Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

caranddriver.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 493 posts

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#111

Post by vidanay »

squidlogic wrote: post #34
TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are matrix headlights?

Sometimes known as pixel lighting, matrix systems are based around a high-beam unit consisting of a cluster of LEDs (the Audi matrix system consists of up to 25 LEDs per high-beam unit), rather than a single high-beam bulb that you might find in a conventional headlight. This allows you to block out certain portions of the beam so you don't blind other drivers as they approach.

On this type of lighting, what is the purpose of having high and low beams? It seems like you should be able to leave it on high all the time.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#112

Post by u801e »

ars wrote: post #8
boring_twenties wrote: post #3

I installed the (OEM) European headlights on my car. It's, well, a night and day difference. It's been 8 years and no one has noticed.

Do you have inspections in your state?

I've had E-code headlamp assemblies in my car for nearly 20 years. The car has been registered in two states where both do yearly vehicle inspections. No inspector ever failed the vehicle because of the E-code headlamps.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#113

Post by Someone1234 »

Simulacra wrote: post #105
heipei wrote: post #28

Even more importantly: Why is America still stuck with cars that honk when they're locked and that have indicator lights flashing in the same color as the tail-lights? One is a nuisance, the other one a straight-up safety issue.

The dealer will disable that for you. I couldn’t stand it, yes let’s tell everyone I just unlocked my car.

Unless there is thick fog they can just see you with their eyes.

There's security arguments for having it (i.e. confirming locking/detecting jamming) but pretending people cannot see you or otherwise hear you, but can hear a single honk isn't a realistic set of seemingly contradictory circumstances.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#114

Post by Someone1234 »

tnuc wrote: post #96
heipei wrote: post #28

Even more importantly: Why is America still stuck with cars that honk when they're locked and that have indicator lights flashing in the same color as the tail-lights? One is a nuisance, the other one a straight-up safety issue.

Putting in orange lights costs auto makers money. Please think of the poor auto companies. Saving lives is less important than a companies bottom line.

Have there been studies that looked at if different colors of indicator lights (vs. brakes) "save lives?"

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#116

Post by browningstreet »

lvspiff wrote: post #53
serf wrote: post #14

groups like Audi/Porsche/BMW have trouble bringing their fancy LED setups to America due to laws pertaining to high / low beams -- meanwhile every Jack and Jill on the road has glaringly illegal aftermarket Xenon bulb setups in refractor headlight housings rather than proper projectors, blinding the hell out of everyone on the road, and the police seem to do nothing about it. I mean, hey -- i'm usually happy about au…

The worst thing to happen to America was Autozone and Fast and Furious. Cheap aftermarket modifications to your car being sold to people with no knowledge of what they were doing but wanted it too look cool cause they saw it in the movie. Its led to years of teenagers with no training putting things on their cars that turn them into obnoxious spectacles on the road. I know I sound like an old coot but frankly I'm gla…

I guess I'm really old.

Before Fast and Furious, I lived through the slammed mini truck / monster car stereo (speakers, speakers, speakers) craze of the late 80s.

And before that there were many, many trends, like muscle cars, etc.

It's always been like this...

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#117

Post by beamatronic »

chrisseaton wrote: post #30
coding123 wrote: post #4

Even more idiotic is my truck. I put a camper on it. I can't drive it at night because the weight of the camper tilts the entire truck back just a bit so that the head lights are aimed right at driver's eyes even on the lowbeams. Everyone flashes me and gets pissed off. Hopefully Adaptive headlights account for things like this.

I would say there is almost certainly a little wheel somewhere on your dashboard to adjust them. My Land Rover has this.

Indeed, my Bentley has this feature but my Ferrari and Lamborghini do not.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#118

Post by nwallin »

coding123 wrote: post #4

Even more idiotic is my truck. I put a camper on it. I can't drive it at night because the weight of the camper tilts the entire truck back just a bit so that the head lights are aimed right at driver's eyes even on the lowbeams. Everyone flashes me and gets pissed off. Hopefully Adaptive headlights account for things like this.

Lights are always adjustable. On my last car, there was just a screw where you adjusted it one way or the other and it would move the beam up or down. You pull up to a wall some distance away, and adjust the beam so it's at the right level.

The only equipment you need is a screwdriver, and the only knowledge you need is which screw to turn and a basic understanding of "that's too high" vs "that's too low". It takes ten minutes tops.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#119

Post by kerkeslager »

serf wrote: post #14

groups like Audi/Porsche/BMW have trouble bringing their fancy LED setups to America due to laws pertaining to high / low beams -- meanwhile every Jack and Jill on the road has glaringly illegal aftermarket Xenon bulb setups in refractor headlight housings rather than proper projectors, blinding the hell out of everyone on the road, and the police seem to do nothing about it. I mean, hey -- i'm usually happy about au…

In my area, the police cars themselves have blinding LED beams.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#120

Post by jdmichal »

ygra wrote: post #107
jdmichal wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does your truck not have self-leveling headlights? Or is the change outside their ability to handle?

If it's outside the adjustment range, there's too much weight on the trailer hitch. There are limits (usually documented in the manual) and both the rear suspension and headlights are the reason for them.

Or the hitch is placed at the wrong height for the trailer.
Post reply on HN