| Luke |
One issue I noticed (with most Honda & Acura's) is that the dashboard light is always on. Therefore it's easy to think your lights are turned on when it gets dark.
Is there a way to make it more obvious, e.g. interioir lights do not automatically adjust and are completely dimmed or off? |
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| rsnaider |
There are two indicators in the cluster; one for headlights and a second for fog lights.
With many new cars using backlighting on their clusters this is an issue, but not really a big one.
Plan B - leave your lights in Auto and just forget about it. :) |
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| Luke |
Well if there would be an indicator that you forgot it... That would be nice.
And anyone notice that the headlight indicator does't distinguish from low and high beam?
Which reminds me. It's also difficult in the dark to see which setting it's in when you want to turn it on.
I think best is to always completely turn it.... (which would skip auto). |
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| shootist |
quote:
Originally posted by Luke
And anyone notice that the headlight indicator does't distinguish from low and high beam?
).
Yes it does- look for the blue indicator for high beam, and the white lights for the lows and fogs. |
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| Luke |
quote:
Originally posted by shootist
Yes it does- look for the blue indicator for high beam, and the white lights for the lows and fogs.
Interestingly it's always blue for me in any setting above off (and I'm not color blind for sure:-). I'll double check it today. |
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| rsnaider |
There are 3 indicators - The one on the right side of the PRND is the Headlight indicator (green), and the one directly to the left side of the PRND is the High Beam indicator (blue).
The one lower and to the left of the PRND is the Fog Light indicator (green).
If the Blue light is on and your High Beams are not on, and turning them on/off via the Left Column stick does not work, you have a problem. |
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| Luke |
quote:
Originally posted by rsnaider
There are 3 indicators - The one on the right side of the PRND is the Headlight indicator (green), and the one directly to the left side of the PRND is the High Beam indicator (blue).
The one lower and to the left of the PRND is the Fog Light indicator (green).
If the Blue light is on and your High Beams are not on, and turning them on/off via the Left Column stick does not work, you have a problem.
Okay I used wrong terminology. I mean you can't disintinguish between 'parking light' (or whatever it's called) and low beam.
Both are always green. So it's easy to think you're lights are on with the low beam indicator although it's not. |
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| dj-mdx2 |
quote:
Originally posted by Luke
Okay I used wrong terminology. I mean you can't disintinguish between 'parking light' (or whatever it's called) and low beam.
Both are always green. So it's easy to think you're lights are on with the low beam indicator although it's not.
I've been puzzling over this statement. I don't know where your confusion is coming from. On the 07 MDX, the parking light appears green on the right side of the gear indicator (PRND) and look like this: >0<
The low beam indicators are green on the lower left side of PRND and look like this: =D
When you flick back the stalk and turn on the highbeams, they appear on the mid-left side of PRND and look like this: =D.
Does that help? |
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| rsnaider |
quote:
Originally posted by dj-mdx2
The low beam indicators are green on the lower left side of PRND and look like this: =D
That is the fog light indicator. I agree with the OP that the indicator for the lights on the right side comes on with both parking and headlights and you have no way to know if your headlights are on.
I do not have any issue with this setup since I can easily glance down at the left stalk and see or notice reflections in cars in front to tell me my headlights are on. |
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| Luke |
quote:
Originally posted by rsnaider
That is the fog light indicator. I agree with the OP that the indicator for the lights on the right side comes on with both parking and headlights and you have no way to know if your headlights are on.
I do not have any issue with this setup since I can easily glance down at the left stalk and see or notice reflections in cars in front to tell me my headlights are on.
Yes same indicator for both parking light and low beam (unless my '07 MDX is defect which I doubt looking at the manual).
Of course I could tell if I need to check. But if you simply forget in a well lit area when it gets dark, you might not be aware.
I've seen it happen with some Honda Accord owners where the dashboard is lit (but no exterior lights). |
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| dj-mdx2 |
quote:
Originally posted by rsnaider
That is the fog light indicator. I agree with the OP that the indicator for the lights on the right side comes on with both parking and headlights and you have no way to know if your headlights are on.
Oops, my bad. That means I've always had my fogs on since the indicator lights up whenever I switched to Auto or On. |
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| dejavudu94 |
| Why not leave your lights on auto and it will turn on and shut off automatically? |
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| Luke |
quote:
Originally posted by dejavudu94
Why not leave your lights on auto and it will turn on and shut off automatically?
Don't quite trust it. It probably would turn on/off too often... |
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| andreseng |
I've had mine on auto for three years now. You can trust them.
