Auto leveling headlights...
04-14-2005, 08:26 AM
#1
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Auto leveling headlights...
Has anyone actually seen their headlights auto level? A friend of my mine has them in his Lexus IS and I can see them adjust when he turns his car on and sometimes when he drives. I have yet to notice them on my 8. I have a fully loaded one, so I know I have that option...any way to test them out to insure they are working?
04-14-2005, 08:54 AM
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iv Seen them Plenty Of times Move up and down.
if you want to see urs move Finde a drive way that gose up like Aeras side a Ditch that you can drive Safly over and if u really want to see them when you go over a drive way or a BUMB Stop with the back Wheels on the bumb and look at your Headlights u will see them Move.
if you want to see urs move Finde a drive way that gose up like Aeras side a Ditch that you can drive Safly over and if u really want to see them when you go over a drive way or a BUMB Stop with the back Wheels on the bumb and look at your Headlights u will see them Move.
04-14-2005, 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by RX8 XTC
iv Seen them Plenty Of times Move up and down.
if you want to see urs move Finde a drive way that gose up like Aeras side a Ditch that you can drive Safly over and if u really want to see them when you go over a drive way or a BUMB Stop with the back Wheels on the bumb and look at your Headlights u will see them Move.
if you want to see urs move Finde a drive way that gose up like Aeras side a Ditch that you can drive Safly over and if u really want to see them when you go over a drive way or a BUMB Stop with the back Wheels on the bumb and look at your Headlights u will see them Move.
04-14-2005, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by RX8 XTC
when you go over a drive way or a BUMB Stop with the back Wheels on the bumb
04-14-2005, 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by JM1FE
What's a 'bumb'? You mean a 'bomb'? Why would you want to blow up your car to see if the headlamps move?
So they would work right?
04-14-2005, 02:41 PM
#10
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Do they level only when the igition is on, or do they level when you turn the headlights on even if you havent stuck the key in?
04-14-2005, 02:59 PM
#11
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i saw it once i parked on a hill during the day, then at night when i left i turned on the lights and they pointed about 10 degrees down (could see it happen)
04-14-2005, 03:08 PM
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As far as I know, they only level in response to sensors in the chassis that measure the relative weight between the front and back of the car. So, usually they just adjust when you turn on the car, depending on whether you have passengers or cargo (or are pushing down on the trunk). I don't think there is any input to tell them how the car is oriented in respect to level as you are driving. That would be nice, though. Sometimes on certain roads the sight distance can be poor because of the sharp cutoff and the angle with respect to an upcoming section of road that is not level. There are times when I consider replacing the HID with a good set of halogen lights. Bluer light does not necessarily equate to better seeing. 
04-14-2005, 04:46 PM
#13
Originally Posted by Nubo
As far as I know, they only level in response to sensors in the chassis that measure the relative weight between the front and back of the car. So, usually they just adjust when you turn on the car, depending on whether you have passengers or cargo (or are pushing down on the trunk). I don't think there is any input to tell them how the car is oriented in respect to level as you are driving. That would be nice, though. Sometimes on certain roads the sight distance can be poor because of the sharp cutoff and the angle with respect to an upcoming section of road that is not level. There are times when I consider replacing the HID with a good set of halogen lights. Bluer light does not necessarily equate to better seeing.
Is there a way to adjust the lights up without having to take it to a shop?
shark
04-14-2005, 05:34 PM
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SharkDiver, yes it's very easy to adjust; just keep in mind that it's very likely already at the legal specs. The cutoff line is a regulation because HID lights tend to dazzle oncoming drivers with glare. There's a thread on the adjustment specs and how to do it. The adjustment itself requires only a phillips screwdriver. There are specific measurements in the shop manual to show how to do the adjustment so that the cutoffs are in the required spot. Should be easy to find that thread with a search.
04-14-2005, 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by galleychief
Why would you care if they level when the car is parked and not running or moving??
04-14-2005, 07:46 PM
#16
Originally Posted by Nubo
SharkDiver, yes it's very easy to adjust; just keep in mind that it's very likely already at the legal specs. The cutoff line is a regulation because HID lights tend to dazzle oncoming drivers with glare. There's a thread on the adjustment specs and how to do it. The adjustment itself requires only a phillips screwdriver. There are specific measurements in the shop manual to show how to do the adjustment so that the cutoffs are in the required spot. Should be easy to find that thread with a search.
04-15-2005, 05:38 AM
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parking on sped bumps and hills doesnt do jack **** in adjusting your lights on the 8.. its all in your mind...
when there is a significant weight addition to the back of the car, therefore raising the cut off, the 8s auto adjusting, adjusts the cutoff line "lower", it was designed to counter oncoming traffic blindness.
these are not the ones you see on lexus and BMWs that ACTUALLY adjust depending on the incline/decline, nor are these headlights the turning ones found on a lexus..
when there is a significant weight addition to the back of the car, therefore raising the cut off, the 8s auto adjusting, adjusts the cutoff line "lower", it was designed to counter oncoming traffic blindness.
these are not the ones you see on lexus and BMWs that ACTUALLY adjust depending on the incline/decline, nor are these headlights the turning ones found on a lexus..
04-15-2005, 10:04 PM
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My IS300 adjusts as soon as I step on gas after waiting for a red light. My 8 doesn't seem to be that sensitive. However, I feel the 8's HID is brighter than the IS300's. And the cut-off line is more visible from the 8's.
Last edited by RX-8GT; 04-17-2005 at 11:44 PM.
04-17-2005, 06:14 AM
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Originally Posted by RX-8GT
And the cut-off line is more visible from the 8's.
thats because of projectors... and are you sure ISs have auto adjust.. iwas under the impression that only projectjors can be adjusted ..since they are a more "controlled" beam?
04-17-2005, 06:14 PM
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A little OT, but what does the the autoleveler mechanism WEIGH? I might take it out and save some weight, and another thing to eventually break. Who needs one in a sports car? I'd expect one in a Lexus but not RX-8.
04-17-2005, 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by RX4life
thats because of projectors... and are you sure ISs have auto adjust.. iwas under the impression that only projectjors can be adjusted ..since they are a more "controlled" beam?
Yes, all US IS300s have HID with auto-leveling. I can see them adjusting on my IS300 SportCross. Even the HID on my Sienna can be adjusted though it's manual.
04-17-2005, 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by rodmeister
A little OT, but what does the the autoleveler mechanism WEIGH? I might take it out and save some weight, and another thing to eventually break. Who needs one in a sports car? I'd expect one in a Lexus but not RX-8.
HID headlamps = legal requirement for an adjuster. I'm amazed that the Mazda3 has *manual* adjusters (and Americans used to laugh at French cars for having them, oh, for the last 50 years?) Manual, in-car headlamp adjusters used to be illegal in the US, so they were removed from Peugeot and Citroen models sold here.
So to answer your questions, *you* need them in a sports car if it has HID lamps. The RX-8 is more of a Grand Touring Coupe than a 'sports car' anyway, so I'd fully expect it to have some extra appointments like HID lamps and their associated features.
04-17-2005, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by rodmeister
A little OT, but what does the the autoleveler mechanism WEIGH? I might take it out and save some weight, and another thing to eventually break. Who needs one in a sports car? I'd expect one in a Lexus but not RX-8.
I've read somewhere (can't remember where) that the motors and additional parts of the auto-leveling lights onlyweigh about 2 lbs.
I do know that the reason our cars come with the levelers (on HID equipped cars) is because it's federal law that all HID lights have them.
04-18-2005, 05:31 AM
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Originally Posted by RX-8GT
Yes, all US IS300s have HID with auto-leveling. I can see them adjusting on my IS300 SportCross. Even the HID on my Sienna can be adjusted though it's manual.
