Issues with LED headlights...

Discussion in 'Hyundai Kona Electric' started by ericy, Oct 10, 2019.

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  1. ericy

    ericy Well-Known Member

    I was driving early this morning, and a few people were flashing their lights at me - like they thought my high beams were on - this happened 3-4 times. Of course they weren't, but I am wondering if this is a common experience or whether I need to have Hyundai recheck the headlight alignment.

    I have the Ultimate trim with the LED headlights, and I have only had the car for 4 days now.
     
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  3. I've had the same happen to me. I think the LEDs tend to be brighter and it throws people off. When they flash their high-beams at me, I flash them right back, and that usually shuts them up :)
     
    Mdsweb likes this.
  4. nigels

    nigels Active Member

    Same issue here with my Ultimate. The lights are probably brighter than average, but the aim also seems way higher than other cars I've owned. I was actually just thinking about posting a thread for advice on how to adjust the headlight level.
     
  5. I have had this happen as well. I now use the auto dim feature so as people approach they see the light drop from high beam to low beam and haven't had any one flash their lights since
     
  6. Francois

    Francois Active Member

    I agree with you that the auto dim is a great option when you are on the high beams but in the comments above they were saying that people were flashing them even though they were not using the high beams.
     
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  8. I noticed that. My driving is in the county with few cars so the auto dim works for me instead of flashing my high beams. I see that obviously in city driving where high beams are not used as much that wouldn't work. I have noticed though that the lights are not aimed that high. In coming up behind other cars the low beam to not extend above the height of the trunk of the car in front so it seams to be just that they are brighter than normal.
     
  9. Mdsweb

    Mdsweb Member

    I was just going to post this very same topic! Yes this has been happening for a while now. I am assuming that the LEDs are brighter than the normal yellow halogens so some people are assuming they are high beams.

    It’s reached the point that when I’m on a dark farm road I get flashed from 1 out of 10-15 cars. So now I drive with my left index finger on the high beam trigger and flash them right back - just to prove to them that they are not high beams.

    The other night I was beamed while waiting to make a left from the opposite left turn driver. He wouldn’t let go so we had an all out beam war for 5 seconds. Ridiculous.

    I’m glad to hear it’s not just my Ultimate.




    Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
     
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  10. No one really wins with this type of battle
     
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  11. ehatch

    ehatch Active Member

    PLEASE don't make a big deal about the lights because GM dimmed the Bolt's due to the IIHS lowering their rating due to bright headlights. The Kona's headlights are fine,and they do sit at the right height. Anyone passing late model quarter ton trucks, mid sized SUVs get an eye full of their driving lights? Add buses, transports,other passenger cars. I want to be able to see,and appreciate the Kona's LED lumens normally found in luxury vehicles. My Model X, Audi LEDs appear brighter , they're pointing more towards the road,better calibrated?

    I do flash people back,sometimes. Firing multi flashes, at intersections when I am trying to turn left is dangerous. Hope police pulls them over one day for doing it. Auto high beam makes it harder to flash back since the stock's pushed more forward.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2019
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  13. Francois

    Francois Active Member

    It's not a Ferrari of course, but at 53,000 CAD$ for a Kona Ultimate, many would call it a luxury vehicle. ;)
     
    ehatch likes this.
  14. LOL. Last night, I was driving back home through town. I must have gotten flashed at least 5 or 6 times in a 20 minute period. I've been doing the same as you - left hand finger on the high beam trigger and flashing them right back. Good for nothing do-gooders ;)
     
  15. ericy

    ericy Well-Known Member

    For me it was a 2 lane road through a rural area with light traffic - the worst case, I guess. I was following a big truck, so I never needed to put my real high beams on.


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  16. milesian

    milesian New Member

    Same deal here with my Ultimate, thanks for this thread. I'm a little bummed because sometimes folks do flash useful intel which I'll now have to tune out.

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk
     
  17. nigels

    nigels Active Member

    I found this procedure for adjusting the headlight aim:
    https://www.hkona.com/head_lamps_repair_procedures-1490.html

    This isn’t for the Kona Electric, but I was able to confirm that there’s an accessible adjusting screw for vertical aim, but not horizontal. This adjustment should really be performed by a dealer, but it might enable people to determine if the aim is adjusted correctly or not.

    I drove my other car tonight and was amazed at how low the headlight aim was in comparison. Didn’t get flashed a single time ;)
     
  18. Can you provide a picture of that adjusting screw? The document is not too clear.
     
  19. nigels

    nigels Active Member

    I’m on a different continent from my car, so not right now ;) If you look straight down from the front of the engine bay, you’ll see the back of the headlight assembly. On the top of the unit are two screw holes, one has a silver colored cross head screw, the other (on the Ultimate) is blanked off. Haven’t tried turning it yet, but it looks like a candidate for the one poorly pictured in the documentation.
     
    electriceddy likes this.
  20. Another recent reference to the headlight adjustment in this forum, I hope they are describing the LED version as indicated the poster was not sure :
    https://www.speakev.com/threads/headlight-auto-levelling.139896/#post-2722448
     
    Dag Lindquist likes this.
  21. SkookumPete

    SkookumPete Well-Known Member

    I'm glad I don't do much driving at night, because I don't like being one of the annoying people. Aimed properly or not, these LEDs are blinding at some angles. I'm thankful there are no fog lights to further dazzle oncoming motorists. :cool:
     
  22. XtsKonaTrooper

    XtsKonaTrooper Well-Known Member

    On some back roads, i get flashed often and then give them a taste of the high beam. Funny thing, last time, it happened as the car passed by, it was a cop.
    I love the wide spread on low beam, cuz driving on backroads, i can see the critters on the sides.
     
  23. KonaTom

    KonaTom Well-Known Member

    I never get flashed, maybe I'm not good looking :)
     

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