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Old 04-25-2008, 03:04 PM
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mikieboyblue mikieboyblue is offline
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Real Name: Michael
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Default Re: DRLs OFF Software Option Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smilin' Jack View Post
But that brings me to another question. Does anyone know for sure whether (in the U.S. car):

A, any other lights are on in any circumstances when the switch is in the "DRL off" position

or

B, all lights are always off in the "DRL off" position.

The manual is no help on this question, and experimentation leads me to answer "B," but I'm not sure about the "always" part. In any event, i would appreciate knowing the answer for sure, and I note that in either case the design and/or switch position labeling is remarkable.

If the answer is "A," then there is no reliable switch position to turn all of the lights off.

And if the answer is "B," then the U.S. car has a switch position which turns all of the lights off but is not labeled "off" while the Canadian car has a switch position so labeled but which does not do so.

So, if anyone knows for sure, I would appreciate the answer.

My ignorance on this had consequences for me recently, but i'll tell that story in a separate thread, "The light switch and the dead battery", perhaps this weekend.

Jack
I believe when in "DRL off", it acts the same as in older cars when you place the manual headlight switch in the off position -- no lights are on (aside from your break lights when you tap the pedal).

The Canadian models do not allow you to turn the DRLs off because it is Canadian law that all cars must have some form of lights on while driving. (A Canadian resident can correct me if I am wrong.)

This is why Canadian's who purchased a US model have to have full-time fog lights or some other intervention to keep some form of "headlight" on at all times. (Again, a Canadian resident can correct me if I am wrong.)

CO/2 or energy savings from having the DRLs off all the time. I honestly don't think it is all that much, given the fact that when the vehicle is moving, it can probably generate enough surplus energy to make up the difference. I would be interested in a study on the subject though.

Mike

Last edited by mikieboyblue; 05-02-2008 at 11:37 AM.
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