Can Tail lights can be reprogrammed to come on with the front LED running lights?

[dubber36]

What I am struggling to understand from this thread is why anyone would want/need anything different to front DRLs during daylight and dipped headlights when light levels are low.

The whole point of DRLs is to make a vehicle moving towards you more visible during daylight. You don't need to see illuminated tailtights to tell you that a vehicle is moving away from you during daylight. The fact it is moving away makes it a diminishing hazard.

When it's dull, raining, misty or dark, dipped headlights come on (or can be turned on) along with tail lights. Yes, we all see many people with just DRLs on when headlights would be appropriate, but I would suggest that if you've noticed this too and know it is wrong, you are not likely to make the same mistakes yourself.

 

[Howzat]

I agree regards taillights during the day and I know I'm slightly off topic here but I'm after the DLR's staying when the sidelights are active. At the moment my DLR's turn off when the sidelights come on and in my opinion it looks better with the DLR's and the sidelights lit together during dusk BUT then only the DLR's lit during the day.

 

[Fluff34567]

What I am struggling to understand from this thread is why anyone would want/need anything different to front DRLs during daylight and dipped headlights when light levels are low.

The whole point of DRLs is to make a vehicle moving towards you more visible during daylight. You don't need to see illuminated tailtights to tell you that a vehicle is moving away from you during daylight. The fact it is moving away makes it a diminishing hazard.

When it's dull, raining, misty or dark, dipped headlights come on (or can be turned on) along with tail lights. Yes, we all see many people with just DRLs on when headlights would be appropriate, but I would suggest that if you've noticed this too and know it is wrong, you are not likely to make the same mistakes yourself.

I'm in CH and rear lights need to be on with DRL. It makes a massive difference in tunnels so can see the sense in it. Admittedly we have more tunnels than UK.

 

[JOG]

What I am struggling to understand from this thread is why anyone would want/need anything different to front DRLs during daylight and dipped headlights when light levels are low.

The whole point of DRLs is to make a vehicle moving towards you more visible during daylight. You don't need to see illuminated tailtights to tell you that a vehicle is moving away from you during daylight. The fact it is moving away makes it a diminishing hazard.

When it's dull, raining, misty or dark, dipped headlights come on (or can be turned on) along with tail lights. Yes, we all see many people with just DRLs on when headlights would be appropriate, but I would suggest that if you've noticed this too and know it is wrong, you are not likely to make the same mistakes yourself.

This is how Volvo had “DRLs” before the world caught up!

 

[dubber36]

This is how Volvo had “DRLs” before the world caught up!

Yes, when that was the simplist way to wire them as there was no BCM or multiplex wiring.

 

[dubber36]

I'm in CH and rear lights need to be on with DRL. It makes a massive difference in tunnels so can see the sense in it. Admittedly we have more tunnels than UK.

Auto headlights will turn dipped beam on in tunnels. For vehicles without auto lights, the conveniently placed switch on the dashboard will turn on headlights too, providing that the driver is operating the vehicle with due care and attention.

 

[JOG]

Yes, when that was the simplist way to wire them as there was no BCM or multiplex wiring.

Whilst marketing the unintended consequence as a safety feature?

 

[mlh677]

I agree regards taillights during the day and I know I'm slightly off topic here but I'm after the DLR's staying when the sidelights are active. At the moment my DLR's turn off when the sidelights come on and in my opinion it looks better with the DLR's and the sidelights lit together during dusk BUT then only the DLR's lit during the day.

Interesting...

My DRLs stay on with sidelights (and switch off on dipped beam).

If not originally a feature of my T6, the only obvious thing I can think of (guess at...) that may have caused this behaviour was that I used Carista to set Australia as region in order to enable the "Big MPH" in MFD (and then again some time later to activate the Dipped+Main feature for H7 headlights).



Might be worth a try unless anyone knows for sure?

 

[Howzat]

I've upgraded from H4's to H7's so I wonder if that's why mine are behaving differently? I've already coded the dipped bean staying on with main beam but now I've seen your image with them both lit it should be doable. Will have a mooch with OBD11 tomorrow. Cheers.

 

[mlh677]

Apologies, I should have been clearer - I was originally running H4's also... if that helps!

 

[Howzat]

No it doesn't!
So why are mine behaving differently? Maybe it is the region coding you did. Worth a try.

 

[OldFaartQ]

What I am struggling to understand from this thread is why anyone would want/need anything different to front DRLs during daylight and dipped headlights when light levels are low.

The whole point of DRLs is to make a vehicle moving towards you more visible during daylight. You don't need to see illuminated tailtights to tell you that a vehicle is moving away from you during daylight. The fact it is moving away makes it a diminishing hazard.

When it's dull, raining, misty or dark, dipped headlights come on (or can be turned on) along with tail lights. Yes, we all see many people with just DRLs on when headlights would be appropriate, but I would suggest that if you've noticed this too and know it is wrong, you are not likely to make the same mistakes yourself.

