Turn Signal Indicators - Obscured by Steering wheel

[Weareblondi]

I did not mean to offend anyone or to imply that my opinion is the word of God. I apologize. And yes, I might be younger than some and older than others, but my first car, that I really drove regularly, was an old land rover 110 that my uncle brought over from Cyprus after his stint in the military. It technically had a turn signal, but it did not indicate which side it was for. It was centered in middle of the rear door. Might have been a military thing .so I just drove using hand signals. Or, just pushed my way in. It's a new York thing
As for the bsd, it is really useful with the huge blind spots the stinger has. I still find myself looking over my shoulders, but that is just habit. Still use hand signals also sometimes, just to see if anybody remembers them.
Again, I am sorry if I offended anyone, especially the person who gave me the red "x"

 

[SteveCo]

Definitely have had the same issue - visual turn indicators are blanked out by the steering wheel when the car (seat, wheel) is set to my ideal driving position. It's very easy to press a bit harder than intended for a momentary signal, and have it stay on - and yes, I've had two or three DOH! moments where I've caught myself driving along totally unaware that the signal has been continuously blinking since the last lane change. Unlike a full turn, a lane change won't auto-cancel when the steering wheel rotates back to center - and at highway speeds you often can't hear the auditory 'click'.

Adding them to the HUD would be ideal - won't take a lot of pixels, and there is plenty of remaining space available on the HUD display panel. On their older cars Cadillac had rear facing light pods out on the front tips of the fenders - a forerunner of a 'heads up' signal light display that worked very well.

 

[eljay]

I did not mean to offend anyone or to imply that my opinion is the word of God. I apologize. And yes, I might be younger than some and older than others, but my first car, that I really drove regularly, was an old land rover 110 that my uncle brought over from Cyprus after his stint in the military. It technically had a turn signal, but it did not indicate which side it was for. It was centered in middle of the rear door. Might have been a military thing .so I just drove using hand signals. Or, just pushed my way in. It's a new York thing
As for the BSD (Blind Spot Detection), it is really useful with the huge blind spots the stinger has. I still find myself looking over my shoulders, but that is just habit. Still use hand signals also sometimes, just to see if anybody remembers them.
Again, I am sorry if I offended anyone, especially the person who gave me the red "x"

I for one wasn't offended, and thanks for replying to my question—I really was curious about what you had driven and I got a good chuckle out of the answer. A turn signal that doesn't indicate direction? That's hysterical! When I took driver training, they were still teaching hand signals, but I fortunately never had to use them. I suspect using them in L.A. basin traffic nowadays would put one in jeopardy of losing a limb.

There are a couple of left turns at intersections in my town that aren't sharp enough to click off the turn signal. It's always fun to see everyone ahead of me continuing down the boulevard blinking away for several blocks. It's obviously not just a Stinger problem. And hey, at least we're using our signals, which is more than I can say for some of the drivers around here!

 

[MerlintheMad]

I have never used hand signals in my life, even when I knew an indicator light was out. I've been driving since 1969.

After participating in this discussion, I checked my steering wheel and seat positions and realized that I can raise the wheel actually more than needed to reveal the indicators below it. So, voila! I no longer have to dip my head even a little bit to see the signals. I am c. 6' 3'', so having the steering wheel intrude before the windshield is not an issue for me.

 

[SteveCo]

After participating in this discussion, I checked my steering wheel and seat positions and realized that I can raise the wheel actually more than needed to reveal the indicators below it. So, voila! I no longer have to dip my head even a little bit to see the signals. I am c. 6' 3'', so having the steering wheel intrude before the windshield is not an issue for me.

Yes, I can raise the wheel and see the indicators as well - but then the wheel is higher and at an uncomfortably awkward angle for me, especially for extended drives. The wheel obstructing the windshield has never been a concern.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yes, I can raise the wheel and see the indicators as well - but then the wheel is higher and at an uncomfortably awkward angle for me, especially for extended drives. The wheel obstructing the windshield has never been a concern.

That is a problem. Even as tall as I am the uptilt on the steering wheel is a noticeable difference. But it isn't uncomfortable. Can you sit a bit higher so that the wheel is relatively lower?

 

[SteveCo]

That is a problem. Even as tall as I am the uptilt on the steering wheel is a noticeable difference. But it isn't uncomfortable. Can you sit a bit higher so that the wheel is relatively lower?

I'm 6' 2" with a good part of the height in my torso, and with the seat all the way down my hair is just brushing the headliner perhaps 3/4 of an inch above my scalp. For me there is only one 'correct' height, distance rearward, and seat back angle for the seat, and position (height, angle and distance) for the wheel. When set properly, my hands rest comfortably on the wheel, my wrist and elbow angles are correct, and my arms are where they need to be in relation to the wheel, door, console and shifter. Unfortunately, in that ideal position the wheel visually arcs over the two main gauges and blanks out the part of the dashboard where the turn indicators and other status icons are.

In many cars I drive (I rent a lot of vehicles as well) the wheel blocks some part of the dashboard display. For this car, adding the turn signal indicators to the HUD would be a simple fix for many of us.

 

[Weareblondi]

I for one wasn't offended, and thanks for replying to my question—I really was curious about what you had driven and I got a good chuckle out of the answer. A turn signal that doesn't indicate direction? That's hysterical! When I took driver training, they were still teaching hand signals, but I fortunately never had to use them. I suspect using them in L.A. basin traffic nowadays would put one in jeopardy of losing a limb.

