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Hyundai Sonata Interior Lighting

12 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2008 at 11:14 PM

You are in the Hyundai Sonata Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Interior, Lighting, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 2

#5 of 12 Re: Sonata interior light switches [tenpin288] by eagle2a

Dec 03, 2008 (12:19 am)

Replying to: tenpin288 (Dec 02, 2008 8:44 pm)
Tenpin: I appreciate all the information you have researched and posted on this thread.
 
However it does not address my complaint regarding the placement of the center ceiling light. (I must lower my seat back to an unsafe position to be able to reach the switch while driving)
 
And the over the dash lights are not illuminated so I must fumble around trying to turn them on in the dark, not good while driving at night.
 
My center ceiling light works just as you posted. However my over the dash lights do not come on with the ceiling light when the door is opened.(not really important to me)
 
To at least have some light available while driving, all the company would have to do is make the over dash light sw illuminate just as the other sw in the auto are when the head lights are on. Also putting a sw on the dash allowing illumination of the center light would be good.
 
Again, I appreciate your post, thank you.

#6 of 12 Re: Sonata interior light switches [eagle2a] by targettuning

Dec 03, 2008 (6:07 am)

Replying to: eagle2a (Dec 03, 2008 12:19 am)
I must admit I am confused by at least two issues. #1 by "over the dash lights" do you refer to the map lights? Those are the ones that are designed to temporarily shine a more or less focused beam on printed material such as map reading (if there still is someone who doesn't have a GPS system). The one on the driver side is oriented toward the driver and the one on the passenger side is directed at the passenger. Either one is designed NOT to disturb either driver or passenger depending which is used. They are not designed to be used constantly which brings up my second question....why do you need an external light to be lit while driving at night? I personally consider the map light to be a source of irritation only to be used sparingly because it hampers my night vision. This is probably why Hyundai and other manufacturers don't wire it to be a "constant on" item.
 Rereading your post I see one other item I will address. We own a 2006 Honda Civic and there IS a way to allow both the ceiling (or roof) light and the map lights to function when the door is opened then they go out together in "fadeout" fashion. The car was in the shop recently and the service techs must have disabled this function for some reason because when we got the car back I immediately noted how dark the interior was (we also have a sunroof which places the roof light to the rear of the car) so I re-read the owners manual and sure enough there is a way to have both the roof and map lights come on when the door is opened. I did that and now all come on. I'd guess Hyundai has some provision for that as well.

#7 of 12 Re: Sonata interior light switches [targettuning] by eagle2a

Dec 03, 2008 (11:33 am)

Replying to: targettuning (Dec 03, 2008 6:07 am)
As per your confusion targettuning, yes I am referring to the map lights. And like you, I would not want them on all the time as this would make driving at night most difficult. I only need one of them if I am trying to see something momentarily while driving at night.
 
I think I have found a possible answer to my problem. I carry a small high intensity flash light in my glove box. I will put this flash light in the small compartment just under the radio (so I can reach it easier) and us it for those times I need some momentary light.
 
Thanks to everyone for your input.

#8 of 12 Re: Sonata interior light switches [eagle2a] by lmaxick

Dec 03, 2008 (2:27 pm)

Replying to: eagle2a (Dec 03, 2008 12:19 am)
Pull down the sun visor open the vanity mirroe and viola let there be light !!!!!!!

#9 of 12 Re: Sonata interior light switches [lmaxick] by eagle2a

Dec 03, 2008 (4:32 pm)

Replying to: lmaxick (Dec 03, 2008 2:27 pm)
Great idea Imaxick! Thank you.
 
Sometimes the simplest ideas escape us!!

#10 of 12 Re: Sonata interior light switches [dave868] by i360

Dec 03, 2008 (9:21 pm)

Replying to: dave868 (Dec 02, 2008 6:21 pm)
Not to side track but Hyundai originally made the Santa Fe this way, but they have since come out with a fix for it. You can get this done at the dealership for free in most cases. The newer Santa Fes already have this fix in place. The map lights, when fixed, both come on when the door is opened and using the button.
 
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/index.php?showtopic=16097&hl=light
 
To me, 2009 Sonata owner, its not a big deal and easy for me to reach both lights while driving. Although I don't tend to use the rear light often, but have used the map lights once or twice. You just need to consider the traffic or surrounding area for a few seconds before reaching up for the light.

#11 of 12 Re: Sonata interior light switches [i360] by dave868

Dec 03, 2008 (10:05 pm)

Replying to: i360 (Dec 03, 2008 9:21 pm)
I just feel that the sante fe lighting is useless and my sonata's could be a lot better
every other car i ever had you could see inside when you opened the door at night. the sonata is poor at best. i have had map light before as well as a dome light in between them...
 
i just think that hyindai needs to pay a little more attention to interior lighting.

#12 of 12 Re: Sonata interior light switches [dave868] by eagle2a

Dec 03, 2008 (11:14 pm)

Replying to: dave868 (Dec 03, 2008 10:05 pm)
Just as a side note regarding the Sonata's interior lighting choices.
 
As an older car guy, I remember when almost all cars had an interior light sw between the two doors about 3/4's up the side post between the front and rear doors. Easy to reach from the outside of the car. Up was on, down was off.
 
My old 87 Chevy 1/2 ton PU has a head light sw on the dash that pulls out to turn the headlights on, you can rotate it to adjust the dash lights and by turning this pull sw all the way to the right, turn on the over head lights. Nice and easy. Almost all cars at one time worked like this. It made the learning curve of adjusting to a different auto easy.
 
Not all the new stuff today is perfect!

Messages Page 2 of 2

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