Safety, Critical Alert

[metalshark]

I got a warning ticket from Arizona DPS for two reasons. 1) I'd been driving for 30 hours. 2) The day time running lights on my '08 HB don't turn on the tail lights.
After my second pull-off nap on the way home I started the engine, the day time running lights kicked on and I didn't notice that the lights on the radio and heater controls weren't on. That would be the tired drivers clue that the tail lights weren't on. I signed off on the citations corrective action block after I had down loaded the DIY on disabling the daytime running lights and had pulled the connector plug off of the relay inside the dash.
Now when its dark enough to see headlights I have to turn on the lights. No head/lights and/or tail lights on is the LEO's most often probable cause for a DUI check. Luckily all my paper work and permits were in order. Moderator, please bump and/or sticky.

[eTiMaGo]

yeah that is one of the pitfalls of DRLs... Heck even without them, in a well-lit city, it's easy to forget to turn on the lights at all :redface:

[jambo101]

Daytime running lights dont usually include having the tail lights on at the same time.This cop you ran into sounds like he wasnt up on his facts . and how did he know you were driving for 30hrs?you didnt tell him did you?,actually its only truck/commercial drivers who are compelled to drive only a certain number of hours a day,So his warning was probably more a suggestion to get some sleep and his take on no tail lights with the drl's was probably just an observation, of course if its night time you have to turn on your headlights to get the tail lights working.

[earljail]

I got a warning ticket from Arizona DPS for two reasons. 1) I'd been driving for 30 hours.


You can drive for 30 hours without leaving Arizona??:biggrin:

yeah that is one of the pitfalls of DRLs...

And it's even worse on the Yaris because the instrument panel is always lit.

[MUSKOKA800]

I got a warning ticket from Arizona DPS for two reasons. 1) I'd been driving for 30 hours. 2) The day time running lights on my '08 HB don't turn on the tail lights.
After my second pull-off nap on the way home I started the engine, the day time running lights kicked on and I didn't notice that the lights on the radio and heater controls weren't on. That would be the tired drivers clue that the tail lights weren't on. I signed off on the citations corrective action block after I had down loaded the DIY on disabling the daytime running lights and had pulled the connector plug off of the relay inside the dash.
Now when its dark enough to see headlights I have to turn on the lights. No head/lights and/or tail lights on is the LEO's most often probable cause for a DUI check. Luckily all my paper work and permits were in order. Moderator, please bump and/or sticky.


So...you disabled a safety feature for safety reasons (because you're forgetful). :iono:
Are DRL's not mandated in AZ? They are here in Canada, and have been since the 80's.

[kou]

i set up my tach light to come on with the headlights,this helps me never forget.

[MadMax]

Your 08 HB has DRLs? Mine doesn't! I was wishing I had them, as my last car did; but now I am thinking it may not be the greatest option on the car.

And, of course, there is that little light on the instrument cluster when the lights are on!

Cheers! M2

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

Your 08 HB has DRLs? Mine doesn't! I was wishing I had them, as my last car did; but now I am thinking it may not be the greatest option on the car.

And, of course, there is that little light on the instrument cluster when the lights are on!

Cheers! M2 they aren't standard???

[auxmike]

Good reason not to start screwin' around with safety features.:iono:
I love my DRLs:wub:

[earljail]

So...you disabled a safety feature for safety reasons (because you're forgetful). :iono:
Are DRL's not mandated in AZ? They are here in Canada, and have been since the 80's.

Not exactly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp#Canada). They are mandated to be installed on new vehicles. But there isn't a Canadian law against disabling them. (Individual provinces could have legislation about DRL.)

Also, I suppose you have to weigh the risk of being rear ended because you didn't turn on the lights due to the headlights being on. I know I've forgotten to turn the lights on because I could see in front of me and read the instrument panel.

[LtNoogie]

I remember pre-hack someone mentioned that DRLs in the U.S. came with some kind of cold weather package. Not quite sure what is in a cold weather package. A sweater?

My Californial LB did not come with DRL.

[jkuchta]

The cold weather pack includes the rear wiper, a bigger starter, rear window defrost, and a couple of other little odds and ends. My wife and I bought our Yarii in NYC, so the cold weather pack was almost standard equipment.

