On my Octavia the auto light system often brought the lights on at first start when the vehicle was facing bright sunshine at 10am on a bright Summer Day. Wasn't impressed and could not get them to go out with several stop/start ignition on/off attempts. This frequently but not always happened. Never ever did this in bright but sunless conditions. Eventually reverted to using manual lights system at all times as though the system worked well in lower lighting conditions I was often caught with lights on in bright sunshine. Traded car in for a Yeti before I could get round to asking a dealer to investigate.

They are supposed to do that - just that the manual does not tell you this (nor do dealers generally know about it) Though I thought it was the other way around in that when the sun is shining low like that from BEHIND the lights go on so that cars coming the other way can better see you in the glare THEY are experiencing. In bright but sunless conditions (as you say) this won't happen since there is no glare within which your car can be "hidden". So there is nothing to "investigate". :no:

As to the lights coming on early: yes they do come on before I'd have done so myself. So definitely good there. Though in fog your good old hand still has to switch the lights on. Not rocket science either to remember that ONE action in those types of weather...

They are supposed to do that - just that the manual does not tell you this (nor do dealers generally know about it) Though I thought it was the other way around in that when the sun is shining low like that from BEHIND the lights go on so that cars coming the other way can better see you in the glare THEY are experiencing.

Well that is news to me but I was left travelling in any direction at 10am on a bright sunny summer day (sun then not far from it's highest) with my lights on - whichever direction I was travelling. Somehow I don't think that was right whether or not by design.

1

There are NO regulations in the UK that say you have to have any lights on if you put your wipers on.

2

Fog lights, front or back, can only be used when it is foggy or in falling snow, not in spray. The Law actually states when visibility is 100metres or less.

Personally I would cut off the gonads of all the people who drive around with front fogs on "because it is cool" or any driver who uses rear fogs in rain, on any type of road. Perhaps if we had more active road Policing it would stop. I'm sure a £60 fixed penalty fine would stop it!!

Highway code rule 226 clearly states that you may use fog lights when visibility is seriously reduced which obviously includes spray when driving on a motorway.

Somehow I don't think that was right whether or not by design.

It's true, auto lights don't just come on when the light begins to fade.

They also come on in bright conditions, if you travel over a certain speed for a set time or if your wipers are on again for a set period of time.

Bright low lying sun can mask an oncoming car so I guess this is the reasoning behind your unexpected/unwanted activation of dipped headlights.

A story:- My grandparents were trying to get home from Manchester in a "pea soup" fog. They were soon lost but they followed a bus which led them into the centre of town. The booked in at the Midland Hotel but, as they clearly had no luggage, eyebrows were raised and they got some very funny looks. (It was the forties after all) Would modern lighting have helped? In those fogs - probably not!

Blimey, that reminds me of another story.

Years back we were coming back from Wales in a little convoy, first there was the service barge, then we were in the towcar with the trailer and rally car on the back. Again a pea souper and we got to Derby trying to negotiate the ring road.

Driver of the service barge had lost his bearings and turned off a roundabout too early, we followed, and then we realised it was the wrong one, maybe going into a hospital grounds.

Anyway the service barge pulled a U turn round the central island, we followed, looked to the right and a queue of about 30 vehicles just followed us round.

Well you had to be there to see the joke, maybe.

Then there was another time on a Lombard RAC, we were debating about whether somebody should get out and walk in front when... yes someone came the other way doing exactly that. We gave up trying to get up to York that night and slept in the van at Selby Fork, very glad not competing in that.

Wey Hey, another rallyist amongst us!!!

Blimey, that reminds me of another story.

Years back we were coming back from Wales in a little convoy, first there was the service barge, then we were in the towcar with the trailer and rally car on the back. Again a pea souper and we got to Derby trying to negotiate the ring road.

Driver of the service barge had lost his bearings and turned off a roundabout too early, we followed, and then we realised it was the wrong one, maybe going into a hospital grounds.

Anyway the service barge pulled a U turn round the central island, we followed, looked to the right and a queue of about 30 vehicles just followed us round.

Well you had to be there to see the joke, maybe.

