New Polo "Running Lights"

[taylorpjuk]

Picked up a new Polo 1.4 SE on Saturday; headlights are on all the time. Looked in "the book" and it says there are two methods to turn off the "running lights":
1. Take out the fuse(!) turning to the page on fuses there is no information on which fuse does what(!!).
2. Pull headlight flasher and press DOWN (right turn) indicator- turn ignition on "again" for three seconds, well VW; I always push the indicator UP to signal a right turn!

Needless to say the above did not work, nether did any other combination of headlamp flash/indicator/ignition switch. It also defeated the techies at the dealership. They said sometimes it works, sometimes it does not! They are writing to VW to ask what to do. They said that EU law in 2011 will require all new cars to drive around with their lights on; first I've heard of that.

In the meantime, anyone here have any ideas?

Cheers,
Pete.

[Silvergrey]

I don't have a solution, but another question! I've seen some pictures/videos of some cars with their headlights on and others with the fog lights on. In fact the advertising video on the VW website shows both.

Pete, does your SE have fogs? I've ordered a Moda (which has fogs) and I was wondering if it will be the headlights or the fogs that will be the DTRL's. I think I would prefer the fogs on rather than the headlights (as they are a bit more discrete) and just wondered if the fogs were used in preference to the headlights. Can anyone with a Moda confirm which are actually used?

Thanks.
Neil.

[taylorpjuk]

Neil,
The SE does not have fogs. I suspect that you will have the headlights on when your car arrives. I noticed two "10" reg Golfs driving into the dealership this morning- they both had headlights on although the sun was shining. Later today I saw a "10 BMW 5 and a "10" Mondeo- guess what? Headlights on! I think we might have to get used to everyone driving around with their lights on. My Son's '92 Mini has those brilliant Dim-Dip headlights which were outlawed by the EU; this really is a backward step.

Incidentally, there is some gobbledy-gook in the Owners Manual about some turn lights (built into the headlamp unit on certain models) which come on when driving slowly (only) and turning the steering wheel! Whatever next?

Cheers,
Pete.

[vc-10]

You can have 'cornering' lamps on the new Polo (the Golf and Passat also have it) in the fog lights- the left one comes on when driving slowly left or indicating left etc. Works quite well I think.

I don't see what the problem is about DRLs, I have a habit of leaving my lights on anyway if I have to turn them on for whatever reason (there's a tunnel on my way to work)

[andywell]

I believe its going to be an EU requirement on all new cars from 2011. My Golf also has them and I don't think there is any way of turning them off.

[Flash2]

2. Pull headlight flasher and press DOWN (right turn) indicator- turn ignition on "again" for three seconds, well VW; I always push the indicator UP to signal a right turn!

Needless to say the above did not work,

This only works on cars that have an AUTO position on the headlamp switch. I'm sure it says so in the manual. The dealer (or someone with VAGCOM) can switch them off on cars without auto headlamps by recoding the power supply ECU.

Regards - Jim.

[kenney]

the day time running lights can switched off by changing the long coding in the central electronics control unit.

[onibhoy]

Hi Kenney, do you what the new long code should be, or which bit to change.

[vwcabriolet1971]

The MK 6 Golf has the following instruction in the manual if that's any help :-
"