighttime they often jump out in groups, usually at low spots near the reservoir. I often feel like a rolling accident waiting to happen.

It seems to me that there should be some way to see better without blinding the other drivers.

 

I have noticed something with the RL headlights....

I usually ride in early morning darkness with the
headlights and foglamps on.

I have found drivers flashing their lights at me as
if I was running the high beams (which I am not).

Are the Xeon bulbs that bright that drivers in the
opposite direction think I am running high beams?

 

Yes, the Xeon lights are bright, especially to someone who does not know what they are (I was an example).

 

I agree with you Waltermac, but in the encounters w/deer I've had they
jump out at the last second and there's no chance of stopping in time...
longer lights or a larger pattern would have made no difference in my
reaction time. In Japan they have the infrared system on the RL...now
that would be nice!

 

Do those deer warning things that auto stores sell work?