Brian Nystrom

Matt Whiting wrote:
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> news:2x5Af.9982$8r1.3141@trndny01...
>>
>>> Find a level place to park ~10'in front of a wall with horizontal
>>> lines on it, such as bricks, concrete blocks or siding. Adjust your
>>> headlights so they both project to the same line on the wall. Test
>>> drive it. If necessary, come back to the same place and re-adjust the
>>> lights. This method allows you to adjust your lights in small
>>> increments and keep them both at the same height.
>>>
>>> BTW, there are DOT specifications for the adjustment of the
>>> headlights and Hyundai provides specs. The dealer SHOULD have the
>>> equipment to adjust the headlights properly.
>>
>>
>>
>> The specified distance is 118.1 inches. I can adjust them on a dark
>> straight road, but there appears to be a second beam that juts up, and
>> blinds the oncoming drivers. The dealer uses marks on the wall that
>> they use for ALL vehicles. I've adjusted them DOWN from where the
>> dealer has set them, and they still blind oncoming traffic. I have
>> seen this for myself driving at the car on a two lane road. There is
>> something very different about the lights on this car from those that
>> I have owned previously.
>
>
> Do you see this second beam if you pull up to within 10' or so of a
> wall? I know that many of the new cars with the reflector headlights
> have a very sharp cut-off compared to the old sealed beam headlights.
> This causes the lights to appear to be flashing when an oncoming car is
> on a undulating road as the intensity changes very quickly with just a
> little vertical distance. I personally don't like this either as a
> driver of such a vehicle or as someone approaching such a vehicle. The
> flashing affect is annoying when coming at you and the sharp cut-off is
> a real pain when driving in the hilly terrain around my house. When
> driving down into a valley, you can't see up the other side at all as
> the beam cuts off so sharply. The old sealed beams had such a diffuse
> beam that you got enough light going sideways and upwards that you still
> have some sight distance even when approaching the bottom of a valley or
> large dip.

The point of having the sharp cutoff on the left side of the beam is to
NOT blind drivers in the opposite lane. The right side of the beam is
not cut off, so it can illuminate road signs. Overall, this scheme works
pretty well. It's nothing new, as I had Hella headlights with a similar
pattern 25 years ago. Back then, they weren't street legal, since they
weren't sealed beams, which were still required by the DOT at the time.

Brian Nystrom

Bob wrote:
> "GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
>>Hi, Bob. Sorry to hear about your adjustment woes at the dealership.
>>I live in neighboring Virginia and notice when I visit my small
>>hometown that oncoming drivers sometimes flash their lights. This
>>occurred in my 96 Dodge Avenger, 2002 Sonata, and 2006 Sonata. I think
>>the connection is the driving/fog lights on all three vehicles. I
>>suspect some drivers see four distinct lights and assume high beams are
>>on. I do not experience this in the city (but lanes are often futher
>>separated.)
>>
>>GeoUSA, moderator www.HyundaiExchange.com
>>
>
> I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on. I'm
> going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same problem
> do the same.
>
What problem? That's the way headlights are now.

Brian Nystrom

Bob wrote:
> "GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
>>Hi, Bob. Sorry to hear about your adjustment woes at the dealership.
>>I live in neighboring Virginia and notice when I visit my small
>>hometown that oncoming drivers sometimes flash their lights. This
>>occurred in my 96 Dodge Avenger, 2002 Sonata, and 2006 Sonata. I think
>>the connection is the driving/fog lights on all three vehicles. I
>>suspect some drivers see four distinct lights and assume high beams are
>>on. I do not experience this in the city (but lanes are often futher
>>separated.)
>>
>>GeoUSA, moderator www.HyundaiExchange.com
>>
>
> I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on. I'm
> going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same problem
> do the same.
>
What problem? That's the way headlights are now.

Brian Nystrom

Bob wrote:
> "GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
>>Hi, Bob. Sorry to hear about your adjustment woes at the dealership.
>>I live in neighboring Virginia and notice when I visit my small
>>hometown that oncoming drivers sometimes flash their lights. This
>>occurred in my 96 Dodge Avenger, 2002 Sonata, and 2006 Sonata. I think
>>the connection is the driving/fog lights on all three vehicles. I
>>suspect some drivers see four distinct lights and assume high beams are
>>on. I do not experience this in the city (but lanes are often futher
>>separated.)
>>
>>GeoUSA, moderator www.HyundaiExchange.com
>>
>
> I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on. I'm
> going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same problem
> do the same.
>
What problem? That's the way headlights are now.

