Day Running Lights
Discussion
Picked up O/H's brand new 1.2 TDI Polo Match on Saturday - nice little car. However, I have always disliked these day running lights on other cars such as Volvo, Audi etc but I thought I could live with it. It has omly been a few days and they are doing my nut in...and I'm not even the driver in front! It seems her car has the full headlights as day running lights - there is no difference between those and the dipped beam. Turn the light switch one click to side lights and sure enough two small bulbs are the only two illuminated - I thought only these would have been day running lights. So shes running about with full headlights on - I've mentioned a few times to her I think they are too bright !! Just seems a bit weird to me to be driving around, regardless of condition with full headlights on. The rear lights are always on also - despite the fact in the handbook its says the rear lights will not be illuminated in day running mode. We have tried the method in the handbook of deactivating them - without success and if we keep trying I think we're going to blow a bulb or fuse.
Anybody know if day running on a new VW is meant to be headlights? I will speak to dealer tomorrow morning - just thought I'd check here.
Cheers all.
Anybody know if day running on a new VW is meant to be headlights? I will speak to dealer tomorrow morning - just thought I'd check here.
Cheers all.
Daughter has a new Golf and that turns the inner (main beam) lamps on, but a bit dimmer. I thought Polo was the same.
Sounds like on your car the auto lights (not the DRLs) are set to on permanently. Can only suggest that you wade through the handbook.
ETA: If they are DRL's, quick Google suggests:
"you switch them off as follows on a Polo. Insert key in ignition, but don't turn it. Turn the headlight switch to the "0" position. Move the indicator stalk to the left position and pull towards you, as though you were flashing a warning at another car. Turn the ignition on, but not the engine. Wait at least four seconds and you should hear three bleeps to indicate that the DRLs have been deactivated."
Sounds like on your car the auto lights (not the DRLs) are set to on permanently. Can only suggest that you wade through the handbook.
ETA: If they are DRL's, quick Google suggests:
"you switch them off as follows on a Polo. Insert key in ignition, but don't turn it. Turn the headlight switch to the "0" position. Move the indicator stalk to the left position and pull towards you, as though you were flashing a warning at another car. Turn the ignition on, but not the engine. Wait at least four seconds and you should hear three bleeps to indicate that the DRLs have been deactivated."
Edited by Deva Link on Monday 25th July 17:28
Deva Link said:
Daughter has a new Golf and that turns the inner (main beam) lamps on, but a bit dimmer. I thought Polo was the same.
Sounds like on your car the auto lights (not the DRLs) are set to on permanently. Can only suggest that you wade through the handbook.
Doing that right now - managed to get the dealer. Apparently its normal - just got to turn the spindal for exterior lights - the one to adjust the level of the lights. I don't like the thought of dazzling oncoming cars. Sounds like on your car the auto lights (not the DRLs) are set to on permanently. Can only suggest that you wade through the handbook.
Nice little car - shame about the lights - there will be a reason why this all started I suppose - never been a fan !! Handbook says theres a way involving holding indicator stalk down and pulling toward you whilst turning ignition on and off for a period of seconds - or taking out a fuse. Not keen on removing fuses.
Cheers anyway
eta - thanks for that link - slightly more info than handbook. Will try.
Many thanks.
Craphouserat said:
shame about the lights - there will be a reason why this all started I suppose -
DRLs are mandatory on new cars from 2012.Probably stretching things, but it's a little dodgy from an insurance point of view if you disable a standard safety feature. I know that seems OTT - but you wouldn't dream of disabling the ABS or airbags, would you?
Deva Link said:
DRLs are mandatory on new cars from 2012.
Probably stretching things, but it's a little dodgy from an insurance point of view if you disable a standard safety feature. I know that seems OTT - but you wouldn't dream of disabling the ABS or airbags, would you?
Just being pedantic - they are mandatory on new cars requiring type approval from 2012.Probably stretching things, but it's a little dodgy from an insurance point of view if you disable a standard safety feature. I know that seems OTT - but you wouldn't dream of disabling the ABS or airbags, would you?
So anything on the road now that doesn't have DLR's and is built next year still won't require them.
It's only "brand new" vehicles that need them.
Just pre-empting the "I saw a new xxxx and it didn't have DRL's" in January
Frik said:
DRLs are designed not to dazzle oncoming traffic.
What about lower cars that are in front of them?I can tell you now, they're specifically designed to dazzle us. Or seem to be.
