I had to show someone how to turn on their headlights last night. (It was parking enforcement)

"Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer" (dash-doorhandle-and-bondo)
09/18/2020 at 10:07 • Filed to: None

Flashed my brights from behind a dozen times then honked and pulled up beside him. “turn your headlights on!” Reverse lights, then dome lights come on. I hop out and say “its here on a ford” He was appreciative, it was weird. So as a public service here’s the instructions:

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I’m not generally a concerned citizen type, but goddammit turn on your headlights at night. especially if it says “CITY OF.....” right on your door. That is all.

DISCUSSION (37)

Just Jeepin' > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 10:20

Don’t get me started. Between DRLs and dashes that light up at night even without the headlights on, it’s becoming a plague.

Automakers are completely dropping the b all on this.

Wacko > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 10:20

The amount of morons that drive without lights on is insane. I still don’t understand why all lights don’t just turn on when the car is not in park.

axiomatik > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 10:23

It’s nuts how many cars I see driving around at night without headlights on.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Just Jeepin'
09/18/2020 at 10:24

Canada started it with mandatory DRLs from 1990 on. Just this year they mandated that “people are stupid, legislate the tail lights on with the key too” but I don’t thinks its in effect yet.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 10:24

I’ve done it in a Ford too. For some reason in their infinite wisdom they decided that “AUTO” should only apply to the headlights. So you go on your merry way, expecting that all your lights are on because you can see where you’re going. And then at the stop light you get rear-ended by a semi that can’t see you.

Chrysler used to do this too I think.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 10:26

I use “auto” in our Ford (2010 robot-escape) and the tails come on with it when it’s dark.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 10:27

I’ve never thought about checking that. I just assumed that “auto” meant headlights and taillamps came on. Why else would it be auto then?

Future next gen S2000 owner > Just Jeepin'
09/18/2020 at 10:28

Auto dash lights coming on is the worst. We should just get rid of auto headlights.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 10:28

For some reason they’re running two systems at the same time then. I was in a post 2010 F iesta and Fusion, tails stayed off.

I don’t even think you could tie it to trim level. The Fiesta was bare-bones, the Fusion was a Platinum.

Just Jeepin' > Future next gen S2000 owner
09/18/2020 at 10:29

I think automatic lighting is the solution, frankly. Light sensors are cheap, just turn everything o n when it’s gloomy. Also solves the problem of people driving around in rainstorms without lights.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Future next gen S2000 owner
09/18/2020 at 10:31

Y’know? One thing GM nailed. Which, even as a GM guy, is still mildly surprising.

Also, pretty sure the Toyota Sie nna does the headlights-only thing. Not sure if all Toyotas do though.

XJDano > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 10:35

I actually called the 800-how’s-mydriving number and reported some ford transit. Once.

Svend > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 10:38

The number of times I’ve had to show people how to operate the foglight switch or show them where it is.

On VAG cars, it’s simply pull out the headlight switch.

Kinja'd!!!

Svend > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 10:42

I use ‘auto’ on Sandy, the DRLs come on as standard, but if the headlights come on, so does the taillights.

On VAG cars, you can code the tail lights to come on with the DRLs if you have a VCDS.

wafflesnfalafel > Just Jeepin'
09/18/2020 at 10:44

right, I love my DRLs but I wish I could manually turn them off with a switch. I get flashed all the time from folks thinking I have my brights on.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 10:46

WTF?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 10:53

T hat’s one thing I like about subaru’s, you can turn the lights on, and they automatically turn off when you remove the key from the ignition...

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/18/2020 at 11:07

IKR

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 11:16

mine’s actually been messed with, American car imported to Canada and had the DRL system turned on by a knowledgeable tech (had to convince service writer that this was possible) So it may be set to “all lights on”

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 11:18

I’m in Canada and both these cars were too. Odd.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 11:20

How the Leafs doin this year? just kidding, about as good as the jets.

and 100 more > Future next gen S2000 owner
09/18/2020 at 11:22

When your dash is an LCD screen, you can’t turn the light off . And the problem with that is that you need the screen brighter in the daytime to overcome the ambient light . So Grandma sits down in her car at night , can clearly see the (very bright) LCD display, the DRLs are lighting up the road ahead juuuust enough to seem like the headlights are on to her, and so everything must be copacetic.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 11:26

Well GM also decided the reverse lights should come on in the lock/unlock sequence but yes their early adoption of auto headlights is very nice. They’ve always worked well too.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 11:43

blarg

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/18/2020 at 11:44

Yeah... I hate that. You can’t tell if a vehicle in a parking lot is backing up or not. That should have been illegal.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/18/2020 at 11:44

Tbh, I’ve never noticed whether my reverse lights do that or not. Though I can’t say it would particularly bother me.

Future next gen S2000 owner > and 100 more
09/18/2020 at 11:55

Your logic and reason have no place in my rant!

and 100 more > Future next gen S2000 owner
09/18/2020 at 12:11

I don’t disagree with your stance , for the record. Fuck auto headlights! Why is flicking a switch/turning a dial so damn hard that it requires it to be automated?

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 12:15

Really?!:: Ford really implemented it like this? Legally?

Sure explains all the Fords I see on the freeways of SoCal with headlights on... and no other running or tail lights.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/18/2020 at 12:15

Yeah, I’m stunned. But it answers a question I’ve had for a long, long time.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
09/18/2020 at 12:18

So, so stupid.

Future next gen S2000 owner > and 100 more
09/18/2020 at 12:25

It’s because people are stupid and we cater to the lowest denominator as a society.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > BaconSandwich is tasty.
09/18/2020 at 12:37

Not as bad as Nissan’s bright DRLs but up there in automotive lighting annoyances.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 12:37

It might bother some people who aren’t sure of whether or not a car is backing.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/18/2020 at 13:18

Ah, gotcha. T he good news is I usually back in, so it doesn’t matter. But I can see that being annoying. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed it though

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/18/2020 at 13:21

Since I usually pull into spots in my Chevy, I contribute to the problem. Some people just absolutely loath the “feature” but for me it is just possibly a mild annoyance when I see it. Hey, at least I have separate amber turn indicators in the rear (which also light up while locking/unlocking ).

thatsmr > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
09/18/2020 at 22:31

Meh. Most people more interested in how their phones work in their car or not vs giving a damn about whether any lights work anytime at all.

Edit: seeing brake lights on the freeway more often means i am distracted by my phone than than any actual need to brake FTW