Adaptive Front Lights
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Adaptive Front Lights
I have an advanced, and from the info below the 5th jewel LED is for the adaptive front lights. It is suppose to work from 28mph to 59mph. When I turn my lights on the 5th jewel LED is not lit on either headlight on my car. This is true when either the driving lights are on, or the High Beams are on.
On all other trims (tech, A-Spec, etc) the 5th jewel LED, is suppose to be part of the High Beams. On the advanced it is suppose to be independent and used for the Active Front Lights........
That is if I understand the info correctly.......
I was wondering if owners of the advanced trim can check the 5th jewel LED, to see if it lights up either with the driving lights, or the High Beams. Likewise if the owners of the A-Spec, Tech, Base trims can check if the 5th jewel LED lights up either when the driving lights are on, or when the High Beams are on (It is suppose to be part of the High Beams on these trims).
Finally the module for the Adaptive Front Lights is behind the glove box. So if any advanced owner happens to take the clove box out for some reason, please check to see if its there
As you can see from the image below, its for the US RDX, and not the Canadian one....
On all other trims (tech, A-Spec, etc) the 5th jewel LED, is suppose to be part of the High Beams. On the advanced it is suppose to be independent and used for the Active Front Lights........
That is if I understand the info correctly.......
I was wondering if owners of the advanced trim can check the 5th jewel LED, to see if it lights up either with the driving lights, or the High Beams. Likewise if the owners of the A-Spec, Tech, Base trims can check if the 5th jewel LED lights up either when the driving lights are on, or when the High Beams are on (It is suppose to be part of the High Beams on these trims).
Finally the module for the Adaptive Front Lights is behind the glove box. So if any advanced owner happens to take the clove box out for some reason, please check to see if its there
As you can see from the image below, its for the US RDX, and not the Canadian one....
The following 4 users liked this post by pgeorg:
#5
Drifting
From what I have read, if you have it you would know it, and I don't think my USA spec Advance has it. Plus, I have read it's Canada only, eh.
Keep in mind the posted descriptions may not have kept up with last-minute changes to the vehicle specs in different markets.
My interpretation is that the "5th" jewel (counting from the periphery) should be active as a high-beam element in vehicles without adaptive lighting. This is how mine functions. All jewel elements are illuminated for high beams. Only the outer 4 are active for low beams.
In vehicles with adaptive lighting, I believe "the 5th element" should still be active as a high beam element, but it will be activated as needed for "headlight steering" during low beam operation. I could be wrong.
BTW, jcross, the words may be English, but the syntax I not think English is.
Keep in mind the posted descriptions may not have kept up with last-minute changes to the vehicle specs in different markets.
My interpretation is that the "5th" jewel (counting from the periphery) should be active as a high-beam element in vehicles without adaptive lighting. This is how mine functions. All jewel elements are illuminated for high beams. Only the outer 4 are active for low beams.
In vehicles with adaptive lighting, I believe "the 5th element" should still be active as a high beam element, but it will be activated as needed for "headlight steering" during low beam operation. I could be wrong.
BTW, jcross, the words may be English, but the syntax I not think English is.
#6
IIHS seems convinced that the RDX has adaptive headlights.
2019 Acura RDX earns Top Safety Pick+
"The RDX's base headlights are rated good. The curve-adaptive headlights that come with the Advance trim — the most expensive of four available trim levels — are rated acceptable."
2019 Acura RDX earns Top Safety Pick+
"The RDX's base headlights are rated good. The curve-adaptive headlights that come with the Advance trim — the most expensive of four available trim levels — are rated acceptable."
#7
Burning Brakes
Using the key fob and locking/unlocking the vehicle I can confirm that the 5th element is ON when the delayed headlights are ON - only the 2 inner most elements are off. I don't know what this means relative to the 'adaptive' low beams as I have yet to drive after dark. This is a US spec Advance SH-AWD.
Trending Topics
#8
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Also, as I mentioned what I posted is specifically for the US RDX model (as you can see from the first screen shot).
Of course the info could be outdated, and mixed up with the Canadian model.......
#9
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I just did a quick check of mine (excuse me if I make any typing errors - I'm still seeing big spots from looking into each LED element ).