There are a couple of left turns at intersections in my town that aren't sharp enough to click off the turn signal. It's always fun to see everyone ahead of me continuing down the boulevard blinking away for several blocks. It's obviously not just a Stinger problem. And hey, at least we're using our signals, which is more than I can say for some of the drivers around here!

i know this has nothing to do with our forum mate having a problem with the turn signals, but, the land rover had been modified, not sure if they all were, for military use, but the indicator was at the top of the rear door/hatch. brake light was under the door. single bulb also. the turn signal was like an afterthought, i always found it amusing because it was like am i turning left, am i turning right, or is this vehicle occupied?
and for steveco, i am 6'3", and yes, i have to tilt the wheel upward, but, too far up and its uncomfortable, too far down and i can't see diddly. oddly, i found if i tilt it up and pull the wheel slightly towards me, i can see the indicators. just a fyi, it might be something that you had missed. i only realized it when the mrs told me. so, of course, i acted like we all do, "of course i knew that sweetie, i just left it in that position for you" anything to keep her happy. that means i get to drive it.

 

[SteveCo]

... and for steveco, i am 6'3", and yes, i have to tilt the wheel upward, but, too far up and its uncomfortable, too far down and i can't see diddly. oddly, i found if i tilt it up and pull the wheel slightly towards me, i can see the indicators. just a fyi, it might be something that you had missed.

Yes, I've tried fiddling with the wheel position in both axes. If I tilt it far enough up to see more of the dash, it feels like I'm driving a bus - and the wheel is already adjusted almost all the way out toward me. I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm afraid the same doesn't work for me ...

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm 6' 2" with a good part of the height in my torso, and with the seat all the way down my hair is just brushing the headliner perhaps 3/4 of an inch above my scalp. For me there is only one 'correct' height, distance rearward, and seat back angle for the seat, and position (height, angle and distance) for the wheel. When set properly, my hands rest comfortably on the wheel, my wrist and elbow angles are correct, and my arms are where they need to be in relation to the wheel, door, console and shifter. Unfortunately, in that ideal position the wheel visually arcs over the two main gauges and blanks out the part of the dashboard where the turn indicators and other status icons are.

In many cars I drive (I rent a lot of vehicles as well) the wheel blocks some part of the dashboard display. For this car, adding the turn signal indicators to the HUD would be a simple fix for many of us.

You are taller in the seat than I am, then. I can see how that would mess with the steering wheel positioning. The only other thing I can think of is to adopt a different way of holding it; maybe left hand in the eleven to twelve o'clock and the right in the three o'clock position. That way your steering wheel could be up high enough to see the signals and your wrists would not be bent. Of course your high arm would block all view of the instrument cluster, but you could drop it down to the nine o'clock position long enough to check your instruments and then return to the restful position. Then we have paddle shifters ...

 

[Clearly Canadian]

Happy to see this getting some uptake. Is there any automotive brand that has set precedent of modifying the HUD via software update?

The real motivation comes when it’s affecting sales...otherwise more likely than not it would be fixed in future model years.

 

[Nedstand]

I submitted a suggestion via the Kia owners Portal here:

Kia Owners

Got a call back in a couple of days, and spoke with a Kia rep. He said he would submit it.
If anyone else wants to do similar, I think/hope if multiple owners report this issue we have a better chance of getting it in a future software upgrade.

 

[Dick Dastardly]

I seem to remember a very long time ago my Mum’s Morris Minor had the indicator light on the end of the indicator stalk, so you could always see it when it was blinking.
If KIA takes this up not only does this solve the visibility problem it immediately becomes retro cool.

 

[Mike_TX]

It's a Kia "thing". My Optima has the same turn signal visibility issue.

 

[Registered Member]

Probably because I've been riding motorcycles most of my life - which typically don't have self-cancelling signals - I'm in the habit of checking and turning off when I've completed a turn. I love the momentary signal operation on modern cars.

As to showing in the HUD, I think it's a reasonable thing to expect. With so much being handled by computers, it would be nice if they gave you a little more flexibility over what appears where on the various displays.

I ride a motorcycle too, but the problem with the Stinger isn't forgetting to check, it's not being able to see it because the position of the steering wheel obscures it. I've had to adjust the steering wheel a little higher than optimum so that I CAN see the indicator lights. I agree that it would be a good addition to have it included in the HUD.

 

[rocket23]

ok my take, and it's a short one.....the dumpa dumpa sound when you use the signal is enough for me I don't need the light blinking at me.

 

[Nedstand]

ok my take, and it's a short one.....the dumpa dumpa sound when you use the signal is enough for me I don't need the light blinking at me.

As I mentioned in original post, when listening to music, I can't hear the "dumpa dumpa" sound...

 

[rocket23]

As I mentioned in original post, when listening to music, I can't hear the "dumpa dumpa" sound...

whoopsy!

 

[rocket23]

but then again, the car comes with a self counting blinker set up, all you have to do is decide how many many times it will blink 3,5 or 7....just tap the indicator.

 

[eljay]

but then again, the car comes with a self counting blinker set up, all you have to do is decide how many many times it will blink 3,5 or 7....just tap the indicator.

That's only useful for lane changes or merging onto freeways from onramps, not things like left turns at busy intersections. In fact, on Los Angeles freeways, it's not even all that useful for lane changes or merges.

rocket, just accept it. While the current set up may be fine for you, you don't have the same driving conditions, height, sore shoulders, hearing impairment for certain frequencies, radio-listening style, etc. as those of us who have pointed out that this is a design flaw. Count yourself lucky. But since the indicator has been in a clearly visible position on absolutely every other car I've owned or rented for the past half-century, I think the rest of us are entitled to consider this a design flaw and to hope that the Kia folks consider changing it in the future. And BTW, I don't drive around with the perpetual geezer turn signal, but I've now seen two other Stingers in the wild that were. Considering how rare they are in the wild, I think that shows that this is a problem.