Parking lights staying on

[ritchaso]

I had a dead battery this morning. My neighbor said my lights were on when he came in last night, but figured I had just gotten home and they would automatically go out.

Anyhow, after charging the battery, I found that with the headlight switch set to auto (and a little dark outside) that the parking lights would not cycle off even after several minutes. My fix is to turn the auto headlight switch to off and the parking lights go out. I have 5700 miles on my smart and have never noticed this problem before.

I'll call my dealer, but wondered if anyone else has had this happen.

[Trena]

Does that on mine, too. I thought auto headlights meant 'auto off', but it apparently just means they come on/off per the sensor. But it makes no sense to me that they wouldn't also make them auto off... oh well. I just turn mine on and off the old fashioned way.

[jwight]

Pg 102 in the Operators Manual:

Automatic headlamp mode1
The following lamps come on and go out auto-
matically depending on the brightness of the
ambient light:
• Low beam headlamps
• Tail and parking lamps
• License plate lamps
• Side marker lamps

I think you are correct; in Auto the sensor turns them on and off. Dark should have them all on; not sure how the headlights would go off unless they are cut off with the key in the 0 position but the parking lamps aren't. Just as happy we don't have the auto lights and wipers.

[Smart09]

i keep my lights on auto 24-7 and i have never had a problem with them not turning off.. that is what they are meant to do. automatically.. if it doesnt work, take it back to the dealer


i wisht the auto feature would work more like lexus. i hate going into a lite shadow in the middle of the day and the lights turn on. i mean i think they are too sensitive

[jrjones9]

I have had my Smart since May, keep the lights in auto. They have never failed to go off at night when the engine is turned off. Sounds like a trip to dealer service is needed.

[SuperGeek]

Agreed... mine have never failed to turn off when I remove the key. Make sure the switch is fully in the Auto position and if it happens again, call the dealer.

[Bum-bling-B]

My dad left the key in the ignition with it turned to the "on" setting. When I hopped in the car to move it I found it that way. Went to start it and the car was deader than dead. Also it had rained that day as well - the wipers went on by themselves too.

Stupid stupid question that the answer is most likely no -but you didn't leave the key in the ignition and the car turned to the "on" position. I had to ask.

Some of us have the luxury of actually still leaving doors unlocked - keys in the ignition. I know the city types can't understand that but that's a discussion best left to the off-topic cafe so we don't hi-jack the thread.

[ritchaso]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

My dad left the key in the ignition with it turned to the "on" setting. When I hopped in the car to move it I found it that way. Went to start it and the car was deader than dead. Also it had rained that day as well - the wipers went on by themselves too.

Stupid stupid question that the answer is most likely no -but you didn't leave the key in the ignition and the car turned to the "on" position. I had to ask.

Some of us have the luxury of actually still leaving doors unlocked - keys in the ignition. I know the city types can't understand that but that's a discussion best left to the off-topic cafe so we don't hi-jack the thread.

No, I did not leave the key in the ignition. This is this first time this has happened. I have always left the light switch in auto. I must have a problem. I'll have the dealer check it out. Trouble is, I'm an hour and 40 minutes away from the dealer, so I may wait until the 10,000 mile maintenance and get it fixed then. In the meantime, I'll switch on and off manually. I still love my smart!

[smart fortimo]

My experience has been, that if I have the headlights ON and then turn key OFF, the parkees still stay on.

[mdfortwoguy]

That's not how they are designed.

If it is dark enough out and the switch is in auto, when you lock the doors or unlock them, the exterior lights will all come on for 12 seconds. If anything else is staying on, it is not right and needs to go back to the dealer.