Are we OK with how bright headlights are getting?

[Oaktree]

Too bad more vehicles don’t use a better material suited to the exposure.

They seem to now. I don't see cloudy lenses on anywhere near as many vehicles made in the last 15 or so years ago as we did earlier.

 

[oldtimer 66]

Maybe the cheap and quick solution as applying a cheap overlay?

My nephew has made all kinds of things with his 3D printer…

GMC’s Recall Fix For Too Bright Headlights Is A Piece Of Tape, And Owners Are Frustrated​

Check out

https://www.carscoops.com/2022/10/gmcs-recall-fix-for-too-bright-headlights-is-a-piece-of-tape-and-owners-are-frustrated/

 

[ultrarunner]

GMC’s Recall Fix For Too Bright Headlights Is A Piece Of Tape, And Owners Are Frustrated​

Check out

https://www.carscoops.com/2022/10/gmcs-recall-fix-for-too-bright-headlights-is-a-piece-of-tape-and-owners-are-frustrated/

Growing up around the car business I saw first hand the fixes offered… some were almost a joke like a sticker…

I think Chevrolet had a motor mount problem and the fix was a cable swedged together… pintos got a plastic shield, etc…

A recall on gas tank sensor was bending the float arm leaving more fuel when showing empty…

The bright headlight sticker was my best guess.

 

[bigtiller]

GMC’s Recall Fix For Too Bright Headlights Is A Piece Of Tape, And Owners Are Frustrated​

The nightshift maintenance crew also used tape on the headlights of their Gators because of the heavily loaded bed. There was several buildings totaling about 35 acres under roof, setting on about 300 acres.

 

[ruffdog]

More info on the bright headlight issue and adaptive headlamps. Some of them are bright because people swap OEM bulbs to super bright aftermarket bulbs.

 

[JRH02]

If I was a cop, I'd be writing a ton of tickets for them as well as poorly aimed headlights.

Yup. Is is no joke that the deputies and especially the State Patrol don't miss many chances to pull ya over for 'something' that also gives them a reason for a sobriety check. So why not headlight aiming if for no other reason than yet another fix-it ticket? After a few of those events a driver might take the hint and have their headlights re-aimed?!?

Also, when it comes to pickups, a driver should know that it doesn't take a whole lot in the box to have those headlights hit an oncoming vehicle higher. That's just rude, to me. As in tough sxxx.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Nope!

I think part of the problem is the DOT set a limit of 55 watts ... Now a days that's some serious blindness, maybe it should be lumens, or candle power?

 

[bcp]

I like my bright headlights.

I don't like yours.



Bruce

 

[Oaktree]

I like my bright headlights.

I don't like yours.

About sums it up. I think we started down this road 40-ish years ago when they started transitioning away from sealed beams to housing-and-bulb headlights. At least with sealed beams it was consistent.

I think part of the problem is the DOT set a limit of 55 watts ... Now a days that's some serious blindness, maybe it should be lumens, or candle power?

Is it actual brightness or is it that LEDs put out light in a range where our eyes are most sensitive? That's gotta be at least part of the problem.

 

[MossRoad]

Our 2020 Subaru Outback is probably the WORST car I've ever driven at night in a snowstorm due to its lighting! Drive-wise, it's a beast in snow. ZERO issues. Lighting-wise, it's horrible!!!

The daytime running lights are around the headlights.



They shine in all directions, even UP! So if you're driving into snow, with your low beams on, these DTRLs shine UP and illuminate all of the falling snow right about eye height. Even if you turn off the headlights, the DTRLs are still on, and make it hard to see in falling snow.

Another thing is as you travel along in falling snow, the headlights get dimmer, as the snow and ice stick to the headlights and don't melt off as with old high wattage bulbs. The LED headlights generate little heat.

So about every 30 minutes you have to stop and clear the headlights.

BAAAAHHH!!!!!

Rant over.

I'm going to see if there's a fuse for just the DTRLs. If there is, I'm going to make them switchable. If not, I'm considering duct tape over them.