Ranger Raptor owner review

[goalieThreeOne]

Just for clarity, this guy is in New Zealand so they have their own country specific rules. However, Australia does get the "matrix" lighting feature as does NZ.

I haven't added lights to my RR yet so I cannot test it but I was a bit shocked in this review to learn that the adaptive function also turns the driving lights on and off automatically. In our other RR (Range Rover) which also has adaptive matrix headlights, the adaptive function does not activate the (after market) driving lights I have fitted. The only way to activate the driving lights on that is to push the high beam stalk to manually activate high beam.
I would have concerns that the adaptive function of the car is not tuned to deal with the intensity of long range driving lights so would not be sufficiently sensitive to turn the lights off for on-coming traffic.

So I think you maybe misunderstanding. In the bank of Aux switches (in AUS models as I understand) #5 and #6 can only turn on while the high beams are on. They still have their own switches so they can be turned off completely, but they can only be on when the high beams are on. What I suspect the video actually means is that if the matrix high beams cut off on one side or the other, whatever’s wired to AUX 5 or AUX 6 also turns off (because a high beam has turned off). From the factory it does not distinguish left or right so the “adaptive lighting” integration is very basic and default to turning off road lighting off as a precaution when one of the high beams needs to also go off. If the Aux Switches are off, then the off road lighting never turns on.

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[CrustyNoodle]

So I think you maybe misunderstanding. In the bank of Aux switches (in AUS models as I understand) #5 and #6 can only turn on while the high beams are on. They still have their own switches so they can be turned off completely, but they can only be on when the high beams are on. What I suspect the video actually means is that if the matrix high beams cut off on one side or the other, whatever’s wired to AUX 5 or AUX 6 also turns off (because a high beam has turned off). From the factory it does not distinguish left or right so the “adaptive lighting” integration is very basic and default to turning off road lighting off as a precaution when one of the high beams needs to also go off. If the Aux Switches are off, then the off road lighting never turns on.

Good thinking and thanks for your thoughts - I'm still trying to work this out myself so please bare with me while I work through a few thoughts that you have brought to mind.

As I mentioned, I don't have driving lights set up on the RR yet so I can't be 100% on this until I do. However I definitely know that when you push the high beam stalk forward to manually engage high beam then high beam stays engaged until you again manually disengage it. When in this high beam mode there is no adaptive dipping of the high beams so I suspect that the driving lights connected to AUX 5&6 will also stay on no matter what.

In "normal" adaptive mode, the high beams automagically engage, disengage and adapt their beams to not dazzle oncoming traffic (or traffic you are following behind). What I'm not sure about is if when in this "normal" adaptive mode the AUX 5 & 6 also activate (Aus spec.).
The good news is that I will be in the country this weekend so should have an opportunity to play with this a bit and try to get another triangulation point.

 

[goalieThreeOne]

Good thinking and thanks for your thoughts - I'm still trying to work this out myself so please bare with me while I work through a few thoughts that you have brought to mind.

As I mentioned, I don't have driving lights set up on the RR yet so I can't be 100% on this until I do. However I definitely know that when you push the high beam stalk forward to manually engage high beam then high beam stays engaged until you again manually disengage it. When in this high beam mode there is no adaptive dipping of the high beams so I suspect that the driving lights connected to AUX 5&6 will also stay on no matter what.

In "normal" adaptive mode, the high beams automagically engage, disengage and adapt their beams to not dazzle oncoming traffic (or traffic you are following behind). What I'm not sure about is if when in this "normal" adaptive mode the AUX 5 & 6 also activate (Aus spec.).
The good news is that I will be in the country this weekend so should have an opportunity to play with this a bit and try to get another triangulation point.

Off Road lights connected to Aux 5 and Aux 6 turn on if two conditions are met:

1. Their Aux switch is on
2. High beams are also on

If either of those two conditions is not met then it won’t turn on. If you don’t want off road lights turning on while you’re on the road then turn their aux switch off.

 

[CrustyNoodle]

Cool! I should be able to confirm that on an Aus spec vehicle after the weekend

 

[CrustyNoodle]

OK, getting back to you after a weekend of light off-roading.

I can confirm that on the Aus spec. Raptor, the AUX 5 & 6 circuits are activated when the headlights automatically switch to full high beam. However they do not activate when the matrix function is doing its thing (behind other traffic or on-coming cars).

Now that is confirmed for the Aus spec. car, I'd like to say that I really don't like how it works... I don't have driving lights wired up (just confirming operation based on the illumination of the AUX switches) however IMHO the adaptive function is not sensitive enough to properly operate when you have powerful driving lights attached. I found many occasions on the weekend when the lights had automatically switched to high beam at times when there is no way I would have had driving lights on. The only way to manage this situation would be to constantly switch the AUX switches on and off as you drive along.

In my opinion, the adaptive function should never switch AUX 5 & 6 on, they should only be switched on if you push the high beam stalk forward to manually activate high beam.

 

[goalieThreeOne]

OK, getting back to you after a weekend of light off-roading.

I can confirm that on the Aus spec. Raptor, the AUX 5 & 6 circuits are activated when the headlights automatically switch to full high beam. However they do not activate when the matrix function is doing its thing (behind other traffic or on-coming cars).

Now that is confirmed for the Aus spec. car, I'd like to say that I really don't like how it works... I don't have driving lights wired up (just confirming operation based on the illumination of the AUX switches) however IMHO the adaptive function is not sensitive enough to properly operate when you have powerful driving lights attached. I found many occasions on the weekend when the lights had automatically switched to high beam at times when there is no way I would have had driving lights on. The only way to manage this situation would be to constantly switch the AUX switches on and off as you drive along.

In my opinion, the adaptive function should never switch AUX 5 & 6 on, they should only be switched on if you push the high beam stalk forward to manually activate high beam.

Or just leave the aux switches off until they're needed. In the US, you can't have auxiliary lighting on while on a paved public road so it would only be manually turned on. I understand though, that in AUS you probably have more rural roads to worry about not to mention wildlife. We have a similar situation with deer, coyote, and moose.

 

[CrustyNoodle]

Yep. Over here you can (and need to) use your driving lights on regular country roads so you are flicking them on and off in the same way as you would with high beam.

I bet it is possible to arrange things as I want using Forscan - if you knew what you were doing and had the information you required. Never mind, I'll just live with it for now.

 

[goalieThreeOne]

Yep. Over here you can (and need to) use your driving lights on regular country roads so you are flicking them on and off in the same way as you would with high beam.

I bet it is possible to arrange things as I want using Forscan - if you knew what you were doing and had the information you required. Never mind, I'll just live with it for now.

I bet there is an auto high beam disable. Yes you'd have to go back to manually flipping the stalk, but at least you wouldn't inadvertently blind people.

 

[CrustyNoodle]

I bet there is an auto high beam disable.

Absolutely spot on!

If I could do that without also disabling the matrix functionality then I'd be sorted.

 

[galion]

In my Ranger Raptor, the LED bar connected to Aux 6 don't need high beams to activate; I believe this setup will be similar in the US.

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