DRL / Daytime Running Lights / Driving Lights

[logger]

I'm guessing you've gone through and read the instruction book yeah? I've played with a few Mk6's before and I've found that if you reset the comfort settings (I think it was these), they come on.

Pretty sure it is not covered in the manual so reading it wont help.

But now that you mention it cycling the comfort setting does re-activate DRLs. For those who don't know - Comfort setting are the optional 4 indicator flashes you get when you momentarily press the indicator part way. Great for when overtaking. If this comfort setting is OFF then the indicators only come on when fully selected. The reason I know that cycling comfort settings activates DRLs is that I generally have my DRLs set to off, but if I use VAGCOM to change the comfort flashes from the default 4 to anywhere in the acceptable range 1-5 DRL come back to life. Go figure.

But for me I find the easiest way select left indicator while simultaneously holding the stalk hard back towards you to flash the lights while cycling IGN on for a couple seconds - until you hear the DING. DRLs are active. Same as above with right indicator to reverse it. No need to start ENG.

[Brian]

Firstly, are DRL's standard on the 118tsi?? Because it would appear that mine doesnt have them and based on what ppl have said in this thread, i get the impression that they are....



Seeing as mine aren't on (if i even have them), i tried your method a few times to turn them on but it didn't work.

My TSI is Jun 09 and it came with the DLLs activated (ON). I haven't tried to turn them off less I incur the wrath of the ex Volvo drivers now driving dubs

[sillygogo]

Firstly, are DRL's standard on the 118tsi?? Because it would appear that mine doesnt have them and based on what ppl have said in this thread, i get the impression that they are....



Seeing as mine aren't on (if i even have them), i tried your method a few times to turn them on but it didn't work.

It is a standard feature in the 118TSI, is the light in the 0 position?

remember to hold the flasher and indicator RIGHT at the same time, keep holding them then start your car.

Its in the manual. Check it out.

[logger]

Thanks sillygogo you are quite correct light switch must be in OFF position as well. I forgot to mention that. Also I had the indicator arse position about. Right for ON. So:

Left = DRL OFF

1) Headlight switch to OFF,
2) Select Left indicator while
3) Simultaneously holding the stalk hard back towards you to flash the lights while
4) Simultaneously cycling IGN on for a couple seconds - until you hear the DING.

DRLs are now OFF.

Right = DRL ON

1) Headlight switch to OFF,
2) Select Right indicator while
3) Simultaneously holding the stalk hard back towards you to flash the lights while
4) Simultaneously cycling IGN on for a couple seconds - until you hear the DING.

DRLs are now ON.

[Craig67]

about time

Having the lights hard wired to the ignition has been a safety feature on motorcycles since the 80's. The reason for motorcycles having the lightshard wired to the ignition was so they were more visable to other road users

i wondered how long it would take for car manufactures to adopt this idear. The militay have been using the headlights as DRL since at least the 80's, apprently this makes it easer for other road users to see ther vehicles. Have you ever noted that irrespective of the vehilcle colour they all appear dark/black at a distance, on how esay it was to spot car head lights in the day at a distance on the highway. (or perhaps you dont venture onto highways)

This is not a new concept, anything that makes you more visable to others is good thing, mind you people will still run into you if they are not looking / paying attention. I have a dint in the rear of my new car to prove it ( i had poseesion of the car for less than 24hrs).

I thought i read/heard some where it was illegal to have your fog lights on except for when there is fog around.

[Corey_R]

I thought i read/heard some where it was illegal to have your fog lights on except for when there is fog around.

Yes it is. 100% definite in NSW, and I believe other states are similar. There is a difference between DRL and foglights though

[ricksterrr]

Yes it is. 100% definite in NSW, and I believe other states are similar. There is a difference between DRL and foglights though

Yup - mate of mine got fined $84 for having his fog lights on at night when there was no fog... a nice bonus on top of his fine for speeding. Don't think the cops will pull someone over just because their fog lights are on but if you get pulled over for something else and the officer is in a bad mood then that's when the fog light punishment is going to be dished out.

