Sontat "projection lamp" headlight question.
09-20-2006, 08:59 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Sontat "projection lamp" headlight question.
I've been the owner of a Sontota Limited for about 3 1/2 hours now. I
test drove it and picked it up during the day, but after driving about the
countryside at night, I have a question.
The headlights are fine when the road is straight and level. There is a
very definite line of lighted, and unlighted space ahead. There is no stray
light to speak of above about 8 feet of so. The problems though, was when I
hit some hilly areas. As the car is going down an incline, the lighted
portion becomes very short in front of the car and visibility is unsafe to
drive above about 30 mph ! If something jumped out in front, it would be a
serious problem. With high beams on, it is OK.
Is this normal for the projector style bulbs? IMO, it is damned dangerous
to drive on a very dark road with some hills with just low beams.
The car is going back to the dealer tomorrow for some other issues with the
remote starter, interior lights. We are not off to a good start (no pun
intended, but hey, it works)
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/
test drove it and picked it up during the day, but after driving about the
countryside at night, I have a question.
The headlights are fine when the road is straight and level. There is a
very definite line of lighted, and unlighted space ahead. There is no stray
light to speak of above about 8 feet of so. The problems though, was when I
hit some hilly areas. As the car is going down an incline, the lighted
portion becomes very short in front of the car and visibility is unsafe to
drive above about 30 mph ! If something jumped out in front, it would be a
serious problem. With high beams on, it is OK.
Is this normal for the projector style bulbs? IMO, it is damned dangerous
to drive on a very dark road with some hills with just low beams.
The car is going back to the dealer tomorrow for some other issues with the
remote starter, interior lights. We are not off to a good start (no pun
intended, but hey, it works)
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/
09-20-2006, 09:43 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontat
Ed, I have had my 2007 Limited for one month and have the same issue. It
appears to be inherent in this car. If you have the beams adjusted
upwards, you risk always having on coming traffic think your high beams
are on.
If there is a solution, I would like to know one as well.
appears to be inherent in this car. If you have the beams adjusted
upwards, you risk always having on coming traffic think your high beams
are on.
If there is a solution, I would like to know one as well.
09-20-2006, 09:43 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontat
Ed, I have had my 2007 Limited for one month and have the same issue. It
appears to be inherent in this car. If you have the beams adjusted
upwards, you risk always having on coming traffic think your high beams
are on.
If there is a solution, I would like to know one as well.
appears to be inherent in this car. If you have the beams adjusted
upwards, you risk always having on coming traffic think your high beams
are on.
If there is a solution, I would like to know one as well.
09-20-2006, 10:21 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontat
"cableguy3" <larrygoldman@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:b08c46d053de32751b132206dd8eb854@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> Ed, I have had my 2007 Limited for one month and have the same issue. It
> appears to be inherent in this car. If you have the beams adjusted
> upwards, you risk always having on coming traffic think your high beams
> are on.
>
> If there is a solution, I would like to know one as well.
If the road is very dark and not well traveled, it is not a big deal to
leave the high beams on. I found myself flipping them off and on far too
often on at least one road as a car would approach. Turns are very dark
also, but I'll admit I've been spoiled by the turning lights on my LeSabre.
My guess is that the projector bulb concentrates the light better, at the
expense of peripheral vision. This is my first car with them.
One more thing, on the dashboard, is the buttons for the trip meter and
reset supposed to be lighted? On mine, they are not. I have other lighting
issued, but I think that is all due to the remote starter installation.
This is the first care I've ever had to take back after only 40 miles.
09-20-2006, 10:21 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontat
"cableguy3" <larrygoldman@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:b08c46d053de32751b132206dd8eb854@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> Ed, I have had my 2007 Limited for one month and have the same issue. It
> appears to be inherent in this car. If you have the beams adjusted
> upwards, you risk always having on coming traffic think your high beams
> are on.
>
> If there is a solution, I would like to know one as well.
If the road is very dark and not well traveled, it is not a big deal to
leave the high beams on. I found myself flipping them off and on far too
often on at least one road as a car would approach. Turns are very dark
also, but I'll admit I've been spoiled by the turning lights on my LeSabre.
My guess is that the projector bulb concentrates the light better, at the
expense of peripheral vision. This is my first car with them.
One more thing, on the dashboard, is the buttons for the trip meter and
reset supposed to be lighted? On mine, they are not. I have other lighting
issued, but I think that is all due to the remote starter installation.
This is the first care I've ever had to take back after only 40 miles.
09-21-2006, 06:50 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontat
"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
news:7HmQg.3862$6S3.2785@newssvr25.news.prodigy.ne t...
>
> If the road is very dark and not well traveled, it is not a big deal to
> leave the high beams on. I found myself flipping them off and on far too
> often on at least one road as a car would approach. Turns are very dark
> also, but I'll admit I've been spoiled by the turning lights on my
LeSabre.
>
> My guess is that the projector bulb concentrates the light better, at the
> expense of peripheral vision. This is my first car with them.
