Technical Daytime Running Lights

[PandaLounge]

Hi all

Hope someone can help figure this out. Today I noticed when driving and seeing the cars reflection, that the bumped DRLs were not on, but those in the headlight were.

When I ended my journey I got out and checked and they were not on. I asked the hubby to drive it around the block as maybe it had to be either in D or moving for them to switch on, but nothing.

I’ve traveled the handbook and can’t find anything about certain conditions regarding DRLs etc and I know both sets have worked before. For reference they do come on with the headlights, so I know they are working.

I’ve searched online and am even more confused as I’ve found several different shots of the car both moving and stationary where some have both a DRLs lit and others only the headlight section.

Feel like I’m going a bit mad as I can’t figure it out.

Anyone any ideas or have / had similar issues?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[ZaphodB]

What time of day was it?

Have you got the Auto set to on on the left stalk?

Daytime running lamps/ Sidelamps
These LED lamps at the front and rear
of the vehicle light up automatically
when the engine starts.
They perform the following functions:
*Daytime running lamps (lighting
control stalk at position "AUTO" with
adequate ambient light)
*Sidelamps (lighting control stalk at
position "AUTO" with low ambient light
or "Sidelamps only" or "D

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

The clue is to determine what is what, which light has which function.

I assume the single LED arch just in the bottom of the headlight is the DRL.

I had no idea what is the double LED arch visible as lit on the 3rd photo. But checked the internet and it's the indicator (blinker, or how do you call it) is that one:

I'm almost sure it's a LED light, not a classical bulb one.

So we only have the light on the bottom of the bumper left. Might be the fog light, might be the bend lighting (or curve illumination, I don't know the proper English name). It might be both and depend on the trim level.

The owner's handbook most relevant to your's car age (or generation) should explain more. That what's the handbook says about the front lights:

The DRL might also have a function of a side light (or parking light, again depending on the naming). If so, it will be dimmed comparing to the DRL.

The low and high beam are LEDs, too. And in the main headlight somewhere here:

I'd agree with @ZaphodB that the time of the day might have an impact of what part is lit. Check the settings, if you still can't figure it out, post photos of your car and different lights on/off to show precisely what is the difference.

 

[richie17]

I find the manual quite confusing in general and it would help if they illustrated or explained which lights were which. But I assume the 'side lights' are the ones in the bumper. As well as 'auto', it does suggest you can set the stalk to 'side lights only', so that way you could get out of the car and check.

Having had Fiats forever, the lights/wipers controls are totally different, presumably following Peugeot logic!

 

[the green vanper]

Having had Fiats forever, the lights/wipers controls are totally different, presumably following Peugeot logic!

Those ones had a less complicated logic

 

[PandaLounge]

I find the manual quite confusing in general and it would help if they illustrated or explained which lights were which. But I assume the 'side lights' are the ones in the bumper. As well as 'auto', it does suggest you can set the stalk to 'side lights only', so that way you could get out of the car and check.

Having had Fiats forever, the lights/wipers controls are totally different, presumably following Peugeot logic!

Thanks everyone for all your help.

I’ve been through all the settings and theres nothing remotely related to DRLs to be found.

The reply about the sidelights and DRLs was spot on. I too have had lots of Fiats and this is the first one where the sidelight indicator is lit at all times on the display which denotes that the DRLs are on (according to the handbook) although you can’t seem to turn them off.
So today when moving the car I turned the light switch on the stalk from Auto to the Sidelight position and hay presto all the DRLs were on including the taillights.
Annoyingly doing that changes the touchscreen and splay into night mode as as far as it’s concerned I have the lights on.
So that cleared up that.

The other comments about time of day and daylight etc much also be true as I’ve never taken the lights out of Auto since I picked it up but I have sat behind vehicles and noticed all the DRLs were on. So they must use the light sensor and come on giving greater visibility to other road users.

Again, thank you so much for all your replies and help. I wish you guys had written the handbook tbh