| Arzoo |
A number of us (myself included) have been unhappy with the sensitivity of the ’03 auto-on headlights. Namely, they don’t go on soon enough after dusk. The easy solution, as discussed in this thread, and this thread, is to cover the sensor with some sort of semi-transparent film or tint. I’ve been using a small piece of film negative. But for me, the film has curled up and I wasn’t happy using any tape to keep it in place. A better solution would be vinyl window tint (as suggested by rjmitche).
So here’s how to get some:
SolarStat
I called their 800 number (800-783-0454) and asked for a sample. A package arrived a few days later with all kinds of stuff, including two tint samples in dark gray and bronze. I’m trying the bronze. Using scissors, I cut a small piece which fits perfectly over the sensor. You wouldn’t even know it was there. I’ll let you know how it works! |
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| Casique |
| Electrical tape works well if you leave the lights all the time as I do!:1: |
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| jat3 |
| not meant to be a rude reply, but why not just do the extra click and not use the 'AUTO'? We've driven cars without the auto-on headlights, so I don't think it will be that difficult to not use it. |
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| Blackura |
quote:
Originally posted by jat3
not meant to be a rude reply, but why not just do the extra click and not use the 'AUTO'? We've driven cars without the auto-on headlights, so I don't think it will be that difficult to not use it.
It's nice to know your lights will *definitely* switch off when you exit the vehicle instead of worrying that you didn't hear the soft warning chime on a noisy street. I guess the streets in Idaho are a bit quieter than the streets of NYC, eh?
:) |
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| Arzoo |
quote:
Originally posted by jat3
not meant to be a rude reply, but why not just do the extra click and not use the 'AUTO'? We've driven cars without the auto-on headlights, so I don't think it will be that difficult to not use it.
Well, that's one solution. But we've also driven cars for years without power windows, power locks, cruise control, heated seats, auto-up windows, auto-wipers, and navigation systems. If you're not going to use them, might as well buy this: :D |
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| jat3 |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackura
It's nice to know your lights will *definitely* switch off when you exit the vehicle instead of worrying that you didn't hear the soft warning chime on a noisy street. I guess the streets in Idaho are a bit quieter than the streets of NYC, eh?
:)
...I'm sorry, but I think we're not on the same page. The original post was for sensitivity of auto-headlights, and you're talking about the headlight's "SCREEN-SAVER". Even if you force the headlights ON, it'll automatically shutoff after you turn the engine off.
...depending on where (in idaho) you're at, living here feels like you're in the middle of nowhere !!! Nice and simple place though. |
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| jat3 |
quote:
Originally posted by Arzoo
Well, that's one solution. But we've also driven cars for years without power windows, power locks, cruise control, heated seats, auto-up windows, auto-wipers, and navigation systems. If you're not going to use them, might as well buy this: :D
...uhm, excuse me but the auto-headlights are 'WAY' different than the ones you've mentioned.
...think of it as:
- You press the power-lock, because you want the doors to be locked.
- You click autoheadlights, because you want headlights on; but the sensors don't think it's dark enough, it won't do it :confused:
It's more like a necessity versus a 'not so nice to have'.
...in a few more years, that car will rack a lot of money (if sold to the museum)...:D |
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| cp_ssrebba |
| how can you make the light stay off for longer period like when driving under the overpass around 5-6 pm slow traffic? was this siscussed or anyone came up with a solution? |
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| Arzoo |
quote:
Originally posted by cp_ssrebba
how can you make the light stay off for longer period like when driving under the overpass around 5-6 pm slow traffic? was this siscussed or anyone came up with a solution?
No solution to that, unless you just turn off the Auto-headlights (as jat3 has suggested). |
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| Arzoo |
quote:
Originally posted by jat3
...uhm, excuse me but the auto-headlights are 'WAY' different than the ones you've mentioned.
...think of it as:
- You press the power-lock, because you want the doors to be locked.
- You click autoheadlights, because you want headlights on; but the sensors don't think it's dark enough, it won't do it :confused:
It's more like a necessity versus a 'not so nice to have'.