And yes, I did dip my rear view. Not it didn't help as the dazzle was still strong in the wing mirrors...
the new polo is a strange one http://www.tigerstyle.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f... maybe a good read
about drl unless you have a bluemotion drl are in the foglights or xenons then all your lights are always on they not strictly drl
could be worse skoda decided to swap the foglights for drls on the fabia vrs
about drl unless you have a bluemotion drl are in the foglights or xenons then all your lights are always on they not strictly drl
could be worse skoda decided to swap the foglights for drls on the fabia vrs
Edited by daydotz on Tuesday 26th July 16:35
Good to hear other peoples opinions on these - thanks for the links and the info. I agree that DRLS in my mind are daft with no rear illumination - we were told when picking the car up the rear lights wouldn't be on - ours are, all the time !
I have another query - the cabin lights seem to have a mind of their own. When we drove off in the car on Sat it was a warm sunny day and we are both sure the cabin lights ( speedo, rev counter, air con etc) were all lite up....I drive the car every day at 5 am when its now still a bit dark (up here) - the interior lights are off, unless I turn them to sidelights. When O/H drives it at 7am the lights come on - then go off after a bit. I'm presuming the car has some sensor - maybe temperature dictates when they come on...who knows! manual says temperature may affect cabin lights - but its hardly cold in the mornings!
Anyway - apologies for asking what may seem like daft questions but I've never had a car with these DRLs and have generally owned older cars. Doubt I will ever be a fan of DRLS - but as the autumn looms I may change my mind., but all cars should have rear illumination also - to many people driving around half asleep won't realise nobody behind can see them.
Cheers all.
I have another query - the cabin lights seem to have a mind of their own. When we drove off in the car on Sat it was a warm sunny day and we are both sure the cabin lights ( speedo, rev counter, air con etc) were all lite up....I drive the car every day at 5 am when its now still a bit dark (up here) - the interior lights are off, unless I turn them to sidelights. When O/H drives it at 7am the lights come on - then go off after a bit. I'm presuming the car has some sensor - maybe temperature dictates when they come on...who knows! manual says temperature may affect cabin lights - but its hardly cold in the mornings!
Anyway - apologies for asking what may seem like daft questions but I've never had a car with these DRLs and have generally owned older cars. Doubt I will ever be a fan of DRLS - but as the autumn looms I may change my mind., but all cars should have rear illumination also - to many people driving around half asleep won't realise nobody behind can see them.
Cheers all.
Craphouserat said:
Good to hear other peoples opinions on these - thanks for the links and the info. I agree that DRLS in my mind are daft with no rear illumination - we were told when picking the car up the rear lights wouldn't be on - ours are, all the time !
To my mind that confirms what I said in my first reply - you're not seeing DRLs, you're seeing the auto lights being on. Either they're set to be on all the time or you've got a light sensor fault.Deva Link said:
To my mind that confirms what I said in my first reply - you're not seeing DRLs, you're seeing the auto lights being on. Either they're set to be on all the time or you've got a light sensor fault.
Was definitely told us we have DRL's - handbook says we do - guess I'll drop him an email explaining my worries. I'm sure i'll come across as the same dummy I am here ! Auto lights - I presume is the lights coming on automatically as required by conditions? DRLs are on - day running lamp - they are just on and are a different wattage bulb? I'll email him - he can show his colleagues and laugh !
Craphouserat said:
Deva Link said:
To my mind that confirms what I said in my first reply - you're not seeing DRLs, you're seeing the auto lights being on. Either they're set to be on all the time or you've got a light sensor fault.
Was definitely told us we have DRL's - handbook says we do - guess I'll drop him an email explaining my worries. I'm sure i'll come across as the same dummy I am here ! Auto lights - I presume is the lights coming on automatically as required by conditions? DRLs are on - day running lamp - they are just on and are a different wattage bulb? I'll email him - he can show his colleagues and laugh !
I've got a scirocco, luckily built before the legislation came into effect so I've turned the blasted things off, but have got plenty of new owners desperate get change them so feel your pain.
There is no law at the moment - it does not come into effect until next year.
Also the law is that the lights are a requirement on cars requiring type approval post January 2012.
Anything that currently has type approval does not require them nor will they require them next year - so that is anything on the road at the moment.
On any VW you should be able to turn them off - I believe if you read your manual it tells you exactly how to do this.
To the owner who also has rear lights on - as already suggested, these are not DRL's.
DRL's are front only - there are no rear or cabin lights, so if these are also coming on then it's main lights and not DRL's.
Also the law is that the lights are a requirement on cars requiring type approval post January 2012.
Anything that currently has type approval does not require them nor will they require them next year - so that is anything on the road at the moment.
On any VW you should be able to turn them off - I believe if you read your manual it tells you exactly how to do this.
To the owner who also has rear lights on - as already suggested, these are not DRL's.
DRL's are front only - there are no rear or cabin lights, so if these are also coming on then it's main lights and not DRL's.
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