HID headlamps, do you need them?

Have you ever noticed while driving how some cars have headlights so bright they seem almost blue? Those are high-intensity discharge or HID headlights such as those found on many of our Lexus vehicles.

What are they?

HID began appearing on luxury vehicles in the 1990s. Regular halogen headlights use a metal filament charged by electricity just like the the old Thomas Edison invented bulbs used in our homes and give off a slightly yellowish light. HID headlights work more like fluorescent lights where high voltage is passed through a gas, typically Xenon, and then creates an intense bluish-white light.

Pros

HID headlights have a huge advantage over their halogen counterparts, the bluish light, which is measured in Degrees Kelvin is closer to natural daylight than the light from halogen bulbs, thus they provide better nighttime visibility. This can be a margin of safety for those who drive on unlit roads.

Cons

If you’ve been on the receiving end of these HID headlamps, you may have discovered the intense blue-white light can be quite irritating. An issue for some drivers is how HID headlights perform in foggy conditions. Blue light tends to be scattered more by water droplets, so with HID headlights more light is bounced back to the driver, making it more difficult to see when you most need good visibility. This is why some fog lights are yellow in color since, the color doesn't reflect as much in the fog.

Something to consider when deciding whether or not to get HID headlamps is to arrange a nighttime test drive. Reason is that in order to properly focus the brighter light output HID headlights feature a lens that creates a sharp cut off rather than fading out gradually like halogen headlamps. There are some drivers that say this can take some getting used to.

Last, HID headlights are expensive. Should one be damaged or components burn out, it will cost far more than a conventional halogen light to replace.

How to get them

While it is possible to buy aftermarket HID headlight kits, installing requires some wiring skills and most vehicles with halogen headlamps don't have proper lenses to focus the brighter light output.

The best way to get HID headlights is to choose a vehicle with them installed from the factory, this ensures the HID system is properly integrated into the vehicle’s electrical systems. Many vehicles, not just luxury brands have them as standard, but some offer HID headlamps as part of an optional package.

Feel free to visit our showroom to experience the difference HID headlamps can do for your nighttime driving.

Why does the tire warning light come on?

Why does your Lexus have this system?

Tire pressure sensors or tire pressure monitoring systems have been required by law on all light vehicles (under 10,000 pounds) manufactured after September 2007. The law was in response to the Firestone tire recall of the mid 1990s. Tire pressure monitoring systems aren't new, the technology first appeared usually in higher priced European luxury models around 1986. It soon after that, the systems started to appear in luxury models across the globe. In addition to the safety aspect of having properly inflated tires, there are also potential fuel savings from lower rolling resistance.

 

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

The most common tire pressure sensor is a battery powered DIRECT sensor (meaning it is directly mounted with the wheel and tire). It uses a radio frequency to transmit data to the instrument cluster computer in the vehicles. Usually as long as the tires are within a certain pressure range of each other, the system is set.

 

However, if one or more tires loses or gains more than a certain amount of pressure (about 20 percent to 30 percent of air pressure difference between the others) it will trigger the instrument cluster panel and set off a warning indicator light or a "low tire pressure" light. In some vehicles, there may even be an information center which will display each individual tire's air pressure.

 

Located on the driver's side door frame is a label with the manufacturer's recommended tire pressures for front and rear tires. While this is a guideline for air inflation, the system doesn't necessarily fault if the recommended tire pressure varies as long as all the tires have the same amount of air in them. It is important to note that some vehicles that have full-size spare tires may also have a sensor in the spare that is also monitored. Once a low tire or flat tire is detected, the dashboard warning light will illuminate and stay on until the tire has been repaired or replaced. Some tire sensor systems need to be reset after such a situation.

 

The battery powered sensors are somewhat bulky and heavier than a standard valve stem, plus the batteries do exhaust after some time. Improper tire replacement can also damage the TPMS sensor and affect the wheel balance if replacement is not performed by knowledgeable installers such as our factory trained technicians. If damaged, the replacement of the sensor is quite costly.

 

What can you do?

Just like helium balloons, over time tires loose some air pressure through microscopic pores in the rubber. It is common during winter months when the air temperature drops for tire air pressures to drop. Lexus recommends a monthly inspection of all the tire pressures. This is a simple process and only requires an inexpensive tire pressure gauge similar to this:

 

 

When performing the tire pressure inspection, it is best when the tires are cold, since driving on them warms up the tire and the air pressure rises slightly. Just twist off the cap on the tire valve stem and press the inlet part onto the exposed tire stem. The gauge will pop out showing the relative tire air pressure.

 

Here at Lexus of Pleasanton, we routinely inspect the tire pressures with all in shop services. This not only prevents abnormal wear on the tires but potentially saves fuel and reduces exhaust emissions from a more efficient engine. So everyone benefits from this simple inspection.

Feel free to contact your Sales Consultant or any of our Service Advisors if there are any questions regarding tire air pressure check or the TPMS warning light.

 



The all-new 2013 Lexus ES coming soon

The all-new 2013 Lexus ES is much more than meets the eye. Here are eight videos showcasing some of the class leading technologies that you will find. For more details, please call 866-692-0975


Sneak peek at all-new 2013 ES


2013 Lexus ES Body Aerodynamics


2013 Lexus ES Body Ridigity


Production of the all-new 2013 Lexus ES


Safety: 2013 Lexus ES Blind Spot Monitor


Safety: 2013 Lexus ES Lane Departure Alert


Safety: 2013 Lexus ES Steering-assist Vehicle Stability Control


Safety: 2013 Lexus ES Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Prepare to be IMPRESSED

You may have seen the commercials, read the reviews, and possibly seen it at a car show. Come join us for an early evening champagne reception to introduce the All-New 2013 Lexus GS sedan on Tuesday, February 14th 2012 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

To RSVP: Please call (925) 251-7144 or go to http://www.lexuslaunchevent.com/ and enter Dealer Code: SGS60429.