Issue With The Head Lights Of The Santa Fe. Options

[Dino Kirov]

I`ve got a problem with the lights. Well it is not a malfunction, it`s how the lights are made,but I don`t like it that way. I don`t want the two lines that go up from the main beam. It is like that. ____/____/ Does anybody know how to fix this? I want to put xenon on the low beams and wan`t the beam to be straight and sharply cut.

Here`s an image. (IMG:http://images23.snimka.bg/005144936.jpg)

[McLarrick]

Dino,

You cannot fix something which works properly. I have already answered your question about the light pattern.

Do you want to see road signs, wild animals, and pedestrians (... and the ЗиЛ truck on your picture)? If you do not, then you can change the light pattern, of course.

You can put Xenon (HID) bulbs in low beams - it will not change the light pattern. The light will be cut appropriately and will not provide excessive glare to the oncoming motorists. However, the headlights of Santa Fe are not designed for the HID bulbs - a lot of light is lost. You will see what I am talking about, after you put HID bulbs. Does it mean that I want to go back to the halogen bulbs? No, never - HID conversion provides great lighting improvement despite the imperfect headlights.

This post has been edited by McLarrick: Aug 8 2009, 05:52 PM

[UniR]

They are like that so that you can see roadside signs while not blinding oncoming cars.

This post has been edited by UniR: Aug 8 2009, 05:01 PM

[Dino Kirov]

I wrote that they are made like so. McLarrick, I didn`t know that you`ve answered me about that <problem>. I know it`s made to see the signs,but not only that it doesn`t light up the signs and pedestrians,but it blinds other drivers. When I turn right the drivers against me flash with their long beams, every single time I turn right. I`ve had enough of this. My lights are adjusted according to the law,but still drivers flash,when turning right. I`ll post a picture later.

[McLarrick]

• Does it happen all the time - even when your car has only the driver?
• Is your Santa Fe equipped with a manual headlight aiming (leveling) system (электрокорректор)? Do you use it? Do you adjust the headlight level depending on the car load?

I had an OE manual headlight aiming (leveling) system. After the HID conversion, I have installed a Hella automatic headlight system to be compliant with the EU and Ukrainian regulations regarding HID headlights.

[congo]

My Canadian 09 does not have that beam pattern. I was out last night and specifically looked for it. The beam pattern is completely flat across. I've added HID's to the low beams as well but also remember my stock beam pattern being flat as well. Maybe I need to find a really large flat wall to project on to but I can't see it as I approach my white garage door.

Congo

[Dino Kirov]

• Does it happen all the time - even when your car has only the driver?
• Is your Santa Fe equipped with a manual headlight aiming (leveling) system (электрокорректор)? Do you use it? Do you adjust the headlight level depending on the car load?

I had an OE manual headlight aiming (leveling) system. After the HID conversion, I have installed a Hella automatic headlight system to be compliant with the EU and Ukrainian regulations regarding HID headlights.

Yes I have the manual leveling system and adjust the lights when I load the car. When unloaded I turn the switch to position 2 as to be adjusted according to the laws. How much did the Hella auto leveling system cost? Have you got the part(s) number.

This post has been edited by Dino Kirov: Aug 10 2009, 09:46 AM

[McLarrick]

Yes I have the manual leveling system and adjust the lights when I load the car. When unloaded I turn the switch to position 2 as to be adjusted according to the laws. How much did the Hella auto leveling system cost? Have you got the part(s) number.

Hella Part # 8XX 008 614-011, EUR270.00 (it maybe cheaper in Bulgaria: VAT is 20 percent in Ukraine on top of the customs duties). However, if your police does not reinforce this requirement too strictly, do not hurry to install this device. The installation is not very easy - you will have to reverse the electric motors in the headlights (you will not need the Hella motors supplied in the package) either by opening them and changing the polarity of the magnets or electronically. The automatic headlight aiming system is not a miracle solution - it will just automatically do what you currently do manually. You will have to program three settings (empty, loaded, fully loaded) first. If you program it too high, it will continue point the headlights incorrectly. It is based on the readings which are provided by an ultrasonic sensor mounted near the rear axle. So there is a reaction time of about 15 seconds. So when your car bounces on uneven road, it will not adjust the headlights momentarily. It is not a gyroscope-based system that would keep the headlights leveled no matter what - similar to a tank gun.

From the picture in your initial post, your headlights seem to be too high. It is difficult to judge without knowing the exact distance to the wall, whether the vehicle was leveled, etc. It is just based on perception of the headlights in my Santa Fe. I have 50W HID bulbs in low beams, and nobody ever flashed headlights.

[Dino Kirov]

Hella Part # 8XX 008 614-011, EUR270.00 (it maybe cheaper in Bulgaria: VAT is 20 percent in Ukraine on top of the customs duties). However, if your police does not reinforce this requirement too strictly, do not hurry to install this device. The installation is not very easy - you will have to reverse the electric motors in the headlights (you will not need the Hella motors supplied in the package) either by opening them and changing the polarity of the magnets or electronically. The automatic headlight aiming system is not a miracle solution - it will just automatically do what you currently do manually. You will have to program three settings (empty, loaded, fully loaded) first. If you program it too high, it will continue point the headlights incorrectly. It is based on the readings which are provided by an ultrasonic sensor mounted near the rear axle. So there is a reaction time of about 15 seconds. So when your car bounces on uneven road, it will not adjust the headlights momentarily. It is not a gyroscope-based system that would keep the headlights leveled no matter what - similar to a tank gun.

From the picture in your initial post, your headlights seem to be too high. It is difficult to judge without knowing the exact distance to the wall, whether the vehicle was leveled, etc. It is just based on perception of the headlights in my Santa Fe. I have 50W HID bulbs in low beams, and nobody ever flashed headlights.