Then there was another time on a Lombard RAC, we were debating about whether somebody should get out and walk in front when... yes someone came the other way doing exactly that. We gave up trying to get up to York that night and slept in the van at Selby Fork, very glad not competing in that.

Love the story. These fogs (helped by loads of coal smoke) were real blinders. We used to follow each other because there was nothing else we could do. Even well known roads lost all landmarks and distances were very difficult to estimate. Loved the coal fires but now glad they were banned.

Used to leave a layer of soot on everything.

Blimey, that reminds me of another story.

Years back we were coming back from Wales in a little convoy, first there was the service barge, then we were in the towcar with the trailer and rally car on the back. Again a pea souper and we got to Derby trying to negotiate the ring road.

Driver of the service barge had lost his bearings and turned off a roundabout too early, we followed, and then we realised it was the wrong one, maybe going into a hospital grounds.

Anyway the service barge pulled a U turn round the central island, we followed, looked to the right and a queue of about 30 vehicles just followed us round.

Well you had to be there to see the joke, maybe.

Then there was another time on a Lombard RAC, we were debating about whether somebody should get out and walk in front when... yes someone came the other way doing exactly that. We gave up trying to get up to York that night and slept in the van at Selby Fork, very glad not competing in that.

That reminds me.... nothing to do with rallying Llanigraham, sorry ... I can remember hanging out of the passenger window in my Dad's Morris van, in a smog in London, using a torch to see where the kerb was! I have a sneaky suspicion you'd get some kind of fine if you did that kind of thing these days. :S

Sorry that my first post is a thread resurrection! I have just bought a 140 Elegance and find the DLR's a bit yellow-not keen on the "poached egg" look. So I've ordered a pair of LED's, about £35 from these people, http://www.superlumination.com/

I will let you know if the work OK or if they throw a fault light.

Hi mate,

Have you received these yet and if so, are they ok?

Cheers

Well ....I seem to have a talent for impulsive money wasting. They have arrived and I cannot get them to fit :embarrassedfacesmiley:.

Spent a little time changing fogs for Osram nightbreaker+s (aren't H7 bulbs fiddly when working left handed and without any ability to see where things go) the Osrams are as always a great bulb though)

I also had a go at the DRLs which would be an easy swap but for the fact the bulbs seem not to fit the holders-the electrical connection just would not go. The standards are an easy click fit but the LED's simply wouldn't go. I'll try again and see if it was me being ham fisted but the two pins won't engage.:Dratsmiley:

Did you get the right fit connector?

Might be wrong but was there a P13 and P13W..?

Well ....I seem to have a talent for impulsive money wasting. They have arrived and I cannot get them to fit :embarrassedfacesmiley:.

Spent a little time changing fogs for Osram nightbreaker+s (aren't H7 bulbs fiddly when working left handed and without any ability to see where things go) the Osrams are as always a great bulb though)

I also had a go at the DRLs which would be an easy swap but for the fact the bulbs seem not to fit the holders-the electrical connection just would not go. The standards are an easy click fit but the LED's simply wouldn't go. I'll try again and see if it was me being ham fisted but the two pins won't engage.:Dratsmiley:

Have you had any success with changing the DLR bulbs on your Yeti. I too am after a 'whiter' light which looks naff next to a xenon!

The bulb to get is a P13W but a white light with okay connectors!

Was going to raise this thread again myself to see if JCP had any further luck?

No luck I'm afraid. I had a go at fitting the "clever" ones but there is a difference in the plastic part which I have put aside for further consideration.....

A point was made about DLR's on another thread and rather than ask a question there and sidetrack the original thread I thought I would start a new one solely for this subject. Soooo......

On the Yeti is the car set up to run DLR's automatically or do you need to set it up yourself?

When it is set up what lights are used? On my Volvo it is the dipped headlights that come on. For some cars it is their sidelights, for others it is a string of LED lights (Audi being the prime example) That is quite an interesting one as they tend to eat your dipped head lights which is rather annoying.

A number of people on the Volvo forum have changed their cars by fitting LED's and transferring the DLR's from the headlights to them, giving the Audi effect. This can look smart, personal preference I know, but also it does save the headlight bulbs.

