Daytime running lamps-Opinions
- Thread starter Dually
- Start date
- Status
They last so long because the voltage drop in the stock wiring is about 2 volts on the J-car. The DRL uses the high beam bulbs at 50% power.
For the last 10 years Corvettes have run the front turn signal bulbs as DRLs. It looks like the parking lights are on only they are a lot brighter. The orange is distinctive, easy to see and never annoying like high beams at 50%.
Being a motorcyclist, I dislike DRL's. The headlight on my bike is now just mixed in with the other cars and trucks on the road. I am less visible and less safe. One person made the comment that the check eng light would come on if they disabled the DRL - that is not true. Check Eng lights are only for emmission and engine/trans related events. He must be confusing it for the other check system light that some cars have. I think I remember a Grand Am having a light that came on when a bulb was out or something.
The DLR's are also wired to the parking brake. Apply the brake and the lights go off.
Back on topic: there are stretches of highways in No. CA that are signed as "daytime safety zones" or some thing like that where headlight use is mandatory. SR 152 outside of Gilroy is one such stretch that I travel frequently.
Usually, when I'm traveling on a two lane highway I snap the headlights on regardless. I'm more concerned with someone pulling out of their drive way in front of me than on coming traffic not seeing me.
The two-lane part of US15 in MD is a mandatory headlight use area.
The two-lane part of US15 in VA between Leesburg and the MD state line just has signs up suggesting using the headlights for safety. I guess a cop could cite you for failure to obey a highway sign if you don't turn them on.
You are correct about the dome over-ride button trick to turn off the DRL's. Of course you have to do it each ignition cycle. I used to work at the Baltimore Plant that built the Astro/Safari until it closed. I'm in Texas now where we build the Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon/Yukon XL/Escalade/Escalade ESV. Wondering how long until they close this one too...
I've always loved the DRL's and the automatic headlight sensing system. My only gripe about them was that on my 1997 Monte Carlo there was no way at all to turn them (or the headlights for that matter, if it was night) off completely; you'd have to pull the fuse. The headlight switch would be set to "OFF" but the lights would still run. There were times (pulling up to a drive-in movie, just moving across the parking lot, etc.) that it would have been convenient to turn the lights off.
Thankfully, on my 2006 Monte, I can just turn it to "OFF" from "Auto" and viola, they're off. That said, I've been driving it for 6 months now and have yet to have the occasion to shut them off.
Also, I should add, that until I had an accident at almost 150K miles which smashed the headlight, I never had to replace a bulb in that car, and they were original. Also, the W-cars seem to use the low beam for their DRL's; unlike the J-cars.
Thankfully, on my 2006 Monte, I can just turn it to "OFF" from "Auto" and viola, they're off. That said, I've been driving it for 6 months now and have yet to have the occasion to shut them off.
Also, I should add, that until I had an accident at almost 150K miles which smashed the headlight, I never had to replace a bulb in that car, and they were original. Also, the W-cars seem to use the low beam for their DRL's; unlike the J-cars.
I am amazed at the number of posters who say they never had to replace any of these lights, I see so many on the road with burnt out lights, mostly on GM products. Some of these are pretty new vehicles too. Some brands seem to burn bulbs out more than others, but I haven't had to replace a bulb on any of my cars in quite some time.....
My Saab 93 actually regulates the voltage to the headlights/DRLs to keep them at 13.5V -- the manual says this results in longer bulb life.
My Grandparents Pontiac Montana has the DRLs setup this way as well. I agree they are better than highs at 50%
G.M. uses the cheapest parts that can be purchased.
There was indeed a design issue on the SUV's and pickups. The placement of the lights didn't allow for enough airflow around the lens to keep them cool so they prematurely burned out. Apparently remedied on the newer designs.
I installed the DRL module on my 98 328 and use a yellow H1 bulb in the highbeam. I've yet to be in a situation such as a drive-in where I'd like to turn them all off - but that day may come.
Its so weird that Canadian guys disable their DRLs and a few of us have installed it. I guess we just wanna be unique. But IMO, it cant hurt.
Its so weird that Canadian guys disable their DRLs and a few of us have installed it. I guess we just wanna be unique. But IMO, it cant hurt.