I had not heard of anyone complaining of this Ed. My wife's Sonata is an
'04, so it's not the same as your '06, but its lights rank among the best
I've ever had on a car. I can only wish that my Grand Am could throw light
like her Sonata does.
>
> One more thing, on the dashboard, is the buttons for the trip meter and
> reset supposed to be lighted? On mine, they are not. I have other
lighting
> issued, but I think that is all due to the remote starter installation.
> This is the first care I've ever had to take back after only 40 miles.
>
>
What lighting issues are you having Ed?
--
-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net
09-21-2006, 06:50 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontat
"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
news:7HmQg.3862$6S3.2785@newssvr25.news.prodigy.ne t...
>
> If the road is very dark and not well traveled, it is not a big deal to
> leave the high beams on. I found myself flipping them off and on far too
> often on at least one road as a car would approach. Turns are very dark
> also, but I'll admit I've been spoiled by the turning lights on my
LeSabre.
>
> My guess is that the projector bulb concentrates the light better, at the
> expense of peripheral vision. This is my first car with them.
I had not heard of anyone complaining of this Ed. My wife's Sonata is an
'04, so it's not the same as your '06, but its lights rank among the best
I've ever had on a car. I can only wish that my Grand Am could throw light
like her Sonata does.
>
> One more thing, on the dashboard, is the buttons for the trip meter and
> reset supposed to be lighted? On mine, they are not. I have other
lighting
> issued, but I think that is all due to the remote starter installation.
> This is the first care I've ever had to take back after only 40 miles.
>
>
What lighting issues are you having Ed?
--
-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net
09-21-2006, 10:57 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontota lights
"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
news:2PxQg.4065$zs6.1661@trndny07...
>
> "Mike Marlow" <mmarlow@alltel.net> wrote in message
> >
> > What lighting issues are you having Ed?
> >
>
> Lighting issues associated with the remote starter installation. The
dealer
> took it to a local shop that supposedly makes their living installing
these
> things and they either put in a defective unit or just botched the job.
>
> The starter starts the care, then it runs ten seconds and stops and
repeats
> four times. Lights are supposed to go on and stay on for 1 minute when
you
> lock the doors. They do not. A competent installer should have caught all
> of that. It is back there now to get fixed. .
>
That sucks. You're right - a competent installer should never have let the
car go like that. Did it act like that when you picked it up at the dealer,
or did that develop shortly after that?
--
-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net
09-21-2006, 10:57 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontota lights
"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
news:2PxQg.4065$zs6.1661@trndny07...
>
> "Mike Marlow" <mmarlow@alltel.net> wrote in message
> >
> > What lighting issues are you having Ed?
> >
>
> Lighting issues associated with the remote starter installation. The
dealer
> took it to a local shop that supposedly makes their living installing
these
> things and they either put in a defective unit or just botched the job.
>
> The starter starts the care, then it runs ten seconds and stops and
repeats
> four times. Lights are supposed to go on and stay on for 1 minute when
you
> lock the doors. They do not. A competent installer should have caught all
> of that. It is back there now to get fixed. .
>
That sucks. You're right - a competent installer should never have let the
car go like that. Did it act like that when you picked it up at the dealer,
or did that develop shortly after that?
--
-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net
09-21-2006, 11:01 AM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontota lights
"Mike Marlow" <mmarlow@alltel.net> wrote in message
>
> What lighting issues are you having Ed?
>
Lighting issues associated with the remote starter installation. The dealer
took it to a local shop that supposedly makes their living installing these
things and they either put in a defective unit or just botched the job.
The starter starts the care, then it runs ten seconds and stops and repeats
four times. Lights are supposed to go on and stay on for 1 minute when you
lock the doors. They do not. A competent installer should have caught all
of that. It is back there now to get fixed. .
Other than that, seems to be OK.
09-21-2006, 11:01 AM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontota lights
"Mike Marlow" <mmarlow@alltel.net> wrote in message
>
> What lighting issues are you having Ed?
>
Lighting issues associated with the remote starter installation. The dealer
took it to a local shop that supposedly makes their living installing these
things and they either put in a defective unit or just botched the job.
The starter starts the care, then it runs ten seconds and stops and repeats
four times. Lights are supposed to go on and stay on for 1 minute when you
lock the doors. They do not. A competent installer should have caught all
of that. It is back there now to get fixed. .
Other than that, seems to be OK.
09-21-2006, 11:53 AM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontota lights
"Mike Marlow" <mmarlow@alltel.net> wrote in message
> That sucks. You're right - a competent installer should never have let
> the
> car go like that. Did it act like that when you picked it up at the
> dealer,
> or did that develop shortly after that?
>
It did start once and we shut it right off because we were going over
everything else. The dealer (salesperson) really didn't have a clue.
Later in the evening I read the manual and figured out how things work, like
the trunk release that uses the same button as the "unlock", just held for
three seconds. .
So far, the dealer is interesting in making things right. Supposedly,
Hyundai is covering things in the first year that are technically not
covered, like wiper blades, just to keep customers very happy.
While I was typing this, they called and said the car is ready.
