BajaNomad - Bright headlights issue

Bright headlights issue

Santiago - 11-17-2007 at 06:53 AM

I have taken 3 trips in a 2007 silverado and have experinced the same thing each time while driving after dark: south of the border all cars flip there brights at me even though I don't have them on. Truckers do not, as I assume they are high enough (in elevation, je, je). North of the border not a single car flashes its brights at me????? Some drivers get upset and just leave theirs on to teach me a lesson, I suppose.
Anybody else notice this?

BigWooo - 11-17-2007 at 07:07 AM

Are you hauling anything in the back? When I put my camper on I always have to adjust the headlights down a bit to avoid that problem.

Santiago - 11-17-2007 at 07:13 AM

No - but this is not the issue - south of the border I get lit up but this stops as soon as I am north???

bajaguy - 11-17-2007 at 07:22 AM

I think they are trying to tell you to adjust ONE of your headlights to shine straight up......or maybe break one of your headlights......to fit in with the locals :lol:

DENNIS - 11-17-2007 at 07:26 AM

Driving at night? Shame on you. These drivers who put on their brights in your eyes and leave them on, are insane. Then nobody can see.

Bajaboy - 11-17-2007 at 07:32 AM

Santiago,

I have noticed the same problem. I normally don't drive with my brights but now do in Baja. As an oncoming car gets closer, I dim my brights and all is well. I do like Bajaguy's answer, though.

Zac

Bob and Susan - 11-17-2007 at 07:41 AM

same thing happens to me...

truck is higher than those little toyota trucks

dont worry just drive

Santiago - 11-17-2007 at 07:46 AM

My problerm is that I don't have my brights on but the oncoming cars act like I do - but only SOUTH OF THE BORDER. This can't possibly be headlight adjustment (I have made sure that my headlights are adjusted to spec). This must have something to do with how my lights are perceived. That said - is there something I can do so as not to pee-off everyone.

vandenberg - 11-17-2007 at 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Santiago
My problerm is that I don't have my brights on but the oncoming cars act like I do - but only SOUTH OF THE BORDER. This can't possibly be headlight adjustment (I have made sure that my headlights are adjusted to spec). This must have something to do with how my lights are perceived. That said - is there something I can do so as not to pee-off everyone.

Yes,
Like advised many times on this board, DON"T DRIVE AT NIGHT. :biggrin:

805gregg - 11-17-2007 at 08:03 AM

Get some real off road lights and when they turn their brights on for you do the same for them, it will cure them fast.

Bruce R Leech - 11-17-2007 at 08:12 AM

I had that problem when I was pulling my trailer. If you lode your vehicle so that it drops 2 or more inches in the rear your dim lights will point where your brights used to. I solved it with a lode equalizing hitch.

Bruce R Leech - 11-17-2007 at 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg
Get some real off road lights and when they turn their brights on for you do the same for them, it will cure them fast.

If you do this the other car is apt to hit you

vandenberg - 11-17-2007 at 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg
Get some real off road lights and when they turn their brights on for you do the same for them, it will cure them fast.

Now that's the ticket. :no:

Should get you both deaded up. :biggrin:

Skipjack Joe - 11-17-2007 at 08:17 AM

In my case it's because the truck has been loaded causeing the back to sag and the low beams shine as high the high beams. They flash their lights to tell me to switch to low beams and I respond by flashing on the highs. Once they get the picture they go back to low.

I think it's not a problem north of the border because you are now driving on multi lane highways and pretty much illuminating the back of people's cars. Plus the cars in the opposite lanes have a fairly large barrier between you and them.

The baja highway is small. You meet the other car within a 2 feet of one another. Light direction plays a bigger role under those circumstances.

Bruce R Leech - 11-17-2007 at 08:39 AM

you need to adjust your headlights when you lode up if you are going to drive at night or you are going to clause an accident.

shari - 11-17-2007 at 08:40 AM

Same thing has happened to us and so thanks alot for the answers...big load=lights shining higher...now I get it....Now, I'd like to adress the big problem of predominately gringos who drive with their high beams on all the time and don't dim them...I once drove with a guy who had a business driving people down to whale watch and he never dimmed his lights and when I mentioned that it blinded the oncoming driver who may hit a cow being blinded for a few seconds.... he gave me a very disturbing answer....something to the effect of....better them than me...bad karma man. Please be considerate to other drivers..it is a very dangerous highway without gringo selfish idiots driving around with their super duper high beams.

dccf - 11-17-2007 at 08:49 AM

Just a thought, does your new truck have those new high intensity headlights? Could be they are not used to the color or intensity south of the border. North of the border we are used to the new light and know they are not on high beams. If that's so, just have to wait until they see more of the new ligfhts.

