[JDO]

Many regulars complain that the automatic headlights are too sensitive. Many others think they’re fine.

Today was overcast and threatened rain (we’ve got the remnants of a tropical cyclone passing by - warm (29C and >90% humidity) and I think I noticed something with the lights. As it got gloomier and gloomier, I noticed my lights were off. It started to rain. I turned the wipers on. Within 3 seconds the lights came on too. “How odd”, I thought, “it’s like they knew it was raining”.

It soon stopped raining, and I turned my wipers off. Within 3 seconds, the lights went off too. I turned the wipers on. Lights came on. Turned wipers off. Lights went off. I repeated this five times before the bloke in front of me gave me the bird out the window, but I’m confident this was not a coincidence.

So, my theory is that the light sensor for the headlights becomes more sensitive (has a higher threshold for activation) when the wipers are on.

Can anyone in suitable climates help me test this theory? It could explain why those in the rainier countries of the world hate the lights and us Aussies think they’re fine...

 

[landmannnn]

It would seem logical.

 

[freemansteve]

I think in some countries it is mandatory to have the lights on when wipers are running...

I'd try it, but I don't go out in the truck in rain...

 

[JDO]

I think in some countries it is mandatory to have the lights on when wipers are running...

I'd try it, but I don't go out in the truck in rain...

I don’t think wipers=lights every time, but I do think having the wipers on makes the lights come on a bit earlier than they would otherwise.

 

[freemansteve]

Well, folk in the grim UK will compare and contrast for the debate, no doubt!

 

[pistol6000]

Well...going from memory, i think my lghts automatically come on when my wipers go to the fastest sweep....think ive noted that before

 

[Jamboye]

One early foggy morning, where my lights were clicking between on and off, I tried my wipers and it seemed to make no difference.

 

[dja771]

I can confirm my UK D23 lights don't come automagically on when my wipers are. It's a great feature I had on previous cars.

 

[JDO]

I can confirm my UK D23 lights don't come automagically on when my wipers are. It's a great feature I had on previous cars.

I don’t think they always come on, I think the wipers being on makes the light sensor more (less?) sensitive so they come on earlier than normal.

 

[dja771]

I don’t think they always come on, I think the wipers being on makes the light sensor more (less?) sensitive so they come on earlier than normal.

Now, that’s a good point - whilst going through the settings on day 1 I do recall seeing a menu that allowed me to change sensitivity of the sensor... I’ll check that out tomorrow.

 

[popsdosh]

I believe the D40s with automatic wipers used to put the lights on with the wipers. It is one of the issue with auto lights to my mind as you see many cars without lights when they should have them on. In fog, light intensity is often to high to put on the lights however the visibility can be awful . However thats supposedly where the human brain is superior!!