Acura TL Tech light sensitivity

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Old 03-10-2009, 03:59 PM
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Unhappy Acura TL Tech light sensitivity

Just got a TL with Tech package and was trying to set the sensitivity for the headlights so they would come on automatically with the wet dreary weather we have every spring in Wisconsin. The lights do come on automatically when it gets dark or I drive into the garage. The manual states that in the max sensitivity setting they will be on in 'bright' conditions. Set them to max and on a dreary rainy day no automatic lights!
Talked to the Acura dealer and they called Acura and apparently this is how they are 'suppose' to function. Has anyone else tried to set this and gotten them to work in anything other than very low level light? Obviously this not a huge deal but what the heck do they have all those settings for under headlight sensitivity if none of them work?
Would appreciate others input. This forum has been great.
Old 03-10-2009, 05:18 PM
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No solution for you, but I'll add that if they aren't coming on for those 'dreary' days, maybe they're not so dreary afterall!? The glass is, afterall, half full
Old 03-10-2009, 06:40 PM
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seriously Colin I am trying to find out if other TL tech owners have the same problem. If I lived in Hawaii I probably wouldn't care, but Wisconsin is definitely not Hawaii and our springs are full of dark dreary days where a auto headlight feature is of some value to me.
Old 03-10-2009, 08:24 PM
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Seriously, if the max sensitivity isn't turning it on soon enough I don't know what you can do other than tinting the sensor.
Old 03-10-2009, 09:17 PM
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I just got my TL Tech and have experienced the same condition. In NJ, lights are supposed to be on if you turn on your wipers but the MAX sensitivity is not MAX. Guess I'll just have to manually put them on as dreary doesn't cut it.
Old 03-10-2009, 11:09 PM
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thanks for the feedback, I wish you had a different experience than I did! Love the car, but technology is again not perfect. Something to look forward to in the future.
Old 03-10-2009, 11:33 PM
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tint the sensor would work, in fact, you don't even have to tint that, just grab a tinted transparent. the sensor is at the very bottom of the windshield.
Old 03-14-2009, 08:50 AM
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Final followup, Heard from Acura's Concierge service. They talked to the Tech's and said that as long as the auto function worked when it got dark it was working. Thought that the manuel was somewhat inaccurate and might need change in future.
Old 06-25-2009, 03:49 PM
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same here, I live in Vancouver, BC..... lights won't turn on when rainning.....
Old 06-27-2009, 06:41 PM
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As much as we all would like for technology to do what we all can do naturally with our minds, things do not always work out as planned

Therefore, it's best to rely on your own judgment to just manually flip the switch when you feel you need the lights on.

Technology is great but there are always pitfalls.
Old 10-10-2011, 02:57 PM
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I have the same problem.

I have tried MID, HIGH, and MAX, and get the same results every time. They don't turn on unless I am in the garage, or its pretty dark outside. Even on Max, it's not until after sundown that they turn on. I've noticed that as the sun is setting, the dash lights blink back and forth between day and night every few seconds.

I have the same issue here where it is overcast to the point that I need lights to see, they still don't turn on. I wonder if they are sensing UV light rather than visible light?
Old 10-10-2011, 04:04 PM
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I have noticed this a few years ago that max at settings it still has to get pretty dark for the lights to come on.
Old 10-11-2011, 09:49 AM
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Well, do you want the lights to be on to see or to be seen. For the latter you have the DRLs.
Old 10-11-2011, 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted by TinyRK
Well, do you want the lights to be on to see or to be seen. For the latter you have the DRLs.
its the law in some states....
Old 06-13-2012, 05:09 PM
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So which sensor should I tint? The round bubble or the indented rectangle?
Old 06-14-2012, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by vinnier6
its the law in some states....
Does that law apply to vehicles equiped with DRLs? DRL is fairly new, when was the law passed/enforced?
Old 06-14-2012, 09:11 PM
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I can only speak to Ohio law, but here is a link: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4513

It does not specify headlights, but reads that all required lights must be illuminated when the windshield wipers are used. In this regard, the DRL's would not be sufficient, since the taillights would not be illuminated. YMMV for your state.
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