ND DRL

[redmazda]

I’m trying to figure out the DRL on my mk4 I got my lights setting on Auto and sometimes my DRL are on when I drive as I know they will only come on once the car moves but the thing I’m trying to work out is sometimes the DRL comes on and sometimes they don’t is it because the headlights are on at night time so DRL don’t work in the dark only in the light days lol 

[IanH]

No DRL when the headlights are on.

[redmazda]

Thanks Ian

[richardn]

clue is in the name Daylight Running Lights

[redmazda]

Yeah I know rich but I do see a lot of other manufacturers with their DRL on in the dark with headlights on ??

[Redfox]

The DRL’s also go off when you stop and put the car in neutral and the handbrake on. You can see this in the reflection of a vehicle in front at traffic lights (if their car is as shiny as yours!)

[redmazda]

Thanks red

[richardn]

@redmazda

Yeah I know rich but I do see a lot of other manufacturers with their DRL on in the dark with headlights on ??

 

Ford do this on the Mondeo, but the DRL’s dim when then headlights come on. 

[Enjay]

@richardn

@redmazda

Yeah I know rich but I do see a lot of other manufacturers with their DRL on in the dark with headlights on ??

Ford do this on the Mondeo, but the DRL’s dim when then headlights come on. 

 

Indeed.  The government documentation specifically says that DRLs are too bright and dazzling for night time use and should therefore go off or be dimmed when other lights are on:

 

DRL are necessarily bright to ensure they are visible in the daytime but not so bright that they will dazzle others. However they are too bright for night time use and are not intended to illuminate the road in the dark. If used at night they will cause dazzle and discomfort to others and so drivers should always switch to their position lamps or headlamps at night.

DRL activate automatically when the engine is started and remain on unless the headlamps are switched on. They may however remain off in some low speed and stationary situations. In general all other lights should remain off when the DRL are on but for a limited period some vehicles may be available which automatically activate the rear position lamps at the same time as the DRL.

DRL may be combined with other lamps. For example some manufacturers use the same lamp for both the DRL and position lamp. In these cases the DRL automatically dims to function as a lower intensity position lamp when the headlamps are turned on. DRL placed close to direction indicators may also automatically dim when the direction indicator is active. This is to ensure that the direction indicator is not masked by the light from the DRL.

 

From Daytime running lights - GOV.UK

 

 

[MX515]

Are the DRL supposed to illuminate on side lights, is this a switchable option? DRLs on my 65 plate ND work when main light switch is off and car is moving. When not moving and handbrake on the go off, as expected by the previous posts. If I switch to sidelights which frankly are quit small, the DRLs appear to go out.

On a run today one of the NDs following appeared to have DRLs illuminated with sidelights.

If I can change a setting to enable this, where do I find it in the menu?

Thanks,

Brian

[Countryboy]

Hi Brian.  From your post I get the impression that this was an organised run, so what I would do is contact the organiser and identify the car in question (you must have some identifying info from your visuals) then contact the owner to ascertain whether what “appeared” to be the situation re DRL and sidelights was in fact the case.  It would save a lot of speculation here.  Best of luck and if you find that it is the case then please post the details here.  I did look at the full owner’s manual, which is available as a download from Mazda UK, and in section 9-10 the is an option to turn the DRL off completely, but I couldn’t see anything about running them with the sidelights.

[DaveB63]

Could just put your headlights on?

[IanH]

I have had mine switched to auto since the day I picked the car up, DRL and Side Lights do come on together.

 

[Countryboy]

@IanH

I have had mine switched to auto since the day I picked the car up, DRL and Side Lights do come on together.

 

  

Thanks Ian, That “auto” facility on the lights stalk is available on the “sport” variant, like yours, but not on the non-sport variant like mine.

[Jon_stark]

Ive had my ND for a month and the DRL come on with handbrake on and start to move as stated before. I have rear lights come on as well I thought only front white lights lit up front from looking at other makes. Any thoughts

[Countryboy]

@Jon stark

Ive had my ND for a month and the DRL come on with handbrake on and start to move as stated before. I have rear lights come on as well I thought only front white lights lit up front from looking at other makes. Any thoughts

  

Hi Jon.  The rear lights come on with the DRL, it’s standard.

 

[j50]

 

[/quote]

@IanH

I have had mine switched to auto since the day I picked the car up, DRL and Side Lights do come on together.

 

How!!? I am very jealous indeed. It seems such a small thing, but daytime running lights in addition to side lights would add a touch more presence to the car.

 

[j50]

@Countryboy

@IanH

I have had mine switched to auto since the day I picked the car up, DRL and Side Lights do come on together.

 

  

Thanks Ian, That “auto” facility on the lights stalk is available on the “sport” variant, like yours, but not on the non-sport variant like mine.

I dont think the sport model is the variable here. I wish it was! I too have a sport-nav model but cannot get the DRL to be switched on alongside an other lights. This is a niggle I have heard mentioned by a couple of users in the states, too. Strage decision by Mazda 

 

[Countryboy]

@j50

 

@IanH

I have had mine switched to auto since the day I picked the car up, DRL and Side Lights do come on together.

 

How!!? I am very jealous indeed. It seems such a small thing, but daytime running lights in addition to side lights would add a touch more presence to the car.

 

[/quote]
  

Check your light switch stalk it may or may not have an “auto” position, also see your “Owner’s Manual” section 4-13 for more details of lighting matters.