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Technical Flashing your headlights

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Technical Flashing your headlights

Mick F

Mick F

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This is a strange one, and not an easy thing to explain.

The other day, there was a white 500 coming towards me and the driver flashed his/her lights to let me through a gap. I went through, and we parted company. I didn't make a note of the model or the year of it.

It was only later that I realised what I'd seen.

The white 500 had DLR lights switched off. (or should I say they weren't on)
It was a broad daylight.
When the white 500 flashed to me, it's DLRs flashed and NOT the headlights.

I've since checked our 500 with DLR lights both on and off, and when I flash, it's always the headlights that flash and NOT the DLR lights.

Question:
Did the white 500 have a defect, or is it a normal thing for some of them to do it like I described?

Thanks,
Mick.
 
Mick F said:
This is a strange one, and not an easy thing to explain.

The other day, there was a white 500 coming towards me and the driver flashed his/her lights to let me through a gap. I went through, and we parted company. I didn't make a note of the model or the year of it.

It was only later that I realised what I'd seen.

The white 500 had DLR lights switched off. (or should I say they weren't on)
It was a broad daylight.
When the white 500 flashed to me, it's DLRs flashed and NOT the headlights.

I've since checked our 500 with DLR lights both on and off, and when I flash, it's always the headlights that flash and NOT the DLR lights.

Question:
Did the white 500 have a defect, or is it a normal thing for some of them to do it like I described?

Thanks,
Mick.
Click to expand...

That's normal Mick. When you pull the stalk it flashes the high-beams which are located in the same DLR/parking light assembly. I'm sure you'll find yours is the same.
 
Last edited:
I can confirm both mine and my Mrs 500's both flash the high beam.
The only thing I've noticed is how many drivers don't notice a flash of the lights when driving in daylight with the DRL's on!!
 
So ................. therefore this white 500 must have had a defect?

Why would the DLR lights flash BUT NOT the headlights?

Mick.
 
I think that's because when you flash your head lights its the high beam that flashes not the dipped. The high beam is located in the lower light with the DRL . In fact I think the DRL and the high beam are the same bulb just that the DRL is dimmed down by use of a resistor somewhere in the circuit.

Chris
 
Mick F said:
Why would the DLR lights flash BUT NOT the headlights?
Click to expand...
The DLR ligths don´t flash. The high beam lights flash and these are located in the same light units as the DLR lights. However, I´m not sure if that last part is also true if your 500 has xenon lights.
 
Right.
Sussed it!

I'm of the old school when you flash your headlights, that the full beam AND the dipped beam come on together at the same time.

It seems that with a 500, it's only the full beam that flashes .............. and if the DLR lights are off, the flash comes ONLY with the full beam ........ inside the DLR light lens of course.

Maybe that is the same with all modern cars, but it's not what I am accustomed to. :eek:

Cheers,
Mick
 
Mick F said:
Right.
Sussed it!

I'm of the old school when you flash your headlights, that the full beam AND the dipped beam come on together at the same time.

It seems that with a 500, it's only the full beam that flashes .............. and if the DLR lights are off, the flash comes ONLY with the full beam ........ inside the DLR light lens of course.

Maybe that is the same with all modern cars, but it's not what I am accustomed to. :eek:

Cheers,
Mick
Click to expand...

Curious, on the other hand all my cars since 1971 have flashed only the high beams - never the lows. They've all, till now, been Mazda's so maybe it's a Japanese thing.
 
Mick F said:
I'm of the old school when you flash your headlights, that the full beam AND the dipped beam come on together at the same time.
Click to expand...

I think that only ever happened when your low beams were on.
 
Last edited:
UFI said:
I think that only ever happened when your low beams were on.
Click to expand...
I'm going to check that with our Clio, but I know for a fact that all my old cars flashed both the main and the dipped beams simultaneously.

I expected that all cars still did this. Seems like I'm wrong. :eek:

Thanks,
Mick.
 
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