127,000 miles on my Toyota Highlander - never had to change ANY bulb!

 

Hey Mike, you know you are right about GM vehicles having burned out bulbs. I've noticed this big time in my little corner of the world. Many Chevy and GMC pickups with one light out. Strange there isn't a recall. You can get a $75 ticket here for a light out.

And *****, it is interesting that you mentioned a Lights On sign on US 395. Guess what road runs North-South just about 300 yards from my house? We have those same signs up here in the Evergreen State. It is a serious problem because a car passing and coming at you is closing at maybe 140 mph. It only takes a few seconds to be bumper to bumper, and I would appreciate it if I had some warning from the DRL's to slow down or go for the shoulder to avoid a head on.

 

I don't think you can get a ticket for having a DRL out. I believe that rule only applies to HEADLIGHTS.

On roads that burning headlights are REQUIRED, I believe you could get a ticket for only having DRL's lit, as those aren't considered headlights.

 

I had a 99 GMC Sierra and the one DRL bulb burnt out in about a year. I didn't replace it, I was hoping the other one would just burn out and I would be done with them. But after 3 years the other light was still hanging in there when I got rid of it. I also noticed a butt load of other Chevy/GMC's with one out. I think GM has a box of good ones and a box of bad ones, and they put one of each in at the factory. I also have a Harley and I think DRL's are a good deal on bikes, but if all the cars had them, then motorcycles would blend in more and defeat the purpose of putting them on bikes in the first place. So in closing, I think DRL's are stupid on cars.

 

I was actually talking about headlights out when it comes to the fine. I've seen a bunch of GM/Chevy trucks with one DRL (parking light) out in the day and a bunch of others with one headlight out at night. I can only guess it's a socket problem. The bulbs themselves are very durable.

 

My 2005 Colorado Crew Cab has DRL's, and within a couple of months one of the bulbs was out. I think they just don't seat them in the socket properly at the factory, because all I did was take the bulb out, saw it was still good, and then just reinserted it in the socket and it now works just fine. Oh, and GM's--2005 and up, now let you turn the DLR's off, but you must do so each time you start the car or truck as they default to on. They changed it because lot of folks, especially those of us with Corvettes like my old 2000 complained so much about the DRL's always being on and you had to pull a fuse to turn them off.

 

Oh jesus. So that's why half the people on the freeway have their lights on in the morning. I just thought they all forgot to turn them off the night before.

 

I know some people have gotten the SJB replaced under warranty and gotten DRL without asking for it so it may be an option that can be enabled by the dealer. My wife has a 2002 Trailblazer and you can turn them off if you like. Our 98 Camry has them as well but we litterally go through headlight bulbs every couple of months - that car has some electrical issues or something.

 

I have a question about using the turn signal lamps as DRLs (the WebElectric Products DRL solution on the S197). In CA (and most likely in other states as well), it's illegal to drive with illuminated "parking lamps" without light headlamps. Per CA-DMV VC:
Lighted Parking Lamps

24800. No vehicle shall be driven at any time with the parking lamps lighted except when the lamps are being used as turn signal lamps or when the headlamps are also lighted.
````````
I noticed when turning on the S197 "parking lamps", both the front amber side bulb AND the turn signal bulb illuminate. If both bulbs constitute the "parking lamp" configuration, then the $64K question is, "by using the WebElectric solution (increased voltage to turn signal lamps), will I be in violation of VC 24800 above?"

http://www.webelectricproducts.com/products.htm

 

"Parking" lamps are the low wattage filament in the two-filament bulb. "Turn" and "Hazard" both use the high wattage filament. The parking lamp DRL's use the turn, or high wattage filament. So to be specific about that stupid California law means you cannot legally turn your headlamp switch to the "parking lamp" position, only the headlamp position. I've never heard of such an idiotic law....

You guys in California, I'm sure you've seen numerous GM vehicles and some Toyotas that illuminate the amber parking lamp assemblies...

My cars do not use the aforementioned product. I built the circuits myself and have used them on all my cars since 1999, including my 1987 Camaros (IROC-Z and Z28 convertible), Mazda MPV, Lightning, etc....

 

I got all the options on my car. If I want DRL with the parking lights, I turn to the first click to the right. If I want DRL with the headlights on, I turn two clicks. If I don't want DRL I just leave the **** alone.

Since my car is the color of asphalt, I do run with my lights on a lot during the day, can't miss the HID's. A lot more people cut in front of me versus my Torch 06 if its remotely dim outside without my lights on. Not seeing me at night with the HID's-fuggedabaoutit.

 

I don't care for them at all...in fact, I disabled them on my '01 Vette...I prefer to run incognito and what's worse it's usually a definite pain in the derriere to change them out (being on all the time greatly reduces the life of the bulb). And one last reason...look at a vehicle with its DRLs coming at you...all you see basically are the DRLs and its hard to notice if it's some little Chevy Aveo or the beautiful long hood of your Stang approaching...to each his own.

 

I have the webelectrics DRLs. Love em !! Have had them on the car since almost day 1, with not a single bulb burned out.

 

I don't care for them at all...in fact, I disabled them on my '01 Vette...

I wish there were your people like you Mark. It just makes my cars with parking lamp DRLs stand out that much more!


.... (being on all the time greatly reduces the life of the bulb).

I've heard this argument time and time again. Yes, it is true that the longer ANY bulb is used, the shorter its lifetime. But in my opinion, bulbs are to be used...! I've got vaulted ceilings in my house with SIX bulbs on my track lighting in my kitchen. I'm going to use them when I need to, no matter how difficult it is to change a burnt out one. As for cars, would you not turn on your headlamps in inclement weather (when most people have them turned on) because you're worried about burning out your bulbs sooner? I don't think so... Just another feeble opinion!


And one last reason...look at a vehicle with its DRLs coming at you...all you see basically are the DRLs....

Exactly the purpose of DRLs. Take two identical cars, one with and one without DRLs. Which are you going to notice first? Exactly! Maybe this is why every European country (and Canada too) that has performed studies on DRLs has concluded a less accident rate as a result and adopted them. Only the U.S. study was inconclusive. Go figure! The odd thing is that in the U.S., there are many stretches of two-lane highways that are deemed "Safety corridors -- turn headlights on next xxx miles". I believe these are stretches of roadways that experience higher rates of collisions. I've even seen interstate highways with these too....

In any case, I wish all auto manufacturer's autos destined for the U.S. would install DRLs AND make it's use optional like Toyota does. My mom's Camry headlight switch has the following settings:

On
DRL
Park
Head

making DRL's a very user friendly option for both people who like and dislike them. Again, to each his own! At least until the Feds make them mandatory.

Willie

 

Here's an interesting link to an article summarizing the history of DRLs and a case against DRLs in the US. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for DRLs... I just found some of their points quite surprising (like point #7 "increased fuel consumption and impact on CAFE"). As soon as I can find someone to confirm the legality of using the WebElectric Products DRL solution on the S197 (in California at least), I'll be installing. Anyway, here's the story:

http://www.lightsout.org/story.html