Daytime headlights, kill'em

[09TDIenjoyer]

My dealer said they used to be able to disable the daytime headlioght function, but now on the 2009 TDI Jetta they can't, BUT, they said there is a company that makes a box that CAN read and disable this feature.
Does anyone know this company/box and how I can get to use it?
pete in North Jersey

 

[compu_85]

All you do is change a setting in the computer. From what I've read it's the same as the older models...

-Jason

 

[XXX_er]

why do you want to disable a safety feature like daytime headlights ?

 

[Lug_Nut]

And add sunny day windshield wipers to that "safety feature".
Oh, and continual alert horn, too. No one remembers that particular safety feature.

OK, NORTHERN B.C. requires them by Canadian law and because they make sense where the sun remains lower in the sky and twilight lasts for hours and vehicles are fewer.
Northern New Jersey does not require them, the sun is higher in the sky during the day and twilight hours are shorter and the poor jamoke stuck at the same traffic light isn't able to pull into opposing traffic to pass.

 

[Shawnv1]

Perfect example

why do you want to disable a safety feature like daytime headlights ?

About 15 minutes ago after working on a 2004 VW looking for a problem with the switch on, I went to start it and the auto on lights had killed the battery.

 

[CTD&TDI]

sounds like a weak battery to go dead that fast

 

[Fahrfuwerfuelen]

Ditto, must have been a weak battery. You would have to leave the lights on for hours to kill a good battery/

 

[2003VWGolfTDI]

ha ha lol. Accidentally left my lights on for 12 hours once and the trusty old TDI fired right up.......

 

[eb2143]

I thought for awhile if I wanted to kill mine. I decided on the basis of the driving I do. For the most part, either divided highway or slow back roads (35-45 mph).

When I'm driving on a non-divided highway with passing, I usually turn them on. They do help in identifying a vehicle and judging its distance when you are deciding whether or not to pass.

Oh yeah, I also turn them on when it's dark.

 

[BEN721364]

why do you want to disable a safety feature like daytime headlights ?

Serious motorcyclists do not agree with you that DRL is a safety feature when applied to cars/trucks. Motorcycles sold in the U S have been voluntarily equipped with headlamps which are on all the time to make motorcycles more conspicuous. With more and more larger vehicles so equipped, the m/c conspicuity advantage is diminished. The same is true of emergency vehicles and funeral processions. Like with center high mounted stop lights [chmsl], DRL effectiveness for larger vehicles began to wane after the first fwe years that they were widely used.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

My dealer said they used to be able to disable the daytime headlioght function, but now on the 2009 TDI Jetta they can't, BUT, they said there is a company that makes a box that CAN read and disable this feature.
Does anyone know this company/box and how I can get to use it?
pete in North Jersey

Shoot me a PM. I have a VAG-COM and we can take a look at this.

...

 

[hid3]

Read zys: http://www.dadrl.org.uk/

 

[vwmk4]

Read zys: http://www.dadrl.org.uk/

Thanks hid3.
Always thought DRLs were not a safety feature. I get pi$$ed when someone with there DRLs starts tail gating me with there bright DRLs on.
They are no safety feature, I want to be able to turn my headlights on when needed and off on a bright sunny day.

 

[kgm]

I've never thought that daytime lights increase visibility at any distance that is meaningful when driving. Maybe they will make a car that is a half mile or more away noticeable more quickly, but I've never had an accident with a car that was a half mile away. Anything closer than that I can see without my glasses. Personally, I can judge the distance and speed of an oncoming car more easily if it doesn't have its lights on. I'm convinced that daytime lights are just a conspiracy between the auto makers and their headlight suppliers. I think that I saw them talking behind the grassy knoll.

 

[BEN721364]

I've never thought that daytime lights increase visibility at any distance that is meaningful when driving. Maybe they will make a car that is a half mile or more away noticeable more quickly, but I've never had an accident with a car that was a half mile away. Anything closer than that I can see without my glasses. Personally, I can judge the distance and speed of an oncoming car more easily if it doesn't have its lights on. I'm convinced that daytime lights are just a conspiracy between the auto makers and their headlight suppliers. I think that I saw them talking behind the grassy knoll.

Good points.

DRLs are kinda like CHMSLs. Theoretically they are good but don't really serve a useful purpose as you pointed out and some countries have determined, at least to their government's satisfaction that they are counterproductive. I don't know that anyone has produced hard data in support of them though Canada possibility thinks it has. As a motorcyclist, I don't like 'em.

 

[Bob_Fout]

Insurance companies feel they are useful enough to give premium discounts for them.

 

[hid3]

Thanks hid3.
Always thought DRLs were not a safety feature. I get pi$$ed when someone with there DRLs starts tail gating me with there bright DRLs on.
They are no safety feature, I want to be able to turn my headlights on when needed and off on a bright sunny day.

You should arrive to Lithuania and see what happens.
Here you MUST drive with drl's. And lots of people have installed CHEAP XENON lighs made in CHINA which do not meet any technical requirements. The roads here are terrible. One or most two lanes each way. Somebody is ALWAYS tailgating you. Lots of traffic jams.... That SUCKS HARD

 

[Lug_Nut]

And they make sence depending on the prevailing driving habits.
I recall a twice daily drive from Vilnius to Lentvaris, a good portion of which was on a two lane road (one each direction), yet overtaking was rampant despite oncoming traffic. It was as if there was an implication that there were three lanes, one in each direction, and your own personal passing lane between.
That's OK, except when the driver coming towards you also thinks the imaginary center lane is HIS personal passing lane.
DRL made a lot of sense. And with sunrise at 9AM, sunset about 3PM, the long twilight also makes the use of lighting more justifiable.

p.s. How are the renovations on the Castle coming? Will they be complete in time for the 1000th anniversary?