Bob

"Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:gPjAf.230$Jn1.105@trndny01...
> Bob wrote:
>> "GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>>

>>
>> I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on. I'm
>> going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same
>> problem do the same.
> What problem? That's the way headlights are now.

The problem with them is that they bother oncoming traffic to the point that
they turn their high beams on, subsequently negatively affecting my ability
to see. Not all new car headlights are that way. The very worst ones are the
HID headlights on the high end cars. The problem is that there is a
significant amount of light being projected above the road surface from the
lights in my car.

Bob

"Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:gPjAf.230$Jn1.105@trndny01...
> Bob wrote:
>> "GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>>

>>
>> I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on. I'm
>> going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same
>> problem do the same.
> What problem? That's the way headlights are now.

The problem with them is that they bother oncoming traffic to the point that
they turn their high beams on, subsequently negatively affecting my ability
to see. Not all new car headlights are that way. The very worst ones are the
HID headlights on the high end cars. The problem is that there is a
significant amount of light being projected above the road surface from the
lights in my car.

Bob

"Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:gPjAf.230$Jn1.105@trndny01...
> Bob wrote:
>> "GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>>

>>
>> I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on. I'm
>> going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same
>> problem do the same.
> What problem? That's the way headlights are now.

The problem with them is that they bother oncoming traffic to the point that
they turn their high beams on, subsequently negatively affecting my ability
to see. Not all new car headlights are that way. The very worst ones are the
HID headlights on the high end cars. The problem is that there is a
significant amount of light being projected above the road surface from the
lights in my car.

Matt Whiting

Bob wrote:

> "Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:gPjAf.230$Jn1.105@trndny01...
>
>>Bob wrote:
>>
>>>"GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.google groups.com...
>>>
>
>
>>>I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on. I'm
>>>going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same
>>>problem do the same.
>>
>>What problem? That's the way headlights are now.
>
>
> The problem with them is that they bother oncoming traffic to the point that
> they turn their high beams on, subsequently negatively affecting my ability
> to see. Not all new car headlights are that way. The very worst ones are the
> HID headlights on the high end cars. The problem is that there is a
> significant amount of light being projected above the road surface from the
> lights in my car.

They won't if they are adjusted properly. I've had my Sonata exactly
one month now and I've had only two drivers flash their highs at me in
1500 mmiles of driving. And one was on the way home the night I picked
up the car. I thought I might have a problem, but I don't.

I still think your problem is 80% improper adjustment and at most 20%
the brightness or design of the headlight beam.

I find that lots of new cars make me think they have their high beams
on, especially those blue light specials.

Matt

Matt Whiting

Bob wrote:

> "Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:gPjAf.230$Jn1.105@trndny01...
>
>>Bob wrote:
>>
>>>"GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.google groups.com...
>>>
>
>
>>>I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on. I'm
>>>going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same
>>>problem do the same.
>>
>>What problem? That's the way headlights are now.
>
>
> The problem with them is that they bother oncoming traffic to the point that
> they turn their high beams on, subsequently negatively affecting my ability
> to see. Not all new car headlights are that way. The very worst ones are the
> HID headlights on the high end cars. The problem is that there is a
> significant amount of light being projected above the road surface from the
> lights in my car.

They won't if they are adjusted properly. I've had my Sonata exactly
one month now and I've had only two drivers flash their highs at me in
1500 mmiles of driving. And one was on the way home the night I picked
up the car. I thought I might have a problem, but I don't.

I still think your problem is 80% improper adjustment and at most 20%
the brightness or design of the headlight beam.

I find that lots of new cars make me think they have their high beams
on, especially those blue light specials.

Matt

Matt Whiting

Bob wrote:

> "Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:gPjAf.230$Jn1.105@trndny01...
>
>>Bob wrote:
>>
>>>"GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.google groups.com...
>>>
>
>
>>>I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on. I'm
>>>going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same
>>>problem do the same.
>>
>>What problem? That's the way headlights are now.
>
>
> The problem with them is that they bother oncoming traffic to the point that
> they turn their high beams on, subsequently negatively affecting my ability
> to see. Not all new car headlights are that way. The very worst ones are the
> HID headlights on the high end cars. The problem is that there is a
> significant amount of light being projected above the road surface from the
> lights in my car.