[sillygogo]

logger, I was trying to turn the DRL ON and OFF without success. After a few frustrated attempts, I've realised the Light switch was on AUTO. So back to OFF then all good


----
DRL is NOT the same as FOGLights! I think it uses 65% of the highbeam for DRL, fog lights are the ones at the corners of the bumbers and yes you might get fine for having them on when there are no fogs. However, there are many cars have the fog lights on for look factors.

[kimiraikkonen1a]

Right = DRL ON

1) Headlight switch to OFF,
2) Select Right indicator while
3) Simultaneously holding the stalk hard back towards you to flash the lights while
4) Simultaneously cycling IGN on for a couple seconds - until you hear the DING.

DRLs are now ON.

Yeah that worked a treat, thanks.

[cktsi]

DRL not always on

When I first got my car, the daytime running lights were not always on. Then around Sept last year I noticed in the reflection off other cars that they were activated.

Today when I was driving I looked in the reflection & definitely not switched on. After I stopped the car, I walked to the front of the car with the engine still running. Yep... definitely not switched on.

Seems strange. I may get VW to look at it at my 15k service, but I actually prefer it without the DRL. I normally use headlights on longer distance drives anyway.

Anyone else have this? I thought DRL were meant to be switched on permanently, not be subject to light conditions (incidentally sydney was overcast today)

[logger]

Check that you actually have your DRLs activated. Perhaps you are running your lights in Auto and seeing this reflection and thinking this is DRL when it is just auto lights due low ambient light.

This is how to turn them on and off.


Using Right indicator = DRL ON

1) Headlight switch to OFF,
2) Select Right indicator while
3) Simultaneously holding the stalk hard back towards you to flash the lights while
4) Simultaneously cycling IGN on for a couple seconds - until you hear the DING.

DRLs are now ON.



Using Left indicator = DRL OFF

1) Headlight switch to OFF,
2) Select Left indicator while
3) Simultaneously holding the stalk hard back towards you to flash the lights while
4) Simultaneously cycling IGN on for a couple seconds - until you hear the DING.

DRLs are now OFF.

[cktsi]

thanks. That worked. I played around and could turn then both on and off (no chime though).

Still begs the question how they turned off cos i never touch the light switch which is required in this sequence.

Around the time they turned on i recall playing around the controls.

[logger]

Dunno why you did not get the chime but it might be because you left the headlight switch on or in auto when you did the change. I only get the confirmation chimes with the switch to Off. Also I have found I can inadvertently turn them off/on when playing with other settings in VagCom. So if you have VagCom that might be the cause.

[cwcarruthers]

Check that you actually have your DRLs activated. Perhaps you are running your lights in Auto and seeing this reflection and thinking this is DRL when it is just auto lights due low ambient light.

This is how to turn them on and off.


Using Right indicator = DRL ON

1) Headlight switch to OFF,
2) Select Right indicator while
3) Simultaneously holding the stalk hard back towards you to flash the lights while
4) Simultaneously cycling IGN on for a couple seconds - until you hear the DING.

DRLs are now ON.



Using Left indicator = DRL OFF

1) Headlight switch to OFF,
2) Select Left indicator while
3) Simultaneously holding the stalk hard back towards you to flash the lights while
4) Simultaneously cycling IGN on for a couple seconds - until you hear the DING.

DRLs are now OFF.

Thanks Logger. I also wasn't sure if my DRL were working or not - but I tried your instructions, got the chime, and bingo!

My DRLs are now always on as expected.

Why exactly my car was delivered with them turned off, I do not know!

[Corey_R]

@cktsi - Maybe the service guys did an update to your car, and then forgot to check what settings had been changed?

@cwcarruthers - maybe it's something that gets enabled during dealer delivery or compliance and was missed?