vett93 Posted March 29, 2014 at 02:43 AM Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 at 02:43 AM I went to the Ford dealer where I bought my new '14 FFE from and asked the service dept to turn on the DRLs. The service writer told me that he knew exactly how to turn them on but he cannot do it because it is illegal to modify lighting equipment in California. They spent 1.5 hours to argue with me and insisted that their dealership could be forced to shut down by California government if they were to do that for me. How can this be possible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Fusion Posted March 29, 2014 at 03:32 AM Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 at 03:32 AM Well if they know, have them tell you and do it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russael Posted March 29, 2014 at 12:21 PM Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 at 12:21 PM I did a quick look at how they are activated and it's done through the computer system (nothing simple like installing a needed relay). There's no way to do it yourself without a computer that can modify the one in the car. Some mom and pop garages may have the needed fancy computer though, but they'll probably charge you for it. BUT... since you're in California, the person who started this thread is also in Cali (San Diego) and he got his done at some lincoln dealer. http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/53886-daytime-running-lights-activated/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vett93 Posted March 29, 2014 at 04:17 PM Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 at 04:17 PM How do I validate if their claim is true? Hard to believe that turning on DRLs is illegal.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russael Posted March 29, 2014 at 04:51 PM Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 at 04:51 PM Well, my 15 minutes of Google searching doesn't indicate that activating factory DRLs is illegal. They do have a ton of laws about when to turn your actual headlights on. CA apparently requires a DRL with motorcycles. I can't find a thing about turning on disabled factory DRLs. So long as they're factory, it should be fine. It sounds a bit more like Ford laid down something to the dealerships (I guess it falls in to the modification category now), but I can't confirm that either. You may want to try contacting your local (or state) police department and see if they have an information desk on the laws that they'd be willing to share with you. Either that, or contact a lawyer familiar with automotive/traffic laws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaggy314 Posted March 31, 2014 at 07:26 PM Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 at 07:26 PM Technically what they said and what you are saying are NOT the same thing. They are saying they cannot modify the light system (maybe true), you are saying DRL aren't legal (which is not true) as several of your high end vehicles have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vett93 Posted April 1, 2014 at 01:00 AM Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2014 at 01:00 AM The default for FFE's DRLs is off at the factory. The dealer claimed that turing on these DRLs would be like modifying lighting equipment. I think they are full of BS, if you ask me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tseibel76 Posted April 26, 2014 at 08:05 PM Report Share Posted April 26, 2014 at 08:05 PM Illegal? Is it "illegal" to have your headlights on while you drive? This is ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tseme Posted June 17, 2014 at 05:50 AM Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 at 05:50 AM I had the opposite problem with my 2006 VW Passat. Couldn't turn OFF the DRL automatically. Everytime you started the engine, the DRL turned on. It is perfectly legal in California to have Daytime Running Lights turned on during the daytime. DRL are a standard feature on my 2006 VW Passat and there isn't any way to turn the DRL off automatically which really annoyed us at first. Could be illegal for the dealership to modify standard mfg equipment, because we tried to get the VW dealership to turn off the DRL automatically and we were told they couldn't modify standard mfg equipment. On my old Passat, we had to manually turn the switch everytime we started the car to turn OFF the DRL, so we just got used to driving with them on and people sometimes flashing their lights at us thinking that we shouldn't have the lights turned on during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markn455 Posted June 26, 2014 at 03:54 AM Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 at 03:54 AM I believe the factory disables the DRL intentionally on the Energy and Hybrid to save battery power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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