Daytime Running Lights

[kober]

Took my truck to my local dealer for the flash TSB. My Check Engine Light kept coming on.



On my way out, I talked with the diesel mechanic, a real personable guy, and I asked about the DRLs and how I might be able to get them to work.



He hooked his magic box to the truck and lo and behold there was an option for Daytime Running Lights! He turned it on and Voila!



Works great. They come on when the engine is running and as soon as you release the parking brake. When you set the brake or turn the engine off, they go off.



I'm a happy camper! Oo.



BTW, the flash TSB brought my MPG up by 1. 7 and the truck appears to be just a bit more responsive to the accelerator pedal. Oo.



Life is great.



Kurt

 

[JHardwick]

I personally don't like DRL, I like to be able to use the running lights (corner,fender and cab clearance) and/or the driving lights (fogs) at my discretion on my dually.



I think I remember this becoming a heated debate once ... ... ... .

 

[kober]

For me it's a matter of decreasing the likelyhood of someone running out in front of me because they didn't see me coming. It's a cheap and easy way to stack the odds of staying out of an accident in my favor.

Motorcycles wouldn't be able to survive our streets without DRLs.

I think thy are especially important here in Arizona where the sun can be absolutely blinding during certain times of the day especially in the winter months.

But, to each his own ...

Kurt

 

[JHardwick]

For me it's a matter of decreasing the likelyhood of someone running out in front of me because they didn't see me coming. It's a cheap and easy way to stack the odds of staying out of an accident in my favor.

Motorcycles wouldn't be able to survive our streets without DRLs.

I think thy are especially important here in Arizona where the sun can be absolutely blinding during certain times of the day especially in the winter months.

But, to each his own ...

Kurt

It sometimes doesn't matter and I don't like the look.



Just yesterday I was headed down a rural road at 3 in the afternoon. It was a kinda gray day with clouds and threatening snow. I had a flatbed trailer with 7 5'x5' round hay bales on and my marker lights with fogs were on as well ... ... ... ... . when some dude outta the blue decides to pull out in front of me!!



He didn't know whether to stop or go, I could see the freeze in his eyes!



Anyway, between the superior brakes on this thing, working brakes on all three trailer axles and a good tie down ... ... ... I didn't hit him or loose a 1500# bale of hay :-laf :-laf

 

[EEdmondson]

Does the DRL option dim the digital display on the dash and overhead? I hate it when I turn on my lights in the rain and it's hard to read the digital displays. How does it work at night?

 

[MikeBeggy]

I agree 100% with Kober. I had mine activated and you have the lights on without dimming the dash during the day. They are on low beam with about 60% power.

 

[CMckee]

drl's have been mandatory up here for about 10 years now, i hate to drive without them now. you just don't now if the other guy has seen you or not. mine come on about 5 secs after start up and the radio only dims when you turn on your lights, they are actually the high beams on at 60% power.

 

[scottmcd]

do you know what option it was that he activated. I would love have that done to my truck. I always drive with my lights on day or night... Scott

 

[JHardwick]

Does the DRL option dim the digital display on the dash and overhead? I hate it when I turn on my lights in the rain and it's hard to read the digital displays. How does it work at night?

Turn your dash panel dimmer all the way up and then go 1 click, your digital displays will go back to bright ... ... ..... 2 clicks will turn on the interior and cargo lamps.

 

[Dean Upson]

I personally don't like DRL, I like to be able to use the running lights (corner,fender and cab clearance) and/or the driving lights (fogs) at my discretion on my dually.



I think I remember this becoming a heated debate once ... ... ... .

I agree with Jeff. I see a bunch with one burned out. I put my lights on when required by law and am pretty comfortable with that. I do see a use (not a requirement) for them on long straight roads without much traffic, as in ND or MT.



Dean

 

[johnmoore]

they are actually the high beams on at 60% power.

And to me that is the problem. Even at 60% the bright lights are a problem especially on our narrow two lanes. Plus it seems that most are not aimed properly. Around here it seems like a lot of people even like to put their brights on during the day. :-{} So since I don't know if they have mistakenly turned on their brights or not I always let them see my bright lights.

 

[EEdmondson]

Turn your dash panel dimmer all the way up and then go 1 click, your digital displays will go back to bright ... ... ..... 2 clicks will turn on the interior and cargo lamps.

Thanks, I'll try that today since it's pretty gray out there and I'm headed to Sacramento and Tahoe.

 

[kober]

Does the DRL option dim the digital display on the dash and overhead? I hate it when I turn on my lights in the rain and it's hard to read the digital displays. How does it work at night?

No, the display stays nice and bright. At night I just turn the lights on manually.

 

[kober]

do you know what option it was that he activated. I would love have that done to my truck. I always drive with my lights on day or night... Scott

The DRLs are an option that he simply selected from a menu when he plugged his "magic" box to my truck. This was done after the flash TSB which makes me think the TSB added it to the menu.

 

[Cohomojo]

My main problem with the DRL's is when your sitting on a boat ramp launching your boat and you're unable to turn off your headlights because it's blinding the guy at the top of the ramp.

 

[robert4570]

I personally don't like DRL, I like to be able to use the running lights (corner,fender and cab clearance) and/or the driving lights (fogs) at my discretion on my dually.



I think I remember this becoming a heated debate once ... ... ... .

I second that , my work truck is a 2000 GMC 3500 w/ the DRL. We frequently are replacing them on side or another. If needed just turn them on .

 

[MarcRoth]

DRL Well if your at the boat ramp, Put the trucks e brakes on and the lights go off, O What am I thinking we all do that any way...

 

[kober]

My main problem with the DRL's is when your sitting on a boat ramp launching your boat and you're unable to turn off your headlights because it's blinding the guy at the top of the ramp.

They go off as soon as you put on the parking brake.

 

[Matt400]

my work truck is a 2000 GMC 3500 w/ the DRL. We frequently are replacing them on side or another.

Thats because GM does not use the headlamps for the DRL. They use a separate lamp- a 3157 that was a poor choice for a DRL. A 3157 LL for "Long Life" is available that will help and its best to just do them both when one goes.



For those that see one DRL out during the day you will probably notice they are GM SUV's & Trucks.

 

[Matt400]

I agree 100% with Kober. I had mine activated and you have the lights on without dimming the dash during the day. They are on low beam with about 60% power.

Probably not a bad idea considering the new headlamp wiper law on Jan 1. I have caught myself on a fairly bright day with some rain not having the lamps on. . I better learn or do the DRL's before it will cost a ticket.