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LED DRLs - can we stop the "winking"

14K views 45 replies 23 participants last post by  jacko15 
#1 ·
Is there any kind of hack to keep the LED daytime running lights illuminated with the turn signal on? On the Audi forums, we call it "winking" and it's an easy fix to keep the LEDs on with the turn signals. Has anyone done it on the 2014/2015 Grand Cherokees yet?

BTW, I've been driving my Audi with the winking off for more than three years and nobody seems to have a problem seeing my turn signal flashing with the LED on. And in Europe, the whole thing isn't even an issue because they allow the LED DRLs to remain on with the turn signal.
 
#3 ·
Glad you asked the question - I didn't know the Jeeps do this. First time I saw an Audi do it I thought it was broken. Sure looks weird.

Same here. First time I saw it on an Audi I also thought it was broken. But if you look around, almost all cars with LED DRLs turn them off on the side with the directional signal flashing. So it's getting more and more common, but I still don't like it.

If the feature can be easily defeated similar to my Audi, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
 
#5 · (Edited)
It is a safety feature on why all vehicles shut them off. Now does it make sense that at night everything stays on and the blinker is on, not really.

^^^ I agree with Istowell on the blinking daytime running light blinking as well.
 
#11 · (Edited)
It is a safety feature on why all vehicles shut them off. Now does it make sense that at night everything stays on and the blinker is on, not really.

^^^ I agree with Istowell on the blinking daytime running light blinking as well.
I believe the reason is because at night, with the headlights on, the LEDs are at a reduced brightness, making the turn signal more visible.

Still though, the LED DRLs on my Audi are FAR brighter than the ones on the Grand Cherokee, yet the turn signal on my Audi are not as bright as the Grand Cherokee. And nobody has a problem seeing my Audi's turn signals with the LEDs at full brightness (with the winking turned off.)
 
#6 ·
I remember someone posting this was a standard safety feature they had to have in place. I think you can put the lights in park mode and the LED will stay on with the signal on.
 
#7 ·
Somebody posted the regulation a while back. If the DRL is within a certain distance of the directional the DRL has to shut off or dim. I think the spec indicated the required difference in brightness.

I guess at night anything flashing is more visible.

It makes no difference to me. I can't see it when I'm driving, and don't gara what anyone else thinks about my Jeep.


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#9 ·
Somebody posted the regulation a while back. If the DRL is within a certain distance of the directional the DRL has to shut off or dim. I think the spec indicated the required difference in brightness.

I guess at night anything flashing is more visible.

It makes no difference to me. I can't see it when I'm driving, and don't gara what anyone else thinks about my Jeep.


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Someone said they go off if closer than 4 inches to directional signal.
 
#12 ·
The first time I saw this on someone else's 2014 Jeep driving around I thought: What a bummer for that guy, he has a brand new vehicle and his headlight is broken already.

They don't even need to stay on at full brightness. It would be nice if they just dimmed when the blinker is engaged like it does when you put it in Park mode, instead of turning all the way off.

I would even like it better to have both DRL's turn off when the blinker is engaged instead of just one. Turning just one DRL off completely makes it look like you got a headlight out. I know now that this is common for new vehicles but the average person does not.

I would love to find a fix to this as well.
 
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#14 ·
The first time I saw this on someone else's 2014 Jeep driving around I thought: What a bummer for that guy, he has a brand new vehicle and his headlight is broken already.
And now you've learned that's not the case. Other people have the ability to learn too, I've "taught" a few who thought my headlight was out. What's the big deal? I'm with bill_de on this one (yes, that was hard for me to admit!) - who cares if someone thinks it's broken? It isn't.

But then if someone found a way to make it blink with the turn signal or leave it on altogether I wouldn't care either. It's a silly law, IMHO, and if you want to do that, go right ahead. Then I'll think YOUR light is broken because it doesn't turn off when it's supposed to!!! :lol:
 
#15 ·
This is not new to the MY14 JGCs...it's been that way in previous years, too, because of regulations. The turn signals and DRLs are right next to each other, so the DRL on the side of the signal is extinguished while the signal is flashing amber to insure there is no confusion for oncoming traffic.
 
