Auto lights feature and DRL

[jwight]

Apparently these cars have a setting that automatically turns on the lights in low light conditions. Which explains why Smartster recommended putting a piece of tape over the light sensor to make a cheap DRL mod. Can anybody try this and let us know what happens? Thanks!

[spyderman33]

Where is the light sensor?

[SmartAzz]

Originally Posted by jwight

Apparently these cars have a setting that automatically turns on the lights in low light conditions. Which explains why Smartster recommended putting a piece of tape over the light sensor to make a cheap DRL mod. Can anybody try this and let us know what happens? Thanks!

In that event why not just turn the headlights on, it would be the same thing as opposed to DRLs which are different (the high beams on a reduced setting often without other lights on)

[jwight]

Originally Posted by SmartAzz

In that event why not just turn the headlights on, it would be the same thing as opposed to DRLs which are different (the high beams on a reduced setting often without other lights on)

Well that's certainly the other option; the piece of tape just saves that step. And I have no idea where the sensor is - on the dash somewhere I'd think.

[Karl Roth]

The light rain sensor is on the windshield left of the inside mirror haven't (or really looked) figured out how the rain bit works will look in the morning
karl

[smart1]

There was a thread on this subject back in September. A posting by esmart gave the following link on how to turn on DRL on the new Smarts (I guess in Canada back then). I'd be curious if this works on the US smarts that people are receiving now.
link to how to turn on DRL feature
The basic instructions for turning on DRLs were:
1. Have the car turned off and the key in hand.
2. Pull the left hand (light) stalk towards you and hold it there.
3. Push the LOCK button on the key remote.
4. The car will beep and the DRLs should be activated.

To turn off the feature:
1. Have the car turned off and the key in hand.
2. Pull the left hand (light) stalk towards you and hold it there.
3. Push the UNLOCK button on the key remote.
4. The car will beep and the DRLs should be deactivated.

[smart1]

Link above also says you might have to have the door open when doing this procedure for the DRLs to turn on or off.

[jwight]

If so, does it work? Thanks.

[spyderman33]

Originally Posted by smart1

There was a thread on this subject back in September. A posting by esmart gave the following link on how to turn on DRL on the new Smarts (I guess in Canada back then). I'd be curious if this works on the US smarts that people are receiving now.
link to how to turn on DRL feature
The basic instructions for turning on DRLs were:
1. Have the car turned off and the key in hand.
2. Pull the left hand (light) stalk towards you and hold it there.
3. Push the LOCK button on the key remote.
4. The car will beep and the DRLs should be activated.

To turn off the feature:
1. Have the car turned off and the key in hand.
2. Pull the left hand (light) stalk towards you and hold it there.
3. Push the UNLOCK button on the key remote.
4. The car will beep and the DRLs should be deactivated.

Tried it and it didn't work.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by spyderman33

Tried it and it didn't work.

My car's DRLs don't come on until the engine is running and it is put into a forward gear (dunno if that is Subaru's idea or DoT/NHTSA's). The smart's logic may work the same.