Using the key fob and locking/unlocking the vehicle I can confirm that the 5th element is ON when the delayed headlights are ON - only the 2 inner most elements are off. I don't know what this means relative to the 'adaptive' low beams as I have yet to drive after dark. This is a US spec Advance SH-AWD.
Using the key fob and locking/unlocking the vehicle I can confirm that the 5th element is ON when the delayed headlights are ON - only the 2 inner most elements are off. I don't know what this means relative to the 'adaptive' low beams as I have yet to drive after dark. This is a US spec Advance SH-AWD.
If we do not have the Adaptive setup, the 5th jewel LED should be lit when using the High Beams and off when using the driving lights......
But then again I could be wrong, since its really hard to look at these lights.....
#10
Drifting
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: New Yorkie, Hudson Valley
Posts: 3,001
Received 1,026 Likes
on
716 Posts
That is what I thought when I first looked at it, but after looking closely I believe the 5th jewel LED does not light up. Neither when using the driving lights, nor the High Beams......
.
But then again I could be wrong, since its really hard to look at these lights.....
.
But then again I could be wrong, since its really hard to look at these lights.....
The following 3 users liked this post by Madd Dog:
#11
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
^^
#12
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Comparing the part numbers between the advanced and tech trims, I noticed that the headlight part numbers are different and the AFS control module is missing from the tech parts.
Now I don't know if that means anything or not, but It points to the fact that the advanced trim might include the Adaptive Front lights.........
Thoughts?
Now I don't know if that means anything or not, but It points to the fact that the advanced trim might include the Adaptive Front lights.........
Thoughts?
#13
Burning Brakes
This time rather than looking into the headlights I held a large piece of brown paper very close to them. I could see the individual 'light beams' from each element on the paper before they diffused. This was done in my garage without the engine running or the ignition turned on. I'll be going out tonight and will attempt to see if there's a noticeable lighting change when turning.
(Maybe strap my wife to the hood and have her watch the headlights directly. )
Last edited by MI-RDX; 08-10-2018 at 09:21 AM.
The following 2 users liked this post by MI-RDX:
billyt1963 (08-10-2018),
pgeorg (08-10-2018)
#14
That is what I thought when I first looked at it, but after looking closely I believe the 5th jewel LED does not light up. Neither when using the driving lights, nor the High Beams......
If we do not have the Adaptive setup, the 5th jewel LED should be lit when using the High Beams and off when using the driving lights......
But then again I could be wrong, since its really hard to look at these lights.....
If we do not have the Adaptive setup, the 5th jewel LED should be lit when using the High Beams and off when using the driving lights......
But then again I could be wrong, since its really hard to look at these lights.....
Low beam, only 4 jewel LED lights up
High beam , all jewel LED lights up including the 5th Element
The following users liked this post:
Curious3GTL (08-10-2018)
#15
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
^^
Mine does not light up when turning on the High Beams......
May I ask what trim do you have?
Thank you.
Mine does not light up when turning on the High Beams......
May I ask what trim do you have?
Thank you.
#17
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
That is correct. Every other trim except of the Advanced, works the way yours does. 4 Jewel LEDs for driving lights, the rest (3 Jewel LEDs) for High Beams.
Only on the Advanced, the 5th Jewel LED is suppose to work with the Adaptive Front Lights. And the High Beams are only the 2 most inner Jewel LEDs. That is if we actually have the Adaptive Front Lights in the US.....
Hope this clears it up.
Only on the Advanced, the 5th Jewel LED is suppose to work with the Adaptive Front Lights. And the High Beams are only the 2 most inner Jewel LEDs. That is if we actually have the Adaptive Front Lights in the US.....
Hope this clears it up.
#18
Registered TL Owner
please note that these pictures are from my A-Spec which would not have the adaptive headlights that are in question. If the US Advance models do have adaptive lighting it would be a huge oversight for Acura to not advertise it. Curious to see what the final answer is.
#20
Burning Brakes
That would be my take on it at this point - except I doubt the 5th element moves, it's just reaimed and illuminates during a turn to provide peripheral lighting during the turn. That would explain why it appears to never come on during either low-beam or high-beam operation - and also why the lighting tests show different results between the two systems.