I disagree. They're all just convenience features. Whether they work as expected or not is a different matter. |
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| Blackura |
quote:
Originally posted by jat3
...I'm sorry, but I think we're not on the same page. The original post was for sensitivity of auto-headlights, and you're talking about the headlight's "SCREEN-SAVER". Even if you force the headlights ON, it'll automatically shutoff after you turn the engine off.
...depending on where (in idaho) you're at, living here feels like you're in the middle of nowhere !!! Nice and simple place though.
One of these days, I'm gonna get to Idaho. Montana too. A former coworker had a "gentlemans ranch" up there and always vacationed there for "mental health" holidays. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about the whole region (excepting Ted Kacyzinski's cabin of course).
But I digress. Perhaps your X is different than mine. If I use the "manual" controls and turn off my engine the headlights stay on and a gentle (can hardly hear it in traffic) warning alarm goes off. If I don't hear that, I will kill my battery.
But when using the "auto" feature, the lights turn off when I turn off the engine and open the door. I like that. I just wish there was a sensitivity control for dusk and dawn. Here in NY, it's the law that lights must be on when wipers are on. No matter how dark the storm clouds are in daylight, the headlights never ever go on in "auto". Ironically, the automatic wipers don't come on in mist when I need them, but they do sometimes come on when it's perfectly dry. But that's an issue for a different thread.
Anyway, I'd like to use the "auto" feature and save myself a dead battery, but there's no way to adjust the sensitivity of the auto feature short of suggestions posted here (like sticking photo film on the light sensor).
Me? I just glue-sticked a small piece of black paper on my sensor. Now "auto" means "always on" just like the manual control, but they shut off when I turn off the engine and open the door. A compromise at best, but it works for me. |
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| mdxer46 |
Hey Arzoo
If I squint my eyes when I look at that picture, it almost looks like an MDX!!
Kinda scary! |
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| jat3 |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackura
But I digress. Perhaps your X is different than mine. If I use the "manual" controls and turn off my engine the headlights stay on and a gentle (can hardly hear it in traffic) warning alarm goes off. If I don't hear that, I will kill my battery.
you're right, I'm sorry. I didn't notice the tiny note on the manual that the auto shutoff was for non-touring only. |
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| jat3 |
quote:
Originally posted by Arzoo
I disagree. They're all just convenience features. Whether they work as expected or not is a different matter.
That's fine if you find them as 'convenience' only. Although you got to admit that's not the general perception...
Those things are 'really' nice to have (except for the uncontrollable auto-headlights), which is why most (and not all) would rather buy new cars (with all these convenience features), than buying older vehicles...like the image you posted :D |
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| ndahbar |
I dunno what all the fuss is about. I think the sensitivity is spot-on. For example, if I am driving under a 50-ft wide bridge at 30mph, I DONT want the auto-headlights to come on, and then shut-off after 2 seconds. The designers probably took such scenarios into consideration, hence the purposely introduced lag-time for them to come on.
Works perfect for me, and I've "tested" them countless times (I park in an underground garage so trust me when I say that). Alas, there WERE a couple of times when it was forecast outside, and dark enough that I figured the lights will come on any second now...now...now...oops...no lights. But then again more than half the cars on the road didn't have their lights on yet...so overall, I think it's pretty much spot-on.
Same for the windshield wipers sensitivity (adjustable!). Works great for me. Not FLAWLESS, but great. |
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| whynotmdx |
| We have our radar detector mounted about 1 inch above the sensor and the lights seem to come on perfectly for us. |
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| Captain MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by whynotmdx
We have our radar detector mounted about 1 inch above the sensor and the lights seem to come on perfectly for us.
Ofcourse. Radar detectors are black. |
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| whynotmdx |
quote:
Originally posted by Captain MDX
Ofcourse. Radar detectors are black.
Perhaps obvious to you, but I didn't have a grand plan when I put the detector there so I thought others might find it useful. With the black opaque object located above the sensor the lights come on at nearly the exact time they should, going into tunnels, covered parking, at dusk, etc. They also turn off appropriately in the bright sun. It can be raining on a bright sunny day and they still don't come on though. |
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