#17 ·
The Kit i'm offering here keeps the DRL powered at all times until the headlights are turned on. This was created for the SRT models since the headlight ribbons do not turn on during the day like the overland and summit models. ( we only have the bumper strips activated)

PRetty much you will need to power the headlight Ribbon DRL wire.

http://www.jeepgarage.org/f97/headlight-ribbon-drl-activation-kit-74528.html
 
#18 · (Edited)
I do not understand why they wink. IT DOES LOOK broken to others approaching. I hope you find a fix even though my '13 does not have LED DRL's (wish it did!). I just checked and my new '14 Honda Accord DRL's are right next to the turn lamps and the DRL's stay on all the time....no winking. I guess there must not be a regulation.
 
#19 ·
Most of the audi lighting can be changed via programming. I'm not sure if this issues can be fixed via programming but it would be nice.
 
#20 ·
My understanding is that, due to regs in some states, the DRL's go off when using the directional signals if they are located within 4 inches of each other. If that is indeed fact, then it would most likely be the default so no changes need to be made state by state.
 
#24 ·
See FMVSS No. 108 regarding the brightness ratio, etc. required when there is another illumination source near a turn signal. Try not to fall asleep. If the DRL is not implemented via the turn signals, the DRL must be an obscurely specified distance and brightness ratio from the turn signal IF the DRL is left illuminated.

Where, since the DRL can be implemented with the turn signals, surprised no one uses them as part of the signal.

Note: I fell asleep typing this...
 
#21 ·
Personally, as someone who has a pet peeve of people not using turn signals, I like the feature. The DRLs are there to make you more visible/noticeable during the day as not just a styling feature, but also for safety. Having them turn off where they could interfere with the visibility of the turn signals makes sense.

I have a philosophical question. Why do people care what lights that you cannot see while driving do if it is as designed? Years ago when rear fog lights were first put in US Audis (they were always mandated in other parts of the world) they were only put in on the driver side, as was mandated in Europe, but many people went to the trouble of adding them to the passenger side as well for some reason. I often see people driving around with them on in beautiful weather, looking like they have brake lights on. Dumb. In Germany, you get a ticket for using (or not using) the rear fog light in the proper conditions.

So, call me crazy, but I don't get it. FWIW, I am also an "Audi guy" as well. I currently have an '82 quattro 20Vt, a '00 A6 2.7T 6 speed sport and have had lots of others. My summer daily driver is a Boxster S. I have used the rear fog lights maybe five times, and like the way the DRLs wink on my GC. YMMV.
 
#26 ·
Personally, as someone who has a pet peeve of people not using turn signals, I like the feature. The DRLs are there to make you more visible/noticeable during the day as not just a styling feature, but also for safety. Having them turn off where they could interfere with the visibility of the turn signals makes sense.
I agree with your point about visibility, but also like symmetry on my car. I don't need the DRL's to stay on at full intensity at all times. I would prefer both DRL's turn off when the blinker is on, that way you can see the blinker and the car looks symmetrical. Or even better, have the one headlight with the blinker going dim instead of turning all the way off, that way DRL's stay on for visibility and the blinker will be seen more prominently. I know this can be achieved right now by switching the lights to Park mode when driving in the day but it is a pain to switch it back and forth all the time, and it would be nice to program the automatic setting to function in the same way as Park mode during the daytime.


I have a philosophical question. Why do people care what lights that you cannot see while driving do if it is as designed?
Why make any exterior modifications to your car at all, and not just leave it as it was originally designed? You can't see most mods while you're driving.

Maybe some of us like to make changes to the car that we think will make it look more appealing to us and others that see the car while we drive it!
 
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#27 ·
This is sort of like the Glossy Wood on Steering Wheel (for vehicles with open pore wood trim) thread. Should we start an OCD thread? :D ;) :D
 
#38 · (Edited)
You can MOSTLY stop the winking.

I always have the lighting knob turned one click to the right. If you have it set in the "off" position, you get winking. If you have it set to "auto" you get winking. but if you have it set on that first click to the right, your DRLs will stay on, just dimmed a little, while your turn signal is on. see attached picture.



The winking drove me insane too. Especially when stopped behind a shiny car that i can see my reflection in....

Hope this helped!
 

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#46 ·
There's no cure for stupid. We can only be vigilantly defensive on the road. :(
 
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