#21
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Can Advanced owners try this:
Turn on your driving lights, and then stand directly in front of the drivers side headlight about 10-15 feet away. Bring your eyes almost lever with the headlight, and you will see that the 5th Jewel LED is off. Now take one or two steps to the right, while still keeping your eyes almost at the same level of the headlight. You will notice that the 5th Jewel LED is actually on, but pointing to the right.
Its the same on the passengers side headlight. Try the same thing, but take one or two steps to the left......you will notice that the 5th Jewel LED is on, and the light beam points to the left.
I tried this with the High Beams on, and its the same.....
So I wonder if this changes when the car is traveling between 28mph - 59mph (where the Adaptive Front Lights suppose to do its thing).....
Please update when you get a chance.
Turn on your driving lights, and then stand directly in front of the drivers side headlight about 10-15 feet away. Bring your eyes almost lever with the headlight, and you will see that the 5th Jewel LED is off. Now take one or two steps to the right, while still keeping your eyes almost at the same level of the headlight. You will notice that the 5th Jewel LED is actually on, but pointing to the right.
Its the same on the passengers side headlight. Try the same thing, but take one or two steps to the left......you will notice that the 5th Jewel LED is on, and the light beam points to the left.
I tried this with the High Beams on, and its the same.....
So I wonder if this changes when the car is traveling between 28mph - 59mph (where the Adaptive Front Lights suppose to do its thing).....
Please update when you get a chance.
#23
Can Advanced owners try this:
Turn on your driving lights, and then stand directly in front of the drivers side headlight about 10-15 feet away. Bring your eyes almost lever with the headlight, and you will see that the 5th Jewel LED is off. Now take one or two steps to the right, while still keeping your eyes almost at the same level of the headlight. You will notice that the 5th Jewel LED is actually on, but pointing to the right.
Its the same on the passengers side headlight. Try the same thing, but take one or two steps to the left......you will notice that the 5th Jewel LED is on, and the light beam points to the left.
I tried this with the High Beams on, and its the same.....
So I wonder if this changes when the car is traveling between 28mph - 59mph (where the Adaptive Front Lights suppose to do its thing).....
Please update when you get a chance.
Turn on your driving lights, and then stand directly in front of the drivers side headlight about 10-15 feet away. Bring your eyes almost lever with the headlight, and you will see that the 5th Jewel LED is off. Now take one or two steps to the right, while still keeping your eyes almost at the same level of the headlight. You will notice that the 5th Jewel LED is actually on, but pointing to the right.
Its the same on the passengers side headlight. Try the same thing, but take one or two steps to the left......you will notice that the 5th Jewel LED is on, and the light beam points to the left.
I tried this with the High Beams on, and its the same.....
So I wonder if this changes when the car is traveling between 28mph - 59mph (where the Adaptive Front Lights suppose to do its thing).....
Please update when you get a chance.
On the flip side, take your car for a drive at night on a semi twisty road and it should be painfully obvious if you have adaptive headlights. On any car I owned with the adaptive lights it was very obvious to me.
Last edited by RDX10; 08-10-2018 at 05:46 PM.
#24
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
^^
Yes I tried that, but as stated above, it is suppose to work when you're traveling between 28mph-59mph....
Yes I tried that, but as stated above, it is suppose to work when you're traveling between 28mph-59mph....
#25
So maybe this is why Acura is not calling it adaptive. Do the adaptive headlights in Canada do anything different?
#26
#28
I have no idea, really. Don't have the car yet. It's super weird for the IIHS and the auto press to write about this as if it's a given that the U.S. Advance has it.
#29
Drifting
For them to be adaptive they would have to physically sweep left/right. So if Acura Canada is calling them Adaptive then they must do that and if Acura USA is NOT calling them adaptive then there is a high likelihood that they don't swivel. I don't own an RDX so I can't comment on the way they work here in Canada from experience
I don't find it especially compelling to compare this to another vehicle with a very different lighting configuration. Apples vs oranges.
I'm still quite puzzled about this. But rather than dinking around with solar eclipse glasses ( which I have ), I may take the more direct approach of looking for an adaptive lighting controller.