BajaBruno - 11-17-2007 at 10:06 AM

Santiago, just flash your high beams on for a second and then off to let them know that you really don't have them on. They should get the message and leave you alone after that.

I have never found driving at night to be a problem, but I am a careful driver and adapt to the circumstances. Having said that, many Mexican drivers simply drive with their high-beams on and never dim them. In my youth I would become seriously annoyed and agitated--now, I just slow down and pull as far to the right as I can until they pass.

OVER 60 NIGHT DRIVERS

Barry A. - 11-17-2007 at 10:35 AM

What many young drivers don't realize is that we older folks who may have cataracts coming on are REALLY blinded by intense lights--------and thereby we are dangerous----------we CAN'T SEE WHEN CONFRONTED BY BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS.

In addition, some of the "cures" for catatacts (inserted lens) and laser surgery to improve sight, actually many times causes us to be light sensitive, with bright lights causing us to see halos and distorted vision.

What all this means is that if you have your brights on, and fail to dim them for oncoming traffic, you are taking a real risk of being rammed headon inadvertantly.

(of course all this is ANOTHER case for NOT DRIVING AT NIGHT)

DENNIS - 11-17-2007 at 11:15 AM

I had Lasik on my eyes and it really increased night light sensitivity. They didn't mention that part when they took me 25 hundred bucks. I was going to go back and b-tch about it but the surgeon went to prison for tax evasion before I had a chance.

castaway$ - 11-17-2007 at 11:49 AM

I have the problem when I tow my 5th wheel and I found if I just leave my brights on the cars quit flashing but the truckers don't.

Barry A. - 11-17-2007 at 12:34 PM

Castaway-----

Your kidding, right? :?:

I've noticed the same problem.

BMG - 11-17-2007 at 12:52 PM

Can't seem to figure it out.

overloaded.jpg - 26kB

Santiago - 11-17-2007 at 12:57 PM

I think skipjack may have hit on it - north of the border I drive on multilane wide streets, often with barriers or islands of some kind. This gives more seperation and something to block the lights. With darkness coming at 5:30pm I just can't stand not pushing on 'til 7 or 8.

Dave - 11-17-2007 at 01:43 PM

Quote:

Do you run xenon headlamps? They are way brighter that what you normally see down here. If you're not familiar, it's easy to confuse low for high beam.

BTW, you haven't really lived until you flash oncoming brights and the driver cuts... them... off. Driving in Mexico is a trip. :lol:

Barry A. - 11-17-2007 at 01:47 PM

Dave-------Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh I have had that happen also----------really increases the pucker- factor when you can't see them AT ALL--------- :lol:

-------that is even worse than the NO TAIL LIGHTS issue-----at least with no tail lights you both are going the same direction and have a few seconds to consider your options.

Skipjack Joe - 11-17-2007 at 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
you need to adjust your headlights when you lode up if you are going to drive at night or you are going to clause an accident.

I fixed the problem by adding several leaf springs in the back.

Santiago,
I think another reason lights bother us less here is because our highways are well illuminated. My reasoning being that a bright light approaching you out of total darkness is more disturing than one with nearby street lights. Your eyes have an easier time adjusting to it.

BTW, I'm on these antibiotics now that make it hard to tolerate sunlight. The doctor never told me about this 'side effect'.

reefrocket - 11-17-2007 at 06:55 PM

The newer lights are indeed BRIGHT! Old eyes here too. One thought -- I've seen some cars with the upper half of the lights with a film/coating over them -- I wonder about some of the stick on window tint. Shouldn't affect the close light and might dull the far light. ?????

BajaWarrior - 11-17-2007 at 08:57 PM

I fixed the problem too, by lowering my headlights with the adjustment screw under the hood and behind the lens.

No more headlight wars.

TMW - 11-18-2007 at 09:55 AM

BajaWarrior is right, maybe your lights are too high and even if they aren't it may be best to just lower them a little to see what happens.

Barry A. - 11-18-2007 at 09:59 AM

The headlight beams on my new Nissan X-Terra came from the factory radically too high---------my new rear springs which raised the backend about 2 inches took care of that.

Those of you getting "flashed at" might want to check your headlights out.

toneart - 11-18-2007 at 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dccf
Just a thought, does your new truck have those new high intensity headlights? Could be they are not used to the color or intensity south of the border. North of the border we are used to the new light and know they are not on high beams. If that's so, just have to wait until they see more of the new ligfhts.

Santiago,
This question has been asked by a couple of posters and you have not answered them.

dccf,
I have never gotten used to them. They are obnoxious and blinding when coming at you.

Santiago - 11-18-2007 at 01:48 PM

Sorry toneart - you're right. The truck does not have the xeon hi-intensity lights with the blue tint to them.