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My User manual says do NOT drive with side/parking lights on... But I dont like daytime driving with full dipped headlights. Can anyone give me a good reason for not using side lights (Vovlo agent was unable to help!)
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I agree with you about not liking to use headlights as DRLs. They're too bright, and I don't want to "use up" the filament for this purpose.
Here's what I've done over the years:
1) originally, I converted my parking lights on all of my older (-'84)Volvo 240s to use a brighter filament (the 25W unused filament of the 1157 bulb in the 240's parking lights) as my DRLs -- my project was written as an article in Rolling.
2) in two Mercedes I used to have (a 190E2.3 and a 300E), I rewired the integrated (with the headlights) fog lights to serve as DRLs. I feel that the fog lights are a better use for DRLs -- as fog lights I don't have a need (because I converted the headlights to Euroheadlights and their beams make foglights obsolete), and their wide (dispersed) and low beams catch attention (the purpose of DRLs) from a wide area in front of the car without being bright enough to annoy anyone.
3) in my newer ('93) 240s, I have fitted LED (for minimal current consumption)truck turn signals into the front grille to serve as DRLs.
But note that in all my DRL installation, they only involve lights in the front -- I don't involve rear lights in this mechanism, as this is not the design theory of the DRLs (to alert drivers, pedestrians, etc., up ahead) but are incorporated by manufacturers in parking lights only because of convenience!
Regards,
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Hi, thanks for your usefull comments... do you mean 21W bulds (you suggest 25W)... just below the light switch is a tiny setting knob which has to bew turned by a 3mm flat screwdriver, to alter the driver light setting. Are US vehicles fiited with this also?
On my 240, I turn on the parking lights to override the bright(wasteful) drivelights and have fitted a relay with buzzzer to warn me if I turn off engine and leave lights on...
Cheers
Andy
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Hi, again.
Yes, that was a "brain freeze" or "senior moment" (not sure which :-) of mine, and I did mean 21 Watt (I think that's considered 32 candlepower also, just to clarify).
Over some years, I think in the late 1980's, the 240s (and maybe some other models, too) had that "flat screw" 'secret' switch. I don't know for sure, as I owned an '84 and then jumped to '93 models, so my personal experience skips many years, but I recall hearing about such a feature in a Rolling (VCOA magazine) article.
re: "... have fitted a relay with buzzzer to warn me if I turn off engine and leave lights on...."
Over here, the cars all have a chime warning if you leave the lights on and the engine is off that goes off when you open the door (i.e., you can sit in the car with the lights on without annoyance, but you're reminded as you're stepping out of the car).
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What a bunch of regulatory bunk! You may indeed drive with the parking lights on during daylight hours. I turned my DRLs off because I also dislike driving with dipped beams and tail lights on during daylight hours. I also seldom drive on 2 lane roads in the country where DRLs are most usefull.
I have often wondered why the fog lamps couldn't be used for DRLs, they certainly are usless for Fog. Our USA regs for DRLs require the lamps to be visible for 500ft, and some states, like Pennsylvania, require headlights in construction areas (which is half of the state).
Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)
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I did this little mod a long time ago. Figured you knew. All you have to do is take out your fog light relay and turn the metal piece in it. Here's a link to the how-to with discussion.
For your 850: http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.php?showtopic=30120
For your V70: http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.php?showtopic=34344
Regards,
MIJ
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.
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I saw that post a long time ago, but I assumed that it just allows me to turn on the fog lamps whenever I chose. Is this still connected to the ignition, so that when I turn the car off, the lights go off? Of course the fog light switch must be on, and I never use the parking lights anyway. My DRLs are currently disabled via little screw in light switch.
I have a little time this afternoon and will try it. Thanks.
Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)
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Klaus,
Only bad thing about this is that they will stay on even if ignition is off unless the foglight button is not depressed. Takes a bit getting used to. After about the 2nd or 3rd time I drove with just the fogs, I forgot to turn them off and ran down my battery. So, take it or leave it as you see fit. I personally like the fogs only with running lights as my DTRL's, but have to remember to turn them off when I turn my ignition off. Some type of alarm would be really nice!
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.
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MIJ, I tried it and am now back to stock. When the fogs did not turn off/on with the key, they did not meet my criteria of automatic DRLs. In other words, I will forget they are on and do not wish to run my battery down on sunny days. Besides, the "fog" lamps are hardly visible even at night!
Don't get me wrong, I do like DRLs, but I don't want to burn out the headlights and taillights when most of my driving is in crowded suburbia and interstates. I could find the parts in a parts store to mount extra lights and hook it to an existing switched fuse, but I am lazy and don't want the extra lights to be visible when parked. And the parking lights just aren't bright enough for my taste.
Next car :)
Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)
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Hi Klaus... as I said on another thread, to prevent me from forgetting to switch off lights, I wired up a simple relay to sound a loud buzzer when Engine OFF Lights ON occurs... cost £0.99 + £1.49 + 1 hour thinking time + 20 mintues installation... then a COOOOOL beer.
Cheers
Andy from London
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Great idea! Do you have a write-up?
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Boston Tom
on
Mon Jun 12 04:40 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Don't know about the UK but is the US it is illegal to just have parking lights on for driving. The logic is that other drivers may assume that you are actually parked and position themselves on the road using that assumption.
The result - CRASH!
You could get some fog lights and wire them to be on when the engine is running and go with them or install the DRL from later years...
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