Why do you sheeple accept daytime driving lights? Do you enjoy the nanny-state making decisions for you? I lived in California for many years and have driven the two lane highways that require lights on for safety. What a joke!
1. The law requires headlights on, so technically, DRLs are not enough.
2. I currenty live in Wyoming, where just about EVERY highway is two lanes and NONE have headlights-on sections. If you are stupid enough to pass in the wrong place tough luck!
3. One of my vehicles is a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT. In Subaru's infinite wisdom, all cars sold in North America come with DRLs, not just Canadian varients. My Legacy GT has a Lexus-like electro-luminescent intrument panel. When the ignition is turned off, it is black. Ignition on, it appears fully lit. So, the instrument panel is fully illuminated day or night. Since the car has DRLs, when it gets dark outside, the instrument panel is fully illuminated and you can see the glow of the DRLs in front of you. You then procede to drive with the DRLs on and no tail lights until you get pulled over by a cop.
The Legacy has a square white plug on the firewall in the driver's footwell. Pull it to disable the DRLs.
After buring out three sets of low beams in 30,000 miles, guess what I did?
4. The notion that DRLs contribute to safety is absured. For now, vehicles with DRLs may get noticed during daylight , but that is only because the majority vehicles in the USA do not run around with headlights on during day light.
If 100% of vehicles had DRLs, no vehicle would stand out.
I'm old enough to remember the federally mandated introduction of the CHMSL. When it first appeared, I really noticed that Center High Mounted Stop Lamp. Pretty soon, every car had them. After a while, I realized that I had gotten used to looking primarially at the CHMSL, and recall a few occassions where burned-out CHMSLs caught me off guard because I wasn't looking at the car's regular brake lights.
6. I say if some tourist from California doesn't see my white F250 Powerstroke 4X4 hurling at him at 70 MPH because it doesn't have DRLs, let the best man win!
1. The law requires headlights on, so technically, DRLs are not enough.
2. I currenty live in Wyoming, where just about EVERY highway is two lanes and NONE have headlights-on sections. If you are stupid enough to pass in the wrong place tough luck!
3. One of my vehicles is a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT. In Subaru's infinite wisdom, all cars sold in North America come with DRLs, not just Canadian varients. My Legacy GT has a Lexus-like electro-luminescent intrument panel. When the ignition is turned off, it is black. Ignition on, it appears fully lit. So, the instrument panel is fully illuminated day or night. Since the car has DRLs, when it gets dark outside, the instrument panel is fully illuminated and you can see the glow of the DRLs in front of you. You then procede to drive with the DRLs on and no tail lights until you get pulled over by a cop.
The Legacy has a square white plug on the firewall in the driver's footwell. Pull it to disable the DRLs.
After buring out three sets of low beams in 30,000 miles, guess what I did?
4. The notion that DRLs contribute to safety is absured. For now, vehicles with DRLs may get noticed during daylight , but that is only because the majority vehicles in the USA do not run around with headlights on during day light.
If 100% of vehicles had DRLs, no vehicle would stand out.
I'm old enough to remember the federally mandated introduction of the CHMSL. When it first appeared, I really noticed that Center High Mounted Stop Lamp. Pretty soon, every car had them. After a while, I realized that I had gotten used to looking primarially at the CHMSL, and recall a few occassions where burned-out CHMSLs caught me off guard because I wasn't looking at the car's regular brake lights.
6. I say if some tourist from California doesn't see my white F250 Powerstroke 4X4 hurling at him at 70 MPH because it doesn't have DRLs, let the best man win!
Volkswagen is losing $5 million on every $1.3 million Bugatti Veyron sold. Apparently, Bugatti doesn't purchase the cheapest parts.
Why do I think any two-lane in Wyoming doesn't have nearly the traffic volume of US15 in Virginia/Maryland? The traffic volumes on the two-lane parts of US15 are such that it ought to be a 4-lane highway. It's also not a perfectly level and straight highway with miles of passing zones. US15 is also the next most westmost crossing of the Potomac River aside from the capital beltway, which accounts for the traffic volumes.
The GM vehicles with DRLs usually have automatic headlights which turn on the tail lights. My Saab with DRLs keeps the taillights on regardless.
- Status