The car in the picture is not my Santa Fe. It`s an old Subaru. Just wanted to post a pic with these <lines> going up from the main beam. Does the system regulate the lights when going up or down on the road. Or it just senses the loading of the car. If it is the second I won`t buy it at all.

This post has been edited by Dino Kirov: Aug 10 2009, 03:32 PM

[Volfy]

Dino, from the look of your pic, I'd say your headlights are not aimed correctly. That wall seems to be a good distance away, yet your horizontal cutoff line is still about the same height as your headlights - if not a bit higher. This is not correct. I don't remember the exact numbers, but the cutoff line should be a few inches lower at some 35ft or 10M away - on level ground. At the distance of that wall in your pic, the cutoff line probably shouldn't even register on the wall. These are, afterall, your low beams. Flip on the high beams and see if they are pointing straight ahead level. You may have to block off the low beams to see the pattern better. My guess is yours are pointing "up".

Congo, those beam patterns are typical of E-code or Euro-code lamps. I would kill to have them on my SF. They are typically far superior to SAE lamps here in the US. Back when I drove VWs, we could buy E-code lamps for them, even though technically they are legal ONLY for off-road use here in NA. I've seen E-code headlight assemblies for SF for sale on Ebay, but they want beaucoup bucks. Aux lighting is more cost effective, if somewhat difficult to keep esthetically pleasing.

Depending on the bulb type of your OEM halogens, switching to a HID kit may or may not change the beam pattern much. If they are longish like H7 used in US-spec SF, then beam pattern stay pretty much the same. Short stubby ones like H3 don't fair as well.

Aimed correctly, E-code lamps should never bother oncoming traffic - even on right hand turns. I had 80/100w H4s on huge 7" round E-code lamps for many years and never once got flashed by other drivers on low beam. On high beam... now that's a different story. I've had long-haul 18-wheelers slow down and line up behind me on moonless nights through winding AZ and NM mountain interstates. With CB radio on ch19, I could hear them talk about the "little VW with big bright lights".

This post has been edited by Volfy: Aug 12 2009, 12:21 AM

[Dino Kirov]

Dino, from the look of your pic, I'd say your headlights are not aimed correctly. That wall seems to be a good distance away, yet your horizontal cutoff line is still about the same height as your headlights - if not a bit higher. This is not correct. I don't remember the exact numbers, but the cutoff line should be a few inches lower at some 35ft or 10M away - on level ground. At the distance of that wall in your pic, the cutoff line probably shouldn't even register on the wall. These are, afterall, your low beams. Flip on the high beams and see if they are pointing straight ahead level. You may have to block off the low beams to see the pattern better. My guess is yours are pointing "up".

Congo, those beam patterns are typical of E-code or Euro-code lamps. I would kill to have them on my SF. They are typically far superior to SAE lamps here in the US. Back when I drove VWs, we could buy E-code lamps for them, even though technically they are legal ONLY for off-road use here in NA. I've seen E-code headlight assemblies for SF for sale on Ebay, but they want beaucoup bucks. Aux lighting is more cost effective, if somewhat difficult to keep esthetically pleasing.

Depending on the bulb type of your OEM halogens, switching to a HID kit may or may not change the beam pattern much. If they are longish like H7 used in US-spec SF, then beam pattern stay pretty much the same. Short stubby ones like H3 don't fair as well.

Aimed correctly, E-code lamps should never bother oncoming traffic - even on right hand turns. I had 80/100w H4s on huge 7" round E-code lamps for many years and never once got flashed by other drivers on low beam. On high beam... now that's a different story. I've had long-haul 18-wheelers slow down and line up behind me on moonless nights through winding AZ and NM mountain interstates. With CB radio on ch19, I could hear them talk about the "little VW with big bright lights".

I told you that this is not my car. This is just an example picture. It is an old Subaru Outback. Can you see the wipers in your Santa Fe,when they are not working???

My lights are adjusted according to the Bulgarian and EU laws. They were leveled in the Bulgarian drivers union (СБА-Съюз на българските автомобилисти) and I have not touched since then. Except for when loading the car. They are in position 2,as I said.

(IMG:http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6812/lightssantafe.th.jpg) That is what I`m talking about. There is no way that the oncoming driver won`t get flashed. The upper part of the beam, e.g. the two strips that are for road signs etc. go directly in to the oncoming drivers eyes.

This post has been edited by Dino Kirov: Aug 12 2009, 04:38 AM

[Volfy]

Oops, missed your last post there, Dino.

I would think even in the scenario you describe, the amount of time that the on-coming traffic will see the "kick-up" is very brief - assuming both vehicles are moving at a good speed. If this really is a problem when everything is properly adjusted, then wouldn't a lot of car have this problem too, not just your SF?

[Dino Kirov]

Oops, missed your last post there, Dino.

I would think even in the scenario you describe, the amount of time that the on-coming traffic will see the "kick-up" is very brief - assuming both vehicles are moving at a good speed. If this really is a problem when everything is properly adjusted, then wouldn't a lot of car have this problem too, not just your SF?

Well,yes,that`s right. Never happened with the Peugeot. I don`t know. Probably will keep it like that and put a xenon kit,after all. The law says you have to have beam level corrector and headlight washers,but the control on this is a bit loose,so I will drive like so. In the winter I`m going to stop form time to time to clear the lights of any mud and snow.

[lovemysantafe]

I am finicky about making sure the lights on my '04 are aimed properly but have many people flash their brights at me. This happens mostly when I'm cresting a hill and they are coming towards me, getting the brunt of the light. I can honestly say I've never seen any other car company have their lights cut up so noticeably as Hyundai's do. I like it as it does help to illuminate road signs although people who have never ridden in or driven in my car before always notice it and make a comment about it.