While I understand your thought process, the auto lights aren't as sensitive as some people are saying. We travel up and down the country a lot at the moment and have noticed it. Yes we turn the switch to dipped beams as necessary, but that defeats the purpose of auto light control.

DRL are very bright on our T6 and are on our other vehicles we own as they are LED. They are even brighter and more visible than other vehicles dipped beams.

Being an ex traffic patrol officer, I find this idea of front DRL, illuminated dash and no rear lights a mad choice.

Not everyone is as quick to realise their auto lights haven't switched on. They think they have because their dashboard is illuminated.

As someone mentioned, volvo did this properly years ago. Our Mazda MX5 has the rear lights on with the DRL and so does my BMW motorcycle.

Personally I would like my T6 to do the same as my other vehicles.

 

[n10n]

I'm in CH and rear lights need to be on with DRL. It makes a massive difference in tunnels so can see the sense in it. Admittedly we have more tunnels than UK.

I can echo the tunnel argument. Got a few on my regular routes and driving behind a car on DRL’s without rear lights is nasty - when their dipped beam and rear lights go on you momentarily can mistake the rears for brake lights.

Also when bright but snow dust I see way too many cars without any rear lights. That’s just driver silliness for sure but good auto lights really should account for rear visibility as well.

 

[Skyliner33]

While I understand your thought process, the auto lights aren't as sensitive as some people are saying. We travel up and down the country a lot at the moment and have noticed it. Yes we turn the switch to dipped beams as necessary, but that defeats the purpose of auto light control.

DRL are very bright on our T6 and are on our other vehicles we own as they are LED. They are even brighter and more visible than other vehicles dipped beams.

Being an ex traffic patrol officer, I find this idea of front DRL, illuminated dash and no rear lights a mad choice.

Not everyone is as quick to realise their auto lights haven't switched on. They think they have because their dashboard is illuminated.

As someone mentioned, volvo did this properly years ago. Our Mazda MX5 has the rear lights on with the DRL and so does my BMW motorcycle.

Personally I would like my T6 to do the same as my other vehicles.

How sensitive do you want the auto lights to be. Most people complain they are too sensitive. Mine even switch on in the middle of a bright day if I drive under a bridge. Any more sensitive and they would never turn off.

As regards the illuminated dash, as light levels decrease so does the brightness of the dash lights to remind you that you only have DRLs on. When you turn the lights on (or they auto turn on) then the dash lights become fully bright again.

 

[OldFaartQ]

How sensitive do you want the auto lights to be. Most people complain they are too sensitive. Mine even switch on in the middle of a bright day if I drive under a bridge. Any more sensitive and they would never turn off.

As regards the illuminated dash, as light levels decrease so does the brightness of the dash lights to remind you that you only have DRLs on. When you turn the lights on (or they auto turn on) then the dash lights become fully bright again.

The light sensor is working correctly if they turn on under a bridge during the day, as it is darker, however that behaviour leads to an issue. When the lights do suddenly come on, because there has been no rear lights on, people behind, incorrectly think the vehicle in front is braking and it usually spooks them into an unnecessary reaction. That in turn causes the wave effect and can lead to traffic becoming stationary, which as we know is really dangerous.

If the daylight running lights and the rear lights are on, this issue does not happen, as the following drivers are aware braking is happening (well most are, there is always those not paying attention).

I haven't noticed our dashboard lights changing intensity when the lights come on during day low light conditions. Probably, because I am not looking at the dash, but paying more attention to what is happening outside at the time.

The issue is when either it is raining or slight mist, they don't come on.

 

[Skyliner33]

The light sensor is working correctly if they turn on under a bridge during the day, as it is darker, however that behaviour leads to an issue. When the lights do suddenly come on, because there has been no rear lights on, people behind, incorrectly think the vehicle in front is braking and it usually spooks them into an unnecessary reaction. That in turn causes the wave effect and can lead to traffic becoming stationary, which as we know is really dangerous.

If the daylight running lights and the rear lights are on, this issue does not happen, as the following drivers are aware braking is happening (well most are, there is always those not paying attention).

I haven't noticed our dashboard lights changing intensity when the lights come on during day low light conditions. Probably, because I am not looking at the dash, but paying more attention to what is happening outside at the time.

The issue is when either it is raining or slight mist, they don't come on.

Mine come on when there is even heavy cloud cover, never mind slight rain.

I've never seen people braking and causing a dangerous situation due to the under bridge effect. However my lights auto turn on when the van passes under a couple of large trees, totally not necessary imho.

 

[dubber36]

I haven't noticed our dashboard lights changing intensity when the lights come on during day low light conditions. Probably, because I am not looking at the dash, but paying more attention to what is happening outside at the time.

The issue is when either it is raining or slight mist, they don't come on.

The Auto and parking light symbols on the headlight switch both illuminate when the headlights turn on automatically. This is easy to see in a car with the same switch, but in the van, it's lower down and further from the eye line.

 

[OldFaartQ]

So today, heavy rain, lots of spray, and the lights still don't come on automatically. Hardly very sensitive!

 

[dubber36]

 

[dubber36]

Are you sure they weren't on? Were the wipers in Auto too?