Before anyone starts on a "What is the point of them, I don't need to be told to put my lights on" etc. they are going to be compulsory in a year or two's time so whether people like them or not, they are going to happen. This is not a thread about their rights and wrongs but the practicalities of them.

They are on the Yeti from new. there is a bulb in the fog light. They can be turned off if so wished. My preference, to be seen by pedestrians, motorbikes,cyclists etc.

Highway code rule 226 clearly states that you may use fog lights when visibility is seriously reduced which obviously includes spray when driving on a motorway.

Dipped headlights ARE to be used when raining, so the wipers would have to be on.

What's all this got to do with the Docklands Light Railway?

No luck I'm afraid. I had a go at fitting the "clever" ones but there is a difference in the plastic part which I have put aside for further consideration.....

So which ones did you purchase? Are the ones listed on that site all incorrect for the Yeti?

As a matter of interest. Does anyone know if the rear "side lights" can be programmed with VCDS to operate when the DRLs are on?

One or two heavily wooded narrow side roads round here are quite gloomy in broad daylight, and it is possible to almost miss seeing a dark coloured vehicle when driving out of bright sunlight and into a much less well lit area (The "tree tunnel" effect - hope you understand!).

I hope one of the VCDS guru's can answer this with some instruction on "How-To" please.

Many thanks.....Tony

As a matter of interest. Does anyone know if the rear "side lights" can be programmed with VCDS to operate when the DRLs are on?

One or two heavily wooded narrow side roads round here are quite gloomy in broad daylight, and it is possible to almost miss seeing a dark coloured vehicle when driving out of bright sunlight and into a much less well lit area (The "tree tunnel" effect - hope you understand!).

I hope one of the VCDS guru's can answer this with some instruction on "How-To" please.

Many thanks.....Tony

I think we have discussed this before somewhere and decided (or I decided...) that you just put on the parking lights or dipped beam.........

Mike

I think we have discussed this before somewhere and decided (or I decided...) that you just put on the parking lights or dipped beam.........

+1

Just like in the olden days when we had to think for ourselves instead of relying on the car to do everything for us...

Mike

I think we have discussed this before somewhere and decided (or I decided...) that you just put on the parking lights or dipped beam.........

Mike

Hi Mike.

Unfortunately that is not a particularly good option for us as we would need to drive round with them on ALL the time just in case we pass through a "tree tunnel". I would spend quite a bit of time wearing out the light switch were I to adopt this suggestion and just turning them on and off as required. But thanks anyway!

Other manufacturers: Volvo - Landrover (Continental spec) etc have for many years used one form or another of DRLs, and traditionally, had them operating with the rear lights. I would like to do the same if possible?.........................Regards.......Tony

I have been turning my lights on and off as required for many, many years now (please don't ask how many). Never had a switch go? Also one can run with side lights on all the time; another thing I have done with no adverse consequences either. At least you have a clever Yeti. I will post my woes in this regard (an 11 month waiting period) elsewhere shortly.

Hi Mike.

Unfortunately that is not a particularly good option for us as we would need to drive round with them on ALL the time just in case we pass through a "tree tunnel". I would spend quite a bit of time wearing out the light switch were I to adopt this suggestion and just turning them on and off as required. But thanks anyway!

Other manufacturers: Volvo - Landrover (Continental spec) etc have for many years used one form or another of DRLs, and traditionally, had them operating with the rear lights. I would like to do the same if possible?.........................Regards.......Tony

I agree with Tony, I live in Cumbria and drive around the back roads most gays - I also would want my vehicle to be highly visible in these dark leafy lanes and give early warning of my presence since half the 'loons' that drive them aren't local and tend to hog the whole road.

At least lights at the front AND rear would go a long way to give early to another vehicle.

QUOTE - "Just like in the olden days when we had to think for ourselves instead of relying on the car to do everything for us..."

Oh you mean ESP with ABS+EBD+EBC+ASR+EDL+HBA+DSR+ESBS+HHC+MSR - Dipping Mirrors - Auto Lights - Automatic Gearboxes - Haldex Drive Train - Folding Door mirrors - Self cancelling Indicators - Tyre Pressure Monitors and stuff like that! Mmmmmmmmmmmm, not quite sure I get your point! (But I do know what you mean)