The only time I have a problem is when it rains. NJ state law requires you to have your headlights on anytime your wipers are on. If it's still daylight while raining you must remember to manually turn on the lights. YMMV. |
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| dejavudu94 |
| We have day time running lights on the MDX. Would that count as having lights on when it rains? I'm not sure but I think it should suffice right. |
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| andreseng |
I haven't a clue.
39:3-47 Lighted Lamps Required
1. Any time from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
2. Any other time when visibility is less than 500 feet.
3. When windshield wipers are activated.
I guess you could make an argument that a DRL is a Lighted Lamp. |
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| Luke |
No... And you won't have taillights on either in that case.
The DRL are by the way down next to the foglights. Not the same lights. |
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| newbiex |
| If you turn the parking lights on, doesn't that turn the tailights on? So you would have DRL in front and tailights in rear in drizzly weather. |
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| Luke |
quote:
Originally posted by newbiex
If you turn the parking lights on, doesn't that turn the tailights on? So you would have DRL in front and tailights in rear in drizzly weather.
Yes the small (yellow?) sidelights in the front do come on, but that wouldn't qualify (legally) as low beam lights.
Still bad that you can't see in which mode it is from the dashboard. |
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| newbiex |
| Right. But in front the daytime running lights should also come on when you shift into drive. I am going to have to go home and check. |
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| dejavudu94 |
Here is a link to the vehicle code in California regarding the use of headlights in inclement weather. It doesn't say anything about the tail lights. It only says headlamps need to be above and in front of the front axel, not lower than 22 inches. I have to measure how low our day time running lights are. You may need to check the vehicle code for your area.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24400.htm
Headlamps on Motor Vehicles
24400. (a) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be:
(1) ( )1 Equipped with at least two ( )2 headlamps, with at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle, and, except as to vehicles registered prior to January 1, 1930, they shall be located directly above or in advance of the front axle of the vehicle. The headlamps and every light source in any headlamp unit shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 22 inches.
(2) Operated during darkness, or inclement weather, or both, with at least two lighted headlamps that comply with paragraph (1).
(b) As used in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), “inclement weather” is a weather condition that is either of the following:
(1) A condition that prevents a driver of a motor vehicle from clearly discerning a person or another motor vehicle on the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet.
(2) A condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.( )3
Added Sec. 2, Ch. 415, Stats. 2004. Effectve January 1, 2005. Operative July 1, 2005.
Amended Sec. 9, Ch. 311, Stats. 2006. Effective January 1, 2007.
The 2006 amendment added the italicized material, and at the point(s) indicated, deleted the following:
“During darkness and inclement weather, a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped”
“lighted”
“(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2005. |
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| Luke |
I'm sure the Acura MDX DRL is not legally allowed as substitute.
They are next to the fog lights (very low and not much light). |
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| sigp228 |
| I would leave it in auto position. You can change the sensitivity of when the come one via the MID in th settings menu. Just remember the settings are key dependent if you have the key function on. My wife leaves hers in auto position. Only in heavy rain does she turn them on. Then she puts it back to auto. If she were to forget to turn the lights off, they will turn off automatically. In addition, in auto mode, the lights stay on (for whatever time you set) after you get out. Its great in the garage and a parking lot. |
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| alsea |
| I asked a CHP officer & he said they are legal for the rain/wiper law. |
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| sigp228 |
| I can tell you that if just running the DRL's here in FL would NOT be legal technically. However, since most people dont even turn on their lights when it rains here in FL, the DRL's would be better than nothing. |
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| newbiex |
| Wow! Good discussion. I don't think full headlights are required by law where I live unless its dark. I put the parking lights on when it is rainy mostly so other people will see ME (my tail lamps in back and DRLS in front)) rather than because I can't see. Its really a good idea to check the motor vehicle code though. It would be a silly way to get a ticket. |
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| Luke |
quote:
Originally posted by newbiex
Wow! Good discussion. I don't think full headlights are required by law where I live unless its dark. I put the parking lights on when it is rainy mostly so other people will see ME (my tail lamps in back and DRLS in front)) rather than because I can't see. Its really a good idea to check the motor vehicle code though. It would be a silly way to get a ticket.
Actually I was rather referring when it's dark... In my original post I commented that I did notice a Honda driver having no lights on while it was dark (yet the dashboard was illuminated).
That can happen when the roads have enough lights or traffic that you wouldn't immediately notice. And I'm so used that when my dashboard is illuminated my lights are on. |
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