Using daytime running lights without auto headlights (USA spec)

[Mikie]

I always want to use DRLs (I drive on lots of windy mountain roads with poor visibility), but, I also do NOT want to use the Auto headlights feature (i.e. I want to manually turn my headlights on and off as required).

But unless I'm missing something, there appears to be no way to manually control the headlights, but at the same time continue to use the DRLs. On the headlight stalk you have 3 choices to turn on lights:
1) Headlights (and associated lights) on
2) Parking (and associated lights) on
3) Auto headlights

But if you select the last setting, Off DRL, it not only turns off the headlights, it turns the DRLs off too. This apparently overrides the DRL ON setting that I've configured with my profile.

I've never seen this before on other cars! Is there any way to always run with the DRLs on, but NOT have to use the Auto headlights feature??

Thanks.

 

[Matsayz]

I think you’re SOL.

But why not drive with the headlights on? I turn mine on everytime I’m in the vehicle for safety by being seen.

I had a 2013 VW Golf R that I was able to mess with the programming (VAGcom) in order to leave the lights in the ON position even when the vehicle is off (without draining the battery, it would just shut them down. I’d love that to be an option on the LC.

I have the Carista OBD2 reader/adapter, didn’t see any options for what you’re lookin for, sorry

 

[Mikie]

Yea I think I am SOL, but it seems like such a bad design decision on Toyota's part. They already give you the option to configure DRLs on or off for your profile, and I think that's more than adequate -- DRLs are not the kind of thing you regularly turn on and off. I can't conceive of any logical reason that they would have made it so that turning off the headlights also turns off the DRLs.

But then, I have quite a few concerns about small design issues on this car... e.g. things like:

• The liftgate lights always turn on when the liftgate is opened, and they do not automatically turn off after a set timer (like the cargo and other lights do) -- this is a pretty big issue in a car with a small 12V battery
• The ridiculous placement of the on/off/volume button for the stereo -- it's in a difficult location for both the driver and the front passenger (I think they should have put a big on/off/vol button where the emergency flashers button is, and moved the emergency flashers button down below)
• The long line of relatively indistinguishable buttons for the HVAC (I definitely prefer buttons over screen taps, and I think they look great in the LC, but in practice, the long line of buttons makes it more difficult for you to find the particular one you want (vs. in my Cherokee, Jeep grouped the buttons in various ways to make it much easier/quicker for you to find the one you want)

I could go on, but I won't -- as in spite of my list of complaints, overall, I absolutely love the car!

 

[PDPete]

DRLs are not the kind of thing you regularly turn on and off

I mostly agree, but I can see scenarios where you may be camping and such where you may want to have the engine running w/out any headlights or DRLs...

My personal take is that just setting it to "auto" and allowing the vehicle to switch from DRLs to full headlights is the best option and reduces the chances of the driver forgetting to switch from DRL to full bright headlights at dusk