The following users liked this post:
RDX10 (08-12-2018)
#30
According to whom? Reference? If the low beams are a single source, that would be an obvious requirement. If the low beams are composed of multiple sources, I find it much less obvious. Look up "phased array beam forming" for an example of how this type of "steering" functions in modern radio frequency applications.
I don't find it especially compelling to compare this to another vehicle with a very different lighting configuration. Apples vs oranges.
I'm still quite puzzled about this. But rather than dinking around with solar eclipse glasses ( which I have ), I may take the more direct approach of looking for an adaptive lighting controller.
I don't find it especially compelling to compare this to another vehicle with a very different lighting configuration. Apples vs oranges.
I'm still quite puzzled about this. But rather than dinking around with solar eclipse glasses ( which I have ), I may take the more direct approach of looking for an adaptive lighting controller.
You bring up an excellent point though that I had not even considered for this application to be honest and I am wondering why the heck I didn't think about that. It's not impossible to think they would be turning on and off certain LEDs to act like adaptive headlights. But this still doesn't answer my confusion of it being painfully obvious that they are adapive or not. Regardless of how they accomplish the adaptive functionality, it should be obvious if you have it or not. I know some systems are so subtle that you only notice if you look for it, but you guys are all looking for it and still can't see it right?
Has anyone from Canada checked to see if they can easily see their adaptive lights working?
#31
Drifting
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: New Yorkie, Hudson Valley
Posts: 3,001
Received 1,026 Likes
on
716 Posts
On a dark road with twists and turns, I was able to see my 535’s adaptive lights move, moreso on a right hander than on a left one. But they were also self levelling, so when you first started the car, the lights would move all over the place.
#32
Burning Brakes
I had my first chance to drive the RDX after dark and honestly didn't see a need for adaptive headlights, at least on that one trip. I wasn't on any roads where the adaptive HLs would function as published (if they're actually on the US advance trim) but there is more 'side spill' from the headlights than what the adaptive lights in my SRX provided when they did traverse. Those LEDs put out a lot of light.
#33
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
By any chance, did any of you advanced owner try what I suggested in post #21?
Thanks.
Thanks.
#35
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
We know that on all the other trims the 5th jewel element is part of the High Beams, unlike on the Advanced trim......
#36
Drifting
But I have been wandering the past couple days, and I didn't follow this thread until late last night. I plan to investigate more when I get a chance.
The following users liked this post:
pgeorg (08-12-2018)
#37
Burning Brakes
Rather than looking directly into, or trying to take pictures, of a high intensity light source I just did the logical best thing and placed a piece of paper (in this case a white paper towel) over the headlights in order to see the individual 'hot spots' created by each of the 7 LED elements in both high and low beam operation. The following 2 images are from a US spec Advance trim. The 5th element is off in the low beam setting and on with the high beam - elements 5, 6, and 7 are obviously aimed much higher than the other four. In this case if element 5 were to be used as an 'adaptive' element when turning there would have to be a mechanism in place to adjust the aim as well as activate it under those conditions.
US Advance Low Beam
US Advance High Beam
US Advance Low Beam
US Advance High Beam
Last edited by MI-RDX; 08-12-2018 at 08:45 AM.
The following users liked this post:
pgeorg (08-12-2018)
#40
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Rather than looking directly into, or trying to take pictures, of a high intensity light source I just did the logical best thing and placed a piece of paper (in this case a white paper towel) over the headlights in order to see the individual 'hot spots' created by each of the 7 LED elements in both high and low beam operation. The following 2 images are from a US spec Advance trim. The 5th element is off in the low beam setting and on with the high beam - elements 5, 6, and 7 are obviously aimed much higher than the other four. In this case if element 5 were to be used as an 'adaptive' element when turning there would have to be a mechanism in place to adjust the aim as well as activate it under those conditions.
US Advance Low Beam
US Advance High Beam
US Advance Low Beam
US Advance High Beam
So I went and tried the same thing. If you stand in front of the headlight when the High Beams are on, you will notice that the 5th LED has no hotspot in the middle like all the other LEDs have. I am pretty sure its just light bleeding from the LEDs next to it, and the 5th LED is not lit. If you don't mind when you get a chance, could you try the same thing but look at it standing in front of the headlight?
Some crappy picture standing in front of the headlight.
Thanks.