They won't if they are adjusted properly. I've had my Sonata exactly
one month now and I've had only two drivers flash their highs at me in
1500 mmiles of driving. And one was on the way home the night I picked
up the car. I thought I might have a problem, but I don't.

I still think your problem is 80% improper adjustment and at most 20%
the brightness or design of the headlight beam.

I find that lots of new cars make me think they have their high beams
on, especially those blue light specials.

Matt

Matt Whiting

Brian Nystrom wrote:

> The point of having the sharp cutoff on the left side of the beam is to
> NOT blind drivers in the opposite lane. The right side of the beam is
> not cut off, so it can illuminate road signs. Overall, this scheme works
> pretty well. It's nothing new, as I had Hella headlights with a similar
> pattern 25 years ago. Back then, they weren't street legal, since they
> weren't sealed beams, which were still required by the DOT at the time.

I know the purpose of it, however, the assumptions aren't right for
where I live. This sharp cutoff is only useful if you always drive on
smooth, flat roads. Here in northern PA and upstate NY, either
assumption is good on virtually any road I drive other than the
interstates. And even then only on certain stretches.

In the real world, a sharp cutoff is dumb and is very annoying as you
now see a rapidly varying intensity from oncoming car headlights rather
than the fairly steady intensity with the old sealed beams. Maybe the
intensity was higher on average in the old days, but I much prefer that
to the "flashing" affect of the newer light designs.

Also, the right side of my Hyundai's pattern is cut-off pretty far to
the right. It doesn't illuminate signs well on low beam, not as well as
my 94 Chevy truck, and it makes the white background signs so bright
on high beam that they nearly blind me! The cutoff portion of the
pattern extends clear across the road well onto the berm as I can't see
the road ahead worth beans when going down into a dip.

I haven't pulled up to a wall yet to look at the pattern in more detail,
but will try that some night to see if I can tell where the cutoff ends.

Matt

Matt Whiting

Brian Nystrom wrote:

> The point of having the sharp cutoff on the left side of the beam is to
> NOT blind drivers in the opposite lane. The right side of the beam is
> not cut off, so it can illuminate road signs. Overall, this scheme works
> pretty well. It's nothing new, as I had Hella headlights with a similar
> pattern 25 years ago. Back then, they weren't street legal, since they
> weren't sealed beams, which were still required by the DOT at the time.

I know the purpose of it, however, the assumptions aren't right for
where I live. This sharp cutoff is only useful if you always drive on
smooth, flat roads. Here in northern PA and upstate NY, either
assumption is good on virtually any road I drive other than the
interstates. And even then only on certain stretches.

In the real world, a sharp cutoff is dumb and is very annoying as you
now see a rapidly varying intensity from oncoming car headlights rather
than the fairly steady intensity with the old sealed beams. Maybe the
intensity was higher on average in the old days, but I much prefer that
to the "flashing" affect of the newer light designs.

Also, the right side of my Hyundai's pattern is cut-off pretty far to
the right. It doesn't illuminate signs well on low beam, not as well as
my 94 Chevy truck, and it makes the white background signs so bright
on high beam that they nearly blind me! The cutoff portion of the
pattern extends clear across the road well onto the berm as I can't see
the road ahead worth beans when going down into a dip.

I haven't pulled up to a wall yet to look at the pattern in more detail,
but will try that some night to see if I can tell where the cutoff ends.

Matt

Matt Whiting

Brian Nystrom wrote:

> The point of having the sharp cutoff on the left side of the beam is to
> NOT blind drivers in the opposite lane. The right side of the beam is
> not cut off, so it can illuminate road signs. Overall, this scheme works
> pretty well. It's nothing new, as I had Hella headlights with a similar
> pattern 25 years ago. Back then, they weren't street legal, since they
> weren't sealed beams, which were still required by the DOT at the time.

I know the purpose of it, however, the assumptions aren't right for
where I live. This sharp cutoff is only useful if you always drive on
smooth, flat roads. Here in northern PA and upstate NY, either
assumption is good on virtually any road I drive other than the
interstates. And even then only on certain stretches.

In the real world, a sharp cutoff is dumb and is very annoying as you
now see a rapidly varying intensity from oncoming car headlights rather
than the fairly steady intensity with the old sealed beams. Maybe the
intensity was higher on average in the old days, but I much prefer that
to the "flashing" affect of the newer light designs.

Also, the right side of my Hyundai's pattern is cut-off pretty far to
the right. It doesn't illuminate signs well on low beam, not as well as
my 94 Chevy truck, and it makes the white background signs so bright
on high beam that they nearly blind me! The cutoff portion of the
pattern extends clear across the road well onto the berm as I can't see
the road ahead worth beans when going down into a dip.