Ed
09-21-2006, 11:53 AM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontota lights
"Mike Marlow" <mmarlow@alltel.net> wrote in message
> That sucks. You're right - a competent installer should never have let
> the
> car go like that. Did it act like that when you picked it up at the
> dealer,
> or did that develop shortly after that?
>
It did start once and we shut it right off because we were going over
everything else. The dealer (salesperson) really didn't have a clue.
Later in the evening I read the manual and figured out how things work, like
the trunk release that uses the same button as the "unlock", just held for
three seconds. .
So far, the dealer is interesting in making things right. Supposedly,
Hyundai is covering things in the first year that are technically not
covered, like wiper blades, just to keep customers very happy.
While I was typing this, they called and said the car is ready.
Ed
09-21-2006, 12:50 PM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontat "projection lamp" headlight question.
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> I've been the owner of a Sontota Limited for about 3 1/2 hours now. I
> test drove it and picked it up during the day, but after driving about the
> countryside at night, I have a question.
>
> The headlights are fine when the road is straight and level. There is a
> very definite line of lighted, and unlighted space ahead. There is no stray
> light to speak of above about 8 feet of so. The problems though, was when I
> hit some hilly areas. As the car is going down an incline, the lighted
> portion becomes very short in front of the car and visibility is unsafe to
> drive above about 30 mph ! If something jumped out in front, it would be a
> serious problem. With high beams on, it is OK.
>
> Is this normal for the projector style bulbs? IMO, it is damned dangerous
> to drive on a very dark road with some hills with just low beams.
>
> The car is going back to the dealer tomorrow for some other issues with the
> remote starter, interior lights. We are not off to a good start (no pun
> intended, but hey, it works)
It's typical of a lot of newer cars. The lights are brighter and have
more distinct cut-offs that the lights in older cars. There's no reason
you can't flip on your high beams when going down a dark hill if you
need more illumination.
> I've been the owner of a Sontota Limited for about 3 1/2 hours now. I
> test drove it and picked it up during the day, but after driving about the
> countryside at night, I have a question.
>
> The headlights are fine when the road is straight and level. There is a
> very definite line of lighted, and unlighted space ahead. There is no stray
> light to speak of above about 8 feet of so. The problems though, was when I
> hit some hilly areas. As the car is going down an incline, the lighted
> portion becomes very short in front of the car and visibility is unsafe to
> drive above about 30 mph ! If something jumped out in front, it would be a
> serious problem. With high beams on, it is OK.
>
> Is this normal for the projector style bulbs? IMO, it is damned dangerous
> to drive on a very dark road with some hills with just low beams.
>
> The car is going back to the dealer tomorrow for some other issues with the
> remote starter, interior lights. We are not off to a good start (no pun
> intended, but hey, it works)
It's typical of a lot of newer cars. The lights are brighter and have
more distinct cut-offs that the lights in older cars. There's no reason
you can't flip on your high beams when going down a dark hill if you
need more illumination.
09-21-2006, 12:50 PM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Sontat "projection lamp" headlight question.
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> I've been the owner of a Sontota Limited for about 3 1/2 hours now. I
> test drove it and picked it up during the day, but after driving about the
> countryside at night, I have a question.
>
> The headlights are fine when the road is straight and level. There is a
> very definite line of lighted, and unlighted space ahead. There is no stray
> light to speak of above about 8 feet of so. The problems though, was when I
> hit some hilly areas. As the car is going down an incline, the lighted
> portion becomes very short in front of the car and visibility is unsafe to
> drive above about 30 mph ! If something jumped out in front, it would be a
> serious problem. With high beams on, it is OK.
>
> Is this normal for the projector style bulbs? IMO, it is damned dangerous
> to drive on a very dark road with some hills with just low beams.
>
> The car is going back to the dealer tomorrow for some other issues with the
> remote starter, interior lights. We are not off to a good start (no pun
> intended, but hey, it works)
It's typical of a lot of newer cars. The lights are brighter and have
more distinct cut-offs that the lights in older cars. There's no reason
you can't flip on your high beams when going down a dark hill if you
need more illumination.
> I've been the owner of a Sontota Limited for about 3 1/2 hours now. I
> test drove it and picked it up during the day, but after driving about the
> countryside at night, I have a question.
>
> The headlights are fine when the road is straight and level. There is a
> very definite line of lighted, and unlighted space ahead. There is no stray
> light to speak of above about 8 feet of so. The problems though, was when I
> hit some hilly areas. As the car is going down an incline, the lighted
> portion becomes very short in front of the car and visibility is unsafe to
> drive above about 30 mph ! If something jumped out in front, it would be a
> serious problem. With high beams on, it is OK.
>
> Is this normal for the projector style bulbs? IMO, it is damned dangerous
> to drive on a very dark road with some hills with just low beams.
>
> The car is going back to the dealer tomorrow for some other issues with the
> remote starter, interior lights. We are not off to a good start (no pun
> intended, but hey, it works)
It's typical of a lot of newer cars. The lights are brighter and have
more distinct cut-offs that the lights in older cars. There's no reason
you can't flip on your high beams when going down a dark hill if you
need more illumination.