 

[BEN721364]

Insurance companies feel they are useful enough to give premium discounts for them.

How much premium discount? Is it significant or just a feel good thing?

 

[jcrews]

I converted my DRL to sidemarkers. I think it's safer (all 4 corners and front lights lit), and it uses less power.

 

[owr084]

DRLs are a pain in the butt for anyone who has to enter a controlled area, such as a military base, at night. When the teenager with a fully automatic weapon yells at you to turn your lights OFF, you do it. But, with DRLs, your only choice is to pull up the emergency brake while rolling to get them off. I don't like that option. So, I disabled mine. But, that does not matter since I am in the habit of turning my headlights on anyways.

 

[Bob_Fout]

How much premium discount? Is it significant or just a feel good thing?

It's only $5 per 6 months.

Given the nature of insurance companies, they don't do anything if it's not ultimately in their best interest though.

 

[BEN721364]

It's only $5 per 6 months.

Given the nature of insurance companies, they don't do anything if it's not ultimately in their best interest though.

I agree. They do what is in their best interest. $10/yr. is a cheap price to pay for a marketing edge. Not all insurers offer such discounts in all markets.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

DRLs are a pain in the butt for anyone who has to enter a controlled area, such as a military base, at night. When the teenager with a fully automatic weapon yells at you to turn your lights OFF, you do it. But, with DRLs, your only choice is to pull up the emergency brake while rolling to get them off. I don't like that option. So, I disabled mine. But, that does not matter since I am in the habit of turning my headlights on anyways.

On the MK4's... with the Euroswitch, it's easy, middle position.

On the MK5's... with the Euroswitch, if you can switch the ECM to UK mode, you can have DRL with euroswitch act like the MK4 w/ Euroswitch. This doesn't work with the B6 Passat and I dunno about the Eos.

So for me, it's disable DRL or scandinavian mode with the Euroswitch.

Actually, the military hasn't complained yet....okay, contractors, I have my fogs as DRL (instead of the low beam), at even more reduced intensity.

 

[Bob_Fout]

DRLs are a pain in the butt for anyone who has to enter a controlled area, such as a military base, at night. When the teenager with a fully automatic weapon yells at you to turn your lights OFF, you do it. But, with DRLs, your only choice is to pull up the emergency brake while rolling to get them off. I don't like that option. So, I disabled mine. But, that does not matter since I am in the habit of turning my headlights on anyways.

Euro switch helped me greatly in that regard.

 

[hid3]

And they make sence depending on the prevailing driving habits.
I recall a twice daily drive from Vilnius to Lentvaris, a good portion of which was on a two lane road (one each direction), yet overtaking was rampant despite oncoming traffic. It was as if there was an implication that there were three lanes, one in each direction, and your own personal passing lane between.
That's OK, except when the driver coming towards you also thinks the imaginary center lane is HIS personal passing lane.
DRL made a lot of sense. And with sunrise at 9AM, sunset about 3PM, the long twilight also makes the use of lighting more justifiable.

p.s. How are the renovations on the Castle coming? Will they be complete in time for the 1000th anniversary?

Well, Vilnius-Lentvaris is a part of Highway Vilnius-Kaunas You should have driven in Vilnius, especially in old town. Nowadays it became catastrophic due to reorganisation. City government wants to make a tram to run across Vilnius Old Town and the suburbs. That doesn't seem to mean a promising thing.


Sun rises at 9 and sets at 3 here only in December and the months near it, mainly

The renovations of the Castle are stuck. Only about 50% of the job is done. It won't be finished up to 2009's. Now the government is investing (and sometimes wasting) large amounts of money for presentable details dedicated for the 1000th anniversary

 

[CentralFloridaTDIguy]

safety feature....

I think all new vehicles should be required to have windshield wipers that come on automatically with a rain sensor that has an interlock with the headlights...

I hate people that don't turn on their headlights on when they have to use their windshield wipers....some states (like FL) require that you turn on your headlights when you turn on the windshield wipers...

 

[Honeydew]

I think all new vehicles should be required to have windshield wipers that come on automatically with a rain sensor that has an interlock with the headlights...

I hate people that don't turn on their headlights on when they have to use their windshield wipers....some states (like FL) require that you turn on your headlights when you turn on the windshield wipers...

A friend in H.S. back in NC showed up one day with a brand-new Explorer. Turns out his Dad had patented a switch or something to turn lights on automatically when wipers were turned on. He sold the patent and used the proceeds to buy his three kids new cars.

 

[BEN721364]

I think all new vehicles should be required to have windshield wipers that come on automatically with a rain sensor that has an interlock with the headlights...

I hate people that don't turn on their headlights on when they have to use their windshield wipers....some states (like FL) require that you turn on your headlights when you turn on the windshield wipers...

That I will agree with. It makes perfect sense and i am surprised that some manufacturer hasn't already come up with it. It doesn't require federal action either.

 

[hevster1]

My dealer said they used to be able to disable the daytime headlioght function, but now on the 2009 TDI Jetta they can't, BUT, they said there is a company that makes a box that CAN read and disable this feature.
Does anyone know this company/box and how I can get to use it?
pete in North Jersey

I am not 100% sure but a few years ago it was proposed that after a certain year (2006?) in order to pass inspection you were required to have them. Law enforcement and certain others were exempt. I do not know if it passed as I haven't held an inspectors license in NJ since 03. You may want to check with MVS or a inspection station to see if it is required before you mess with it.