I haven't pulled up to a wall yet to look at the pattern in more detail,
but will try that some night to see if I can tell where the cutoff ends.

Matt

Bob

"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:L%qAf.5408$lb.465318@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> news:gPjAf.230$Jn1.105@trndny01...
>>
>>>Bob wrote:
>>>
>>>>"GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.googl egroups.com...
>>>>
>>
>>
>>>>I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on.
>>>>I'm going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same
>>>>problem do the same.
>>>
>>>What problem? That's the way headlights are now.
>>
>>
>> The problem with them is that they bother oncoming traffic to the point
>> that they turn their high beams on, subsequently negatively affecting my
>> ability to see. Not all new car headlights are that way. The very worst
>> ones are the HID headlights on the high end cars. The problem is that
>> there is a significant amount of light being projected above the road
>> surface from the lights in my car.
>
> They won't if they are adjusted properly. I've had my Sonata exactly one
> month now and I've had only two drivers flash their highs at me in 1500
> mmiles of driving. And one was on the way home the night I picked up the
> car. I thought I might have a problem, but I don't.
>
> I still think your problem is 80% improper adjustment and at most 20% the
> brightness or design of the headlight beam.
>
> I find that lots of new cars make me think they have their high beams on,
> especially those blue light specials.
>
> Matt

I've tried my best to adjust them with no success. I've taken it to the
dealer three times, and they adjust them so that they either light the
trees, or light the road in a nice spot 30 feet in front of the car. The
dealer insists that the precision aligned concrete block wall is the way
they adjust all headlights. I've tried the reasonable approach of lighting
the road for a decent distance, which is lower than the dealer adjusted them
twice. Maybe someone at Hyundai reads the NHTSA submittals, and will realize
they've got an issue. Calling Hyundai and asking them what to do about the
fact that the dealer can't align the headlights, and asking for suggestions
resulted in me being told that I need to talk to the dealer because they
handle all issues related to the vehicle. As far as continuing to mess with
it myself.... It's under warranty. I need to drive it, put gas and
windshield washer fluid in it, and do PM's to it. Anything else is Hyundai's
problem to resolve.

Bob

"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:L%qAf.5408$lb.465318@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> news:gPjAf.230$Jn1.105@trndny01...
>>
>>>Bob wrote:
>>>
>>>>"GeoUSA" <GeoUSofA@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:1137766872.650735.49820@g47g2000cwa.googl egroups.com...
>>>>
>>
>>
>>>>I'm getting flashed with only the low beams - no driving lights - on.
>>>>I'm going to submit it to NHTSA. I suggest all others that have the same
>>>>problem do the same.
>>>
>>>What problem? That's the way headlights are now.
>>
>>
>> The problem with them is that they bother oncoming traffic to the point
>> that they turn their high beams on, subsequently negatively affecting my
>> ability to see. Not all new car headlights are that way. The very worst
>> ones are the HID headlights on the high end cars. The problem is that
>> there is a significant amount of light being projected above the road
>> surface from the lights in my car.
>
> They won't if they are adjusted properly. I've had my Sonata exactly one
> month now and I've had only two drivers flash their highs at me in 1500
> mmiles of driving. And one was on the way home the night I picked up the
> car. I thought I might have a problem, but I don't.
>
> I still think your problem is 80% improper adjustment and at most 20% the
> brightness or design of the headlight beam.
>
> I find that lots of new cars make me think they have their high beams on,
> especially those blue light specials.
>
> Matt

I've tried my best to adjust them with no success. I've taken it to the
dealer three times, and they adjust them so that they either light the
trees, or light the road in a nice spot 30 feet in front of the car. The
dealer insists that the precision aligned concrete block wall is the way
they adjust all headlights. I've tried the reasonable approach of lighting
the road for a decent distance, which is lower than the dealer adjusted them
twice. Maybe someone at Hyundai reads the NHTSA submittals, and will realize
they've got an issue. Calling Hyundai and asking them what to do about the
fact that the dealer can't align the headlights, and asking for suggestions
resulted in me being told that I need to talk to the dealer because they
handle all issues related to the vehicle. As far as continuing to mess with
it myself.... It's under warranty. I need to drive it, put gas and
windshield washer fluid in it, and do PM's to it. Anything else is Hyundai's
problem to resolve.