Head What Is The Point Of Headlight Washers?

[liamcalland]

Hopefully someone will be able to fill me in with what is the point of having these on the EX?

I can understand that part is for cleaning the headlights, but what is the main point that these are on the models with HID lights?

[Moe]

legal requirement of having HID's perhaps? i dunno...

[liamcalland]

But why?

If it is to keep the headlights cool then it makes no sense as during the summer months you might not use your washers at all on long journeys!

There must be some logical answer!

[Kremmen]

No idea, also not sure how effective they are anyway.

[babyjoe]

wiki:

The arc within an HID headlamp bulb generates considerable short-wave ultraviolet (UV) light, but none of it escapes the bulb. A UV-absorbing hard glass shield is incorporated around the bulb's arc tube. This is important to prevent degradation of UV-sensitive components and materials in headlamps, such as polycarbonate lenses and reflector hardcoats. The lamps do emit considerable near-UV light.
European vehicles equipped with HID headlamps are required by ECE regulation 48 also to be equipped with headlamp lens cleaning systems and automatic beam levelling control. Both of these measures are intended to reduce the tendency for high-output headlamps to cause high levels of glare to other road users.



Dirt buildup on headlamp lenses increases glare to other road users, even at levels too low to reduce seeing performance significantly for the driver. Therefore, headlamp lens cleaners are required by ECE Regulation 48 on vehicles equipped with low-beam headlamps using light sources that have a reference luminous flux of 2,000 lumens or more. This includes all HID headlamps and some high-power halogen units. Some cars have lens cleaners fitted as standard or available as optional equipment even where the headlamp specifications and/or prevailing technical regulations do not require them. North America, for example, does not use ECE regulations, and FMVSS 108 does not require lens cleaners on any headlamps, though they are permitted. Lens cleaning systems come in two main varieties: a small motor-driven wiper blade or brush conceptually similar to those used on the windshield of the car, or a fixed or pop-up high-pressure sprayer which cleans the lenses with a spray of windshield washer fluid.

[liamcalland]

Thanks Babyjoe, that has explained everything! I just couldn't get the use of them!

Any dirt on the headlights must spread the light in a bad way, so cleaning them stops it!

[Sandozer]

Excellent detailed answer Babyjoe, HID bulbs are also fitted to the Sport, and I wondered about the effectiveness of the washer too... Thanks..

[czechplastik]

HID's actually use less energy than Halogen bulbs, but the light they emit is more pure and provides better illumination. The dirt can not only be blinding the other motorists but can also makes the bulbs less effective (for obvious reasons!).

[Kremmen]

It may be in legislation that they must be fitted, but not that they should be used

[jofawe]

hah, on my Citroen c2 VTR (which I currently still are driving whilst I wait for my civic) the headlightwashers havn´t worked since I bought it 3 years ago.
Havn´t noticed it at all .. hah.. so its simply useless..

[MC Hammer]

Originally Posted by Kremmen

It may be in legislation that they must be fitted, but not that they should be used

Not strictly true as ECE48 does say that the headlamp washer must work when the windscreen washers are used.
Of course it is still an offence to dazzle other road users (one for CZ there though).

[rmh999]

So does this mean that everyone that fits aftermaket high power halogen bulbs is probably breaking the rules or does it only apply point of manufacture and type approval ??

[MC Hammer]

Bang on rmh, there is a thread discussing that exact point.

[czechplastik]

Originally Posted by rmh999

So does this mean that everyone that fits aftermaket high power halogen bulbs is probably breaking the rules or does it only apply point of manufacture and type approval ??

Unless the car is fully converted, inc. auto adjustment and washers, any aftermarket bulbs and set-up is illegal.

[Kremmen]

What I was trying to say was that the fitting of the washers is a legal requirement but their actual use may not be.

So you could be driving round with dirty headlight lenses.

[Crackers]

Headlight washers. If you take your car onto European roads you are required to modify the headlight beam so that it doesn't tilt up into oncoming traffic. Halfords sell a universal stick-on beam converter to do this job and keep you legal, the Spanish are particularly keen that you have your lights modified. You can also buy the converter on the ferries.
It works well but the problem I found was that the headlight washer jet is so powerful it blasts wash-water under the self-adhesive converter patch and you quickly lose it. My remedy is to turn the headlights off momentarily when you need to use your windscreen washer. The headlight washer doesn't operate on sidelights.

[Brodick]

The CR-V's have headlight washers aswell (STD from on ES & EX models)- purely for the dirt when they go on or off road

[djm]

Originally Posted by Crackers

Headlight washers. If you take your car onto European roads you are required to modify the headlight beam so that it doesn't tilt up into oncoming traffic. Halfords sell a universal stick-on beam converter to do this job and keep you legal, the Spanish are particularly keen that you have your lights modified. You can also buy the converter on the ferries.
It works well but the problem I found was that the headlight washer jet is so powerful it blasts wash-water under the self-adhesive converter patch and you quickly lose it. My remedy is to turn the headlights off momentarily when you need to use your windscreen washer. The headlight washer doesn't operate on sidelights.

This is useful to know as I plan to take the Civic across Europe and was unsure of the situation regarding beam converters and HID headlamps. I was wondering if you needed a different type for HID lamps?

[Charles_Harding]

No one seems to have mentioned that, as far as I am aware, that when using your vehicle on the Continent you need to carry a set of spare bulbs.

How much are those HID thingys again?

"There is only one thing that you can say about broccoli, it's boneless!"

Charles H.

[djm]

Originally Posted by Charles_Harding

No one seems to have mentioned that, as far as I am aware, that when using your vehicle on the Continent you need to carry a set of spare bulbs.

How much are those HID thingys again?

"There is only one thing that you can say about broccoli, it's boneless!"

Charles H.

For the countries I'm going through (France Belgium Holland Germany Austria Slovenia) the AA say bulbs are recommended rather than compulsory.

Wouldn't it be great if you could just flick a switch and the headlamps adjusted to continental mode!