Head Automatic lights Sensitivity

[martinbuffleo]

Does anyone know if it is possible to change the light level at which the Automatic lights turn on?

Mine currently seam to need it darker than I would like before they turn on.

Often end up turning them on manually.

[uncler]

Funny you should mention this, I think I had a problem with the auto lights over the weekend. Basically, a few of us were in the car heading back from visiting a friends on Sat eve (about 7pm, it was pretty dark). I had the auto lights on, as I normally do, but I kept on getting beeped at from cars behind - couldn't for the life of me work out what they were doing, 'cos as far as I was aware my lights were on. I even got out to check at one point - lights were fine, no dead foxes being dragged along underneath the car, etc... However, what I now think is that the lights were turning on and off whilst driving, due to passing under street lamps/Christmas lights/having other cars headlights shone in the sensor. Is this a possibility?

As far as I know, the sensitivity can't be adjusted (not from within the cabin anyway), but someone else may be able to shed light (har har ) on this?

[Pottsy]

There is no adjustment.

The problem is that the sensor looks up at the sky, while we are looking forward and assessing forward visibility. In some cases the sky is relatively bright but forward visibility is poot, and the lights don't come on when we think they ought to.

You should be able to spot them going on and off - there is a click, a green light comes on and the dash (and satnav) goes dim.

Most people just use the manual control if there's any doubt.

[ritchie_perriam]

Originally Posted by uncler

I had the auto lights on, as I normally do, but I kept on getting beeped at from cars behind - couldn't for the life of me work out what they were doing, 'cos as far as I was aware my lights were on. what I now think is that the lights were turning on and off whilst driving, due to passing under street lamps/Christmas lights/having other cars headlights shone in the sensor. Is this a possibility?

i dont think the rear light turn on and off. when in auto the car has sidelights on permenantly so the rear lights are constntly on. was probly just fools behind you honking thier horn.

you have to watch out because some car jackers honk thier horn and flash thiere lights to make you stop then the buggers steal your car!

[Kremmen]

Purely out of laziness at this time of year I put my lights on the auto position instead of the extra click for permanent headlights. Never have worked that Honda ploy out as all my other cars are permanent followed by the auto position!

I pass under all manner of artificial lighting and so far I have had no known issues.

I'm assuming you are talking semi dark conditions because in the dark you would know if they were turning on and off because you would be hitting things in the dark with lack of visibility

Watching the green 'lights on' indicator is the answer because if they are going off and on then so will that - if of course you can see the green indicator, unlike mine that is party shielded by the wheel.
I just cant find a position that allows me to see all the dash icons and the top section indicator arrows.

I need an aircraft steering wheel with the top section cut out

[Parky]

Originally Posted by ritchie_perriam

i dont think the rear light turn on and off. when in auto the car has sidelights on permenantly so the rear lights are constntly on. was probly just fools behind you honking thier horn.

you have to watch out because some car jackers honk thier horn and flash thiere lights to make you stop then the buggers steal your car!

You are incorrect, the car does not have side lights on all the time.
The sidelights, rearlights and headlights are all controlled by the automatic light sensor (if you have it turned on).

Ian

[philiphenderson]

Originally Posted by Kremmen

Purely out of laziness at this time of year I put my lights on the auto position instead of the extra click for permanent headlights. Never have worked that Honda ploy out as all my other cars are permanent followed by the auto position!

I pass under all manner of artificial lighting and so far I have had no known issues.

I'm assuming you are talking semi dark conditions because in the dark you would know if they were turning on and off because you would be hitting things in the dark with lack of visibility

Watching the green 'lights on' indicator is the answer because if they are going off and on then so will that - if of course you can see the green indicator, unlike mine that is party shielded by the wheel.
I just cant find a position that allows me to see all the dash icons and the top section indicator arrows.

I need an aircraft steering wheel with the top section cut out

Same here. Can't see 'lights on' or 'cruise on' lights.

I've a question (eventually)...My previous car was a Citroen C4 VTS which had auto lights. You could leave it in that position all the time. When the engine started the lights would come on (if required). In the Honda they come on as soon as you switch the electrics. Why do they come straight on? What electronics does the C4 have that Honda can't fit to the Civic?

I always switch back to off before starting to reduce battery load. Can't see the point of an auto setting when I have to switch the lights to auto after starting. I may as well turn them on and off myself when required.

Same with the daft mirrors. C4...manual and door lock controlled. Civic...manual.

C4 had a rear wiper too. Pathetically small thing, but it had one.

Phil.

[philiphenderson]

Forgot this...When it rained and the auto wipers came on for 30+ seconds the headlights came on too. Smart little C4.

Phil.

[ritchie_perriam]

Originally Posted by Parky

You are incorrect, the car does not have side lights on all the time.
The sidelights, rearlights and headlights are all controlled by the automatic light sensor (if you have it turned on).

Ian

i stand corrected! i should have checked the car ** posting! i assumed it would be the same as all the citron C5's at work!

[Kremmen]

If your C4 was the same as my C5 then the auto wipers worked the opposite way round to the Civic.

If you had the auto wipers set to 'auto' they worked, until you turned off the ignition, then they were completly cancelled, and did not activate the next time, even though the switch was still set to auto.

The Civic has the advantage of remembering the setting so you can leave it set to auto and the slightest bit of drizzle fires them off. On the C5 you needed to turn them off and back on again.

Clever little Civic

[philiphenderson]

Originally Posted by Kremmen

If your C4 was the same as my C5 then the auto wipers worked the opposite way round to the Civic.

If you had the auto wipers set to 'auto' they worked, until you turned off the ignition, then they were completly cancelled, and did not activate the next time, even though the switch was still set to auto.

The Civic has the advantage of remembering the setting so you can leave it set to auto and the slightest bit of drizzle fires them off. On the C5 you needed to turn them off and back on again.

Clever little Civic

The C4 doesn't have a auto on switch. To activate auto wipers you would push the wiper lever down and release. This does one wipe and activates auto mode. Pushing up cancels and does the usual int, constant and fast. It does cancel the setting after switching off the ignition too. Much better idea in case you go through those evil things called a car wash.

Phil.

[Koen]

If you want some minor adjustment, maybe you can stick a little piece of semi-transparent foil over the sensor? You won't see it from the inside, and you'll hardly notice it on the outside. I'm just not sure if you could put it out of the wiper's reach, though.

K.

[Selwoc]

please forgive my ignorance, but where is the sensor?

[bucketp]

I used to have this on my Megane, It used to eat headlamp bulbs, dont know if it was connected to auto lights or not, but I used to replace them every couple of months which need a trip to the dealers as you had to strip of half the front bumper to change a bulb unless you were a double jointed dwarf with very thin arms.

[Dalboy]

Originally Posted by Selwoc

please forgive my ignorance, but where is the sensor?

On windscreen above mirror

[Woette]

First drive home in my new car, the light were constantly going on and off
Since that however, i have never had a problem with it, maybe sometimes the lights should go on earlier with as is mentioned before in this thread, you can always put them on manually.

[civicfan]

Originally Posted by martinbuffleo

Does anyone know if it is possible to change the light level at which the Automatic lights turn on?

Mine currently seam to need it darker than I would like before they turn on.

Often end up turning them on manually.

If there is an adjustment at all then only available to the dealer (via computer settings) - but there is a workaround: try to stick some tinted foil under the sensor (I use black foil for I like to keep lights on whenever I drive) leaving just the rain sensor free. How to dismantle the sensor assembly is described elsewhere in this forum.