Safety, Critical Alert

[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

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.

[WolfWings]

Originally Posted by TheSilkySmooth

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.

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.

[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.

[earljail]

Originally Posted by 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.

Exactly.

[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

[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]

Originally Posted by 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. =^.^=

Don't forget the heavy duty starter too!
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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[WolfWings]

Originally Posted by auxmike

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.

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. :-)

[IllusionX]

Originally Posted by 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.

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 ??

[metalshark]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

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.

[Jerkratt]

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

[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]

Originally Posted by chucksmaster

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.