[WolfWings]

The cold weather pack can be easilly checked for in the US: Do you have a 'low windshield wiper fluid' light? You have the cold weather pack. It also includes a MUCH larger washer-fluid tank, able to gulp down an entire 1-gallon bottle of fluid from a gas station at a go once the low-fluid light turns on.

It also comes with a somewhat akward-to-utilize but awesome feature: The ceramic block heater. Turn on the car and leave it at idle, with the temperature at full, and you have positively scalding heat even with the engine bone-cold. :-) It's not mentioned in the owner's manual, but it's in the workshop manuals on what triggers it: Engine idle, coolant cold, ambient temperature under about 50F, you get artificial heating.

[auxmike]

Here's the details right off my build sheet;
PS: the power pkg. is worth every cent...:thumbup:

[dybbuk]

I hope people aren't confusing DRL's with auto-lights. My old grand am had drl's like everybody else, but, headlights would kick on automatically when it got dark enough, now those I can stand. DRL's I hate, I think they do more damage then good. Of course I keep my dash cluster turned down so it's at it's dimmest light, so if the dash lights start bothering me, I know my headlights aren't on.

[WolfWings]

I agree with dybbuk, DRL's by themselves do more harm than good because they teach you to ignore your lights, but don't turn on the most important ones, proper headlights and taillights, at night. Actual fully-automated headlight systems? Those I have no problem with.

[IllusionX]

how could they do more damages than good ? they are made so that OTHERS can see you are coming... otherwise, can you believe how many accidents happen in a dim morning? people don't turn on their light.. so you don't see when they are coming.


i say the biggest problem is the backlit clusters. They are always on, so you think your lights are on.

[Tamago]

a good habit to get into is turning your lights on EVERY TIME you get in your car, day or night.. DRLs save lives. i agree, having DRLs suck (i disabled mine in my corolla) but having your lights off raises your chances of getting pulled out in front of or cut off, even during the day. this goes especially for black/grey cars..

and please, no one say you're doing it to save electricity/gas mileage lmfao

[earljail]

how could they do more damages than good ? they are made so that OTHERS can see you are coming... otherwise, can you believe how many accidents happen in a dim morning? people don't turn on their light.. so you don't see when they are coming.


i say the biggest problem is the backlit clusters. They are always on, so you think your lights are on.

Exactly.

[WolfWings]

Yup, right there, the 'CP' package: Larger Washer Tank with Level Warning = Swallows 7-Eleven super big-gulps of washer fluid with ease. And the 'Heavy Duty Heater' is the ceramic heater module. =^.^=

[auxmike]

Yup, right there, the 'CP' package: Larger Washer Tank with Level Warning = Swallows 7-Eleven super big-gulps of washer fluid with ease. And the 'Heavy Duty Heater' is the ceramic heater module. =^.^=

Don't forget the heavy duty starter too!:thumbup:
A bargin for $110.......

[nemelek]

I forgot to turn on the headlights a couple of times. That's why I disabled my DRL. I figure that it is safer to always drive with tail lights on at night time than to drive with the headlights on all the time.

[auxmike]

I forgot to turn on the headlights a couple of times. That's why I disabled my DRL. I figure that it is safer to always drive with tail lights on at night time than to drive with the headlights on all the time.

I got in my car last night and did almost drive off without turning on the headlights/tails.
It IS confusing since the gauges do light up regardless. BUT the A/C and temp controls don't, so that should be a hint that something's missing at night.
I've no plans to tinker with the DRL's though.:iono:

[WolfWings]

I got in my car last night and did almost drive off without turning on the headlights/tails.
It IS confusing since the gauges do light up regardless. BUT the A/C and temp controls don't, so that should be a hint that something's missing at night.
I've no plans to tinker with the DRL's though.:iono:

No 'tinkering' involved, just unplug the DRL module that's bolted to the drivers-side of the A/C control console just behind the dash, takes five minutes. Want em' back? Plug it back in, done.

