Question on Glare Free Operation

[aclosedmind]

A few days ago with help from superfordman, an HCM and instructions from jscaro, and some Projector LED lights from Precision Retrofits, I installed the 502a projector headlights on my 501a 2022 PB Lariat without ride height sensors. Tonight I went out for my first drive to test everything. I'm happy to say the headlights work fine though I think the low beams may be a little low for my tastes (possibly due to the Roush leveling kit). However, I'm confused as to glare free's operation. I made all the Forscan changes mentioned here and in the helpful instructions sent to me by jscaro. In my IPC, I do see the green "A" instead of white, and "Glare Free Lighting" is an option in my center screen which is enabled.

However, while driving, only the low beams are on unless I force on the high beams. If I force on the high beams by pressing the left stalk forward, they come on as normal. I live way out in a rural area so I didn't have any oncoming traffic to test if they'd shut off or stay on. This is noted with a blue headlight icon above where the green "A" is. See the pictures I've attached. If I press the stalk again, the highs turn off, lows stay on, and the green A disappears leaving no icon between the auto headlamps and foglight indicators. Press it forward once more and I get the green "A" again but just low beams. Dynamic bending works fine.

Am I doing it wrong?

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[Sapphire]

Just to confirm, you were testing them out while driving > 25-35 mph and when it was darker than in your photos (I only see 0 mph)? I can say from experience that it's picky about how dark it is, and that light in the sky might be enough to keep them off. If the camera sees any ambient light/streetlights, it disables the feature. The feature activates at speed, and will deactivate if you fall below ~19 mph. Also, do you know why the check engine light is on in your photos, and what codes are being thrown? Toggling the feature via the stalk like you describe sounds as expected.

 

[dolsen]

Just to confirm, you were testing them out while driving > 25-35 mph and when it was darker than in your photos (I only see 0 mph)? I can say from experience that it's picky about how dark it is, and that light in the sky might be enough to keep them off. If the camera sees any ambient light/streetlights, it disables the feature. The feature activates at speed, and will deactivate if you fall below ~19 mph. Also, do you know why the check engine light is on in your photos, and what codes are being thrown? Toggling the feature via the stalk like you describe sounds as expected.

This is (mostly) correct. Glare free (and subsequently your high beams) will not activate unless you’re over 32 mph and turns back off at 18 mph if my memory serves me correctly.

 

[Antimatter22]

Like others mention you need to be driving above 30 mph to get them to activate. It'll be more noticeable the darker it is outside, even more so if there is a tree line next to the road. Seems like it would be dark enough in those pictures for it to work in my opinion, but mine kick on very early since I have my front window tinted.

The transition is really smooth compared to the normal auto high beam operation when it just goes from low to high instantly, which is why I mention the tree line as it makes things more obvious.

 

[aclosedmind]

I stopped to take the pics to show the difference between manual high and low. Phone camera brightens up the ambient light. Gauge pictures were with the ignition on and engine off to show the icons in their 3 states. This was on a country road with no streetlights and speeds up to 60.

The main question I have is with the glare free lights do I want it to be in the green “a” state always from an IPC icon perspective? Should I see the high beams on by default when dark, at speed, etc?

 

[sbi]

The main question I have is with the glare free lights do I want it to be in the green “a” state always from an IPC icon perspective?

Yes. With Auto High Beam - glare free or non glare free - you want to always see the A, green or white, depending on your set up. The A means you have auto high beams on.

If you have auto high beam set to "ON" and you manually toggle the high beam on, you disable the Auto function. IIRC, the only way to return it to auto high beam is switching the main lights to ON and then back to Auto.

Should I see the high beams on by default when dark, at speed, etc?

Yes, the best way to test it is driving with oncoming traffic. As soon as you pass the oncoming traffic, in dark area, you should be able to see the high beam gradually coming on.

 

[JScaro]

I stopped to take the pics to show the difference between manual high and low. Phone camera brightens up the ambient light. Gauge pictures were with the ignition on and engine off to show the icons in their 3 states. This was on a country road with no streetlights and speeds up to 60.

The main question I have is with the glare free lights do I want it to be in the green “a” state always from an IPC icon perspective? Should I see the high beams on by default when dark, at speed, etc?

Your headlight light switch has to be in the Auto position.
You want the icons like pictured, they DO NOT Change when the Glare Free is working but you will see the difference.
There's also a setting in the menu for light - just make sure Glare Free is turned on.

Also, if you lights are low, you might need to adjust them manually to set the level, I had to on mine.

This is what you want on the dash

 

[Antimatter22]

I stopped to take the pics to show the difference between manual high and low. Phone camera brightens up the ambient light. Gauge pictures were with the ignition on and engine off to show the icons in their 3 states. This was on a country road with no streetlights and speeds up to 60.

The main question I have is with the glare free lights do I want it to be in the green “a” state always from an IPC icon perspective? Should I see the high beams on by default when dark, at speed, etc?

You want the green A on. The lights will change between low and high with no changes to the cluster. When working correctly, you won't see the blue high beam icon even if the lights switch over to high beam. I'd go back and verify settings but it doesn't sound like glare free is working for you.

Your truck will always use the high beams once in the 30s and there's no oncoming traffic.

 

[Snakebitten]

All I can add is once you SEE it functioning in all its glory, you can never un-see it again.

I'm fortunate to live down a long dark dead end rural road that gives me about 5 minutes of perhaps the PERFECT environment for a Glare Free demonstration.

 

[aclosedmind]

Thanks all!

 

[powerboatr]

All I can add is once you SEE it functioning in all its glory, you can never un-see it again.

I'm fortunate to live down a long dark dead end rural road that gives me about 5 minutes of perhaps the PERFECT environment for a Glare Free demonstration.

bingo

its like hmmmmm night and day mucho bueno better

i drove my grand daughter to work at between 230 am and 330 am for 4 months...
incredible difference
1st pic is at 70 mph and creeping up on a loves tanker truck
2nd is a DEER hiding off side of road. its hard to see in dash cam as i was doing about 65. but light really throw to the sides better in glasre free, even though its the same high beam, it SEEMS imo that the light tends to move around base don everything around the truck to light up those weird dark areas
and when big trucks come at you...you can still see the roadsides and not blind the oncoming driver...but the driver coming at you still blinds you

 

[aclosedmind]

this is extremely helpful thanks so much!

 

[gooby]

So if I retrofit my XL with projector LED's I can get this glare-free added via forscan? Just not the 'dynamic bending' headlights? Or is that the same thing. Thanks.

 

[aclosedmind]

Someone smarter than me (theres lots) will clarify if I'm wrong. You have the following options:

1. Install projectors WITHOUT a Headlight Control Module (HCM) and you won't get the dynamic bending, leveling, or high beams (at all).

2. Install the projectors and HCM (like I did) and if you don't have onboard scales (I don't) you get full functionality just without the auto leveling part

3. Install reflector LEDs (like the ones that came stock on mine) and you don't have to worry about the above, but you don't get the more advanced features, just much better LED headlights compared to halogens

 

[aclosedmind]

Happy to report after some more night testing along with better aiming of my headlights and some oncoming traffic I was able to see this is working as expected. It really is amazing tech. Hopefully our morons in government can fix whatever stupid regulations are preventing this from coming to the US in an official capacity.

Huge thanks to jscaro, jesse-infotainment, superfordman, and everyone else who helpedd

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