Headlights - Active high beam vs Adaptive Shadow Technology

[TheDufster]

The flashing still works when pulling the stalk towards you, as normal

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by TheDufster

The flashing still works when pulling the stalk towards you, as normal

Yep, although doing that disengages AHB/AST and the lights revert to normal dipped beam.

[TheDufster]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

Yep, although doing that disengages AHB/AST and the lights revert to normal dipped beam.

I have found that a gentle pull on the stalk flashes the lights but doesn't disengage the AHB/AST

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by TheDufster

I have found that a gentle pull on the stalk flashes the lights but doesn't disengage the AHB/AST

Thanks, I'll try that.

[Busa1400]

Sorry to drag up an old thread

I have a 2018 XC90.

With the lights i can flick the light swith all the way to the top and on the dash I get a symbol of a headlight with a A next to it - on this setting the car does not seem to go to high beam automatically so I am a little lost as to what this does.

If I leave the lights on high beam should they 'shade' on coming drivers ?

Im a little lost with this

[Busa1400]

So if I read this correctly.

I select AMB with the stick rotating switch - that will give the white symbol with the A

The I push the stalk forward and whilst the symbol turns blue indicating main beam, I should not be blinding people coming the other way.

I have LED headlamps

[steadvex]

glad to see i'm not the only one driving in the night just to be amazed at the headlights.

Didn't even realise it was a thing until I tried the auto main beam ready to be unimpressed as it dazzled people, then I was rushing to find roads that were very dark with a car on to follow to watch the lights dance around the car infront!

[Jcbrown]

Originally Posted by Busa1400

So if I read this correctly.

I select AMB with the stick rotating switch - that will give the white symbol with the A

The I push the stalk forward and whilst the symbol turns blue indicating main beam, I should not be blinding people coming the other way.

I have LED headlamps

As far a I understand, and use the ones on my S90 (which I think operate the same as the equivalent LEDs on the XC90), this is not quite correct.

Turn the dial to AMB (and it springs back to AUTO)

This should give you the white on the dash. This indicates AMB system is enabled.

Now, you do not need to do anything. The lights will react and switch to main beam automatically, which will be indicated by the symbol turning blue.

The system will react to other traffic and other lighting conditions (within certain limitations), and activate the shadow capability when needed. it will switch back to dipped beam when it needs to, and back to full beam when needed.

If you manually push the stalk forward whilst AMB is engaged, I believe you then disengage the AMB, and you should see the blue-or-white change to a blue (note no letter A). You now have manually engaged full-beam, and will be happily dazzling other drivers

the important thing to look for is the A symbol If you have the A symbol it is in Active Main Beam mode. If there is no A you are in control of the lights, and if you have Full Beam on in this mode (blue ) then you will be dazzling other traffic

This might also help: The relevant pages of the manualhttp://support.volvocars.com/uk/cars...a801511b5cc805

[KNVXC90]

Originally Posted by Busa1400

Sorry to drag up an old thread

I have a 2018 XC90.

With the lights i can flick the light swith all the way to the top and on the dash I get a symbol of a headlight with a A next to it - on this setting the car does not seem to go to high beam automatically so I am a little lost as to what this does.

If I leave the lights on high beam should they 'shade' on coming drivers ?

Im a little lost with this

You flick the light swith all the way to the top and on the dash you get a symbol of a headlight with a A next to it.

That's the active main beam.

It will only turn on the high beam automatically, if the road you are travelling on is very dark. When its sufficiently dark, the high beam automatically comes on, and you will see that the headlight sybmol with A turns blue.

As soon as you have cars in front of you or in case of oncoming traffic, it will turn off the high beam.

[Jcbrown]

Originally Posted by steadvex

glad to see i'm not the only one driving in the night just to be amazed at the headlights.

Didn't even realise it was a thing until I tried the auto main beam ready to be unimpressed as it dazzled people, then I was rushing to find roads that were very dark with a car on to follow to watch the lights dance around the car infront!

They are amazing. One of the things I was actually looked forward to about the dark nights - the chance to see the Active Main Beam & Adaptive (shadow) LED lights perform their magic.

Given a lift to a few friends lately in the dark, who had previously only been in the car during daylight hours. Had more than one "what the f*** is going on with your lights?", "Wow, I mean WOW!", "I want one".

Also had one "Well that is sh**" - but they are a miserable so-and-so, and would probably make the same statement if they won the lottery