Personally I have mine unplugged, and I keep my lights-dimmer just 'behind' the click to full bright, so my lights all dim noticably when I turn my headlights on. It's not much, but self-training to teach myself 'OMG Bright = No Headlights!' works better than you'd think. :-)

[TheSilkySmooth]

The cold weather pack can be easilly checked for in the US: Do you have a 'low windshield wiper fluid' light? You have the cold weather pack. It also includes a MUCH larger washer-fluid tank, able to gulp down an entire 1-gallon bottle of fluid from a gas station at a go once the low-fluid light turns on.

It also comes with a somewhat akward-to-utilize but awesome feature: The ceramic block heater. Turn on the car and leave it at idle, with the temperature at full, and you have positively scalding heat even with the engine bone-cold. :-) It's not mentioned in the owner's manual, but it's in the workshop manuals on what triggers it: Engine idle, coolant cold, ambient temperature under about 50F, you get artificial heating. Really. I dont think I have this. In fact its a fire hazard - I dont know if anyone would have this on a US car. I have always WISHED cars had and electric element heater for deforst on icy vindeshieldt days. But Show me the money? This engine is warmed up in 3 minutes after start so unless its instant within ten seconds or so I still cant believe it.

:iono:

[ToddR]

Really. I dont think I have this. In fact its a fire hazard - I dont know if anyone would have this on a US car. I have always WISHED cars had and electric element heater for deforst on icy vindeshieldt days. But Show me the money? This engine is warmed up in 3 minutes after start so unless its instant within ten seconds or so I still cant believe it.

:iono:

Fire hazard or not, it's there if you have the All-Weather Guard package. Here in the midwest cars don't warm up in three minutes during the winter. I'm really glad I have this in my Yaris, but I wonder if the high power consumption is effecting my mileage. It looks like it draws close to 40 amps when on.


FYI
The DRL module is also tied into the foglight wiring. I seem to recall a user here who had some issue with his foglights after removing the DRL module. The post may have been lost in the hack and I can't recall what the exact problem was (and I'm too lazy to look for it) but it's worth mentioning.

[Jerkratt]

just have to find the wire that grounds out the fog lights and splice tgem together or insert into harness and tape/soder

[WolfWings]

Really. I dont think I have this. In fact its a fire hazard - I dont know if anyone would have this on a US car. I have always WISHED cars had and electric element heater for deforst on icy vindeshieldt days. But Show me the money? This engine is warmed up in 3 minutes after start so unless its instant within ten seconds or so I still cant believe it.

:iono:

Hell, I'm lucky to get my Yaris to turn off the 'cold' marker in ten miles of driving in the winter out here in Missouri. But if I let it set 10-30 seconds before I leave, the ceramic block heater's warmed up and I get warm air at least even if the engine is cold.

And it's actually not a fire hazard. While it can pump out 'hot to the touch' air, it can't make enough heat to actually catch things on fire AFAIK.

[IllusionX]

I forgot to turn on the headlights a couple of times. That's why I disabled my DRL. I figure that it is safer to always drive with tail lights on at night time than to drive with the headlights on all the time.

Wait till someone runs into your one a not so bright day. I've almost backed into this 90 integra that always drive by when i go out in the morning... At a glance, it looks like just like any other car parked on the street without the headlights on (DRL) as it's not dark enough to actually turn on the headlights.

Besides...there's a light in the cluster that tells you if your tail lights are on or not. I'm also wondering how could someone drive 30hours without even looking at ANYTHING else than the cluster ?? I mean, don't anybody have to tinkle with the HVAC during a couple hours of drive ??

[TheSilkySmooth]

[QUOTE=ToddR;190608]Fire hazard or not, it's there if you have the All-Weather Guard package. Here in the midwest cars don't warm up in three minutes during the winter. I'm really glad I have this in my Yaris, but I wonder if the high power consumption is effecting my mileage. It looks like it draws close to 40 amps when on.=QUOTE]


Well, I am in the cold New England and we are regularly +20 deg F and have a week of -10 to -20F usually once the season. I have the optional Cold weather package with HD heater and big washer bottle and heavy fan. So How do I get this special heat t work? Where exactly do you set the HVAC controls - maybe this is answer mystery why my car dies with the heat on - electric heater its taking all the juicyness far away away from my little battery:iono:

[metalshark]

Yup, I'm old. I deal with it. On my Chevy lumina there is a photocell somewhere that prevents a driver, seeing DRLs, from driving at night without tail lights. The switch to a new Toyota threw me. I drove the lumina for 10 years. Rather than try to teach an "old dog" new tricks I just pulled the DRL relay. I'm writing out my will and have forgotten your name.......maybe it will come to me. Hell, if I'd taken my Ginko I could remember where I hid the Viagra.

End of problem. So...you disabled a safety feature for safety reasons (because you're forgetful). :iono:
Are DRL's not mandated in AZ? They are here in Canada, and have been since the 80's.

[metalshark]

Wait till someone runs into your one a not so bright day. I've almost backed into this 90 integra that always drive by when i go out in the morning... At a glance, it looks like just like any other car parked on the street without the headlights on (DRL) as it's not dark enough to actually turn on the headlights.

Besides...there's a light in the cluster that tells you if your tail lights are on or not. I'm also wondering how could someone drive 30hours without even looking at ANYTHING else than the cluster ?? I mean, don't anybody have to tinkle with the HVAC during a couple hours of drive ??

After 24 hours of driving you pull off into a parking lot and jack the seat back for a 30 min snooze. It'l perk you up just enough for that last fifty miles without putting it in the ditch when you fall asleep. When you wake up you can drive but Sherlock Holmes you ain't.

[WolfWings]

Well, I am in the cold New England and we are regularly +20 deg F and have a week of -10 to -20F usually once the season. I have the optional Cold weather package with HD heater and big washer bottle and heavy fan. So How do I get this special heat to work? Where exactly do you set the HVAC controls - maybe this is answer mystery why my car dies with the heat on - electric heater its taking all the juicyness far away away from my little battery:iono:

The car must be:
A/C Temperature at MAX.
Blower is anything but off.
Engine at idle speed or faster, AKA running!
Outside air is 50F/10C or less. (Cold enough to fog the windshield.)
Coolant is 150F/65C or less. (Cool light is still lit on the dashboard.)

It will turn the ceramic heater on in stages at 10, 20, and 30 seconds, ramping up from 20 amps to 30 amps, then 40 amps. So it's not a sudden 'surge' of hot air, but it does warm up quickly.

The effect will be most noticable if you keep the blower on LOW, not high. Set the 'vents' to the far left/dash-only, close everything but the side vent on one side, aim it at your face, set blower on low, near-instant toasty. :headbang:

[auxmike]

Nice!
I gotta try this!:respekt:

[chucksmaster]

I would agree with most everything being said about the benefits of DRLs. Now for the disadvantages as I see them.Drivers in America are going to get lazy and only be looking for a light coming down the road as more and more cars are equipped with them. This could potentially cause accidents. Another disadvantage is these are your low beams when your lights are on so instead of getting years and years of service from your bulbs you will be getting about 3 years out of your expensive halogen bulbs not to mention the pain in the rear of changing them more often and the possibility of driving around with a burned out headlight and not knowing it until the law pulls you over and hands you a ticket. These are just some observations from driving my 02 Passat for 7 years.

[ToddR]

Another disadvantage is these are your low beams when your lights are on so instead of getting years and years of service from your bulbs you will be getting about 3 years out of your expensive halogen bulbs not to mention the pain in the rear of changing them more often and the possibility of driving around with a burned out headlight and not knowing it until the law pulls you over and hands you a ticket.

$8.99 each (@ Napa) is really not that expensive, but changing them is a pain in the butt.

[33OH]

I would agree with most everything being said about the benefits of DRLs. Now for the disadvantages as I see them.Drivers in America are going to get lazy and only be looking for a light coming down the road as more and more cars are equipped with them. This could potentially cause accidents. Another disadvantage is these are your low beams when your lights are on so instead of getting years and years of service from your bulbs you will be getting about 3 years out of your expensive halogen bulbs not to mention the pain in the rear of changing them more often and the possibility of driving around with a burned out headlight and not knowing it until the law pulls you over and hands you a ticket. These are just some observations from driving my 02 Passat for 7 years.

I only took my DRLs out because I bought HID's, but I agree. If you can't see my shiny one ton car in front of your face, you're just not looking.