Posted on 12/11/2010 7:04:09 PM PST by Sun
On our brand new 2011 Jetta, we just discovered a flaw,imo, no parking lights, only day-time FRONT lights (no lights rear of car). I was thinking that could be dangerous, because many people count on parking lights in the early dusk, and might think the day-time lights also have lights in the rear.
Some people also count on parking lights (with rear lighting) if they pull over to the side of the road, say with car trouble, and choose parking lights, rather than the hazard lights.
We thoroughly read the part on lights, so it won't be a problem for us, as we will only count on the regular headlights at night, but people who don't get a chance to read the vehicle's manual before they drive it might not know, so it seems to me it could be dangerous.
Otherwise, we really like the car, and it has lots of bang for the buck. We are on a tight budget, so got the least expensive Jetta, so the more expensive ones do have the parking light feature.
“Driving with only parking lights makes as much since as driving on a parkway or parking in a driveway.”
Then they should not have the daytime lights go on automatically when starting the car, because after a hard days’ work, with a lighted parking lot, you might not realize you didn’t put your regular headlights on.
Then you go to the highway, and it could be dangerous.
Once I forgot to put on my headlights after being very tired, and the parking lot was bright. It only happened to me once, but once is all it takes.
My wife's '95 Lexus is like that. I think that is normal. However my Jeep's lights don't go on at all until I turn them on.
Once when my car broke down, a policeman told me to put on my parking lights.
Sounds like there's something wrong with your particular car. If you Google Jetta and parking lights they appear to be equipped with them.
“My wife’s ‘95 Lexus is like that. I think that is normal”
I guess if they didn’t put them on a Lexus, they must not be so necessary, but I wonder why they put them on other cars?
So you are saying that if one is driving in, say early twilight, and headlights are not yet needed, but you want to ensure that the other drivers can easily see your car, that you would never use your parking lights while driving?
“Sounds like there’s something wrong with your particular car. If you Google Jetta and parking lights they appear to be equipped with them.”
What’s “wrong” with our particular car is that it is the cheapest one they make. lol
The owner’s manual also showed a diagram, and our car has no choice for parking lights, because it doesn’t exist on our particular model.
Interesting. It’s not very often when I use my parking lights, but when I need them I need them. I’m an amateur astronomer, and once a month my friends and I head out to the desert or mountains with our scopes. The ability to navigate without messing up everyone’s night vision is very important to us.
I hope this isn’t what the future holds for all cars.
“I hope this isn’t what the future holds for all cars.”
I hope it’s always an option, at least, and I hope drivers will READ their owner’s manual before that first drive, particularly the section on LIGHTS.
If you counted on your daytime lights, thinking they were parking lights, you would not have the rear lights, and somebody could get hurt.
ANYTHING that makes you more visible is a good idea, for safety. Rethink your statement, lest you be considered stupid yourself-!
“Daytime running lights are stupid”
What I find to be STUPID, plus quite ANNOYING is these morons that INSIST on driving around DAY or NIGHT with their fog/driving lights on!
For Pete’s sakes, people!
Unless the weather conditions call for it, turn the flaming things OFF!
These lights came with my truck when I bought it new 2 years ago and still have had no need to turn them on.
I despise mini vans.
I wish the lights would come on automatically when the wipers are in use. Not so much for myself. I’m always amazed at the number of people who drive in the rain without lights on. It makes it kinda hard to see someone in those conditions.
Problem is that no one has fog lights anymore. Fogs are an amber or yellowish color to break through the haze of fog without glaring back at you. Today’s additional lights are actually driving lights, even though they are called fog lights. So, it is actually okay to drive with them. However, real driving lights work in conjunction with your high beams and only your high beams for added lighting on dark roads. As soon as you flip your highs off they turn off, same way fogs work with your lows etc....
I only know this because I’ve installed both types of lights and had to make sure I was road legal so I did lots of research into the subject. But you are right that there are many idiots who drive with them on the sunniest of days.
The turn signal bulbs would light but not flash. Looked all around for the turn signal flasher plugin but it does not exist. Turns out that it is a relay built into an $800 nonrepairable Lighting Control Module box (LCM). Idiots! Do they not think that turn signal flashing contacts wear out!
Thank god for the net. Found instructions on how to cut the white-red and blue wires to the LCM and jumper them with a turn signal flasher plugin. Two hours of head time under the dash and a $7 flasher and things are fine again.
Same here.
Back in the mid 90s, I worked some as a reservations agent for a major car rental company. Every weekend and major holiday, people with accents would call endlessly about wanting to rent a “mini-ban”. They would pay outrageous rental fees just for a day or two.
I’d hate to be in front of you,(in a little car) at the drive-thru window.
“AFAIK, parking lights only are illegal at any time”
I know that is the case in CA, but in all states?
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