low beams seen as high beams

Mroziak · 09-10-2006, 09:27 AM

Hey Everybody,

I just signed up to the forum because I am a proud owner of Prius 2006 from Poland where this type of car are still sth out of this world, but I need some opinions on the following:

While driving at night I use the low beam headlights most of the time, surprisingly a pretty large number of drivers coming in from the opposite direction think I am using high beams and simply flash their high beams at me. I must say I feel unconfortably and I am seen as a rude driver. I do not have any passengers on the back nor heavy luggage in the trunk. Does anybody happen to experience sth like this? Are the low beams too bright or what? I do not have the auto levelling feature.

greets.

Mroziak

Michgal007 · 09-10-2006, 09:48 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mroziak @ Sep 10 2006, 09:27 AM) [snapback]317299[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Hey Everybody,

I just signed up to the forum because I am a proud owner of Prius 2006 from Poland where this type of car are still sth out of this world, but I need some opinions on the following:

While driving at night I use the low beam headlights most of the time, surprisingly a pretty large number of drivers coming in from the opposite direction think I am using high beams and simply flash their high beams at me. I must say I feel unconfortably and I am seen as a rude driver. I do not have any passengers on the back nor heavy luggage in the trunk. Does anybody happen to experience sth like this? Are the low beams too bright or what? I do not have the auto levelling feature.

greets.

Mroziak
[/b]

Hmm.. obviously I cannot see my own headlights while driving.

I haven't had this problem. Check to make sure your high beam is not on, I accidently drove with it once!

**efusco** · 09-10-2006, 09:57 AM

Do you have HID headlights? They are often brighter.
If this is a serious problem you should have the headlight aim adjusted by the dealer.

PriusRos · 09-10-2006, 10:03 AM

Sorry, I can't add any insights about your problem except to agree with the previous responders to make sure you don't have the high beams on by accident and, if not, get your dealer to make an adjustment.

I just wanted to say hello to a Prius Owner from Poland! Are Priuses very rare? How hard was it for you to get one?

Mroziak · 09-10-2006, 10:49 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Sep 10 2006, 09:03 AM) [snapback]317310[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Sorry, I can't add any insights about your problem except to agree with the previous responders to make sure you don't have the high beams on by accident and, if not, get your dealer to make an adjustment.

Yeah I think you'r righ tI have to consult the dealer.

I just wanted to say hello to a Prius Owner from Poland! Are Priuses very rare? How hard was it for you to get one? [/b]

I bought mine in the US and shipped it to Poland, why? Well, they are cheaper in the US than in Poland and I have sort of a privileage being a US resident as well, which means shipping without tax, customs payments etc. pure transportation and that's it. By the way the EU requirements concerning cars are somewhat different from the ones in the US. One of these involves, guess... the very headlights, which means that the low beams have to be asymertic not symertic (as in the US). It could be a hidden trick :-) Anyway thanx for your interest!
Greets.
Mroziak

**Tideland Prius** · 09-10-2006, 12:03 PM

Have the headlight alignment checked.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 09-10-2006, 01:10 PM

I had a Nissan Maxima when I was in high school and had the same experience with the repeated brighting. Unlike the Prius, the Maxima had two seperate bulbs for high and low beams. Perhaps this was excessive, but I would pull the stalk back a little to engage the brights without turning off the lows, in essense more than doubling the brightness. This let them know immediately that my brights were not on.

The method still works. If you get flashed, flash them back. Since the Prius smiply accuates a cover to open up for the brights, you're not actually turning a bulb on and off to change from low beams to high. So you really have nothing to lose by flashing them back if you want.

IsrAmeriPrius · 09-10-2006, 02:00 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mroziak @ Sep 10 2006, 07:49 AM) [snapback]317320[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

By the way the EU requirements concerning cars are somewhat different from the ones in the US. One of these involves, guess... the very headlights, which means that the low beams have to be asymertic not symertic (as in the US).[/b]

The light pattern of the low beams of my Prius and of every other one I have seen at night is asymmetric.

SW03ES · 09-10-2006, 02:14 PM

Unfortunately this is just a part of having HID headlights. Its gotten better, my fathers car had them in 1998 and nobody knew what they were and flashed all the time.

tochatihu · 09-10-2006, 02:30 PM

As the original post said no auto-levelling feature, I suppose that there are not HID headlights. However the European version may differ in this.

IF the headlight assemblies are similar to the 2001-2003 Prius (US model), there is a mechanical adjustment. It is not easily accessible but very effective. In my 2001 Prius I did lslightly ower the left hand beam and stopped getting flashes from oncoming drivers. The illumination pattern on the road was still very good.

09-10-2006, 09:27 AM	#1
Mroziak Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Hey Everybody, I just signed up to the forum because I am a proud owner of Prius 2006 from Poland where this type of car are still sth out of this world, but I need some opinions on the following: While driving at night I use the low beam headlights most of the time, surprisingly a pretty large number of drivers coming in from the opposite direction think I am using high beams and simply flash their high beams at me. I must say I feel unconfortably and I am seen as a rude driver. I do not have any passengers on the back nor heavy luggage in the trunk. Does anybody happen to experience sth like this? Are the low beams too bright or what? I do not have the auto levelling feature. greets. Mroziak __________________ Mroziak[size=4][b][color=#009900]

09-10-2006, 01:10 PM	#7
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 11,214 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 58 Thanked 310 Times in 194 Posts Friends: 27	I had a Nissan Maxima when I was in high school and had the same experience with the repeated brighting. Unlike the Prius, the Maxima had two seperate bulbs for high and low beams. Perhaps this was excessive, but I would pull the stalk back a little to engage the brights without turning off the lows, in essense more than doubling the brightness. This let them know immediately that my brights were not on. The method still works. If you get flashed, flash them back. Since the Prius smiply accuates a cover to open up for the brights, you're not actually turning a bulb on and off to change from low beams to high. So you really have nothing to lose by flashing them back if you want. __________________ Current Mileage \| Chicago Prius Group Website Chicago Hybrid Group on FaceBook \| Find me on FaceBook

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09-10-2006, 09:57 AM	#3
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 18,054 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 102 Thanked 501 Times in 270 Posts Friends: 41	Do you have HID headlights? They are often brighter. If this is a serious problem you should have the headlight aim adjusted by the dealer.

09-10-2006, 10:03 AM	#4
PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Rockville, MD Posts: 1,608 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 212 Thanked 66 Times in 54 Posts Friends: 2	Sorry, I can't add any insights about your problem except to agree with the previous responders to make sure you don't have the high beams on by accident and, if not, get your dealer to make an adjustment. I just wanted to say hello to a Prius Owner from Poland! Are Priuses very rare? How hard was it for you to get one?

09-10-2006, 12:03 PM	#6
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 21,192 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 370 Thanked 529 Times in 356 Posts Friends: 26	Have the headlight alignment checked.

09-10-2006, 02:14 PM	#9
SW03ES Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 1,582 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 6 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts Friends: 1	Unfortunately this is just a part of having HID headlights. Its gotten better, my fathers car had them in 1998 and nobody knew what they were and flashed all the time.

09-10-2006, 02:30 PM	#10
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,569 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 2 Thanked 85 Times in 70 Posts Friends: 15	As the original post said no auto-levelling feature, I suppose that there are not HID headlights. However the European version may differ in this. IF the headlight assemblies are similar to the 2001-2003 Prius (US model), there is a mechanical adjustment. It is not easily accessible but very effective. In my 2001 Prius I did lslightly ower the left hand beam and stopped getting flashes from oncoming drivers. The illumination pattern on the road was still very good.