Auto Headlights

Elle · Post by **Elle** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 1:34 pm

Has anyone experienced problems with the automatic headlight sensor. This morning I drove to work in lovely sunshine with the lights on all the way and sometimes when its really dull they dont activate at all?

Alex LS · Post by **Alex LS** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 12:57 pm

I've found they do tend to light up when there's a strong light in one direction such as in front or behind you. i.e. Raining in bright sunshine, really bright dawn/dusk etc. Makes sense - it's harder to see cars in those conditions.

As for dull conditions, your dipped beam may not be on but what about your sidelights?

charlieannear · Post by **charlieannear** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 1:05 pm

Yep, I've noticed the Auto Lights coming on on bright dusk/dawn when sun very low in the sky but still bright enough to need sunnies on.

On dull nights at dusk it seems to be 'darker' before the Auto lights come on, but I think this is just our perception of how dark it is rather than the actual scientific light levels.

I guess the Auto lights can tell the difference between 'brightness' and 'strength' of the light, and whether it is bright all around or just from one direction like Alex said.
Otherwise you could be driving at night with your Auto lights on and the headlights on cars coming the other way would turn your headlights off!

Elle · Post by **Elle** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 1:54 pm

im not sure if the side lights are on or not - there is no internal indicator light to show this!!!

clarelee · Post by **clarelee** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 8:32 am

Mine come on often during the day like 2pm on a bright cloudless day, have taken it back twice and the last time they just parked the car up and said that they had looked at it and it is all working fine.

Alex LS · Post by **Alex LS** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 4:46 pm

im not sure if the side lights are on or not - there is no internal indicator light to show this!!!

So here's how you check. Turn the sidelights on manually and check whether the display dims or not. If it does, the lights weren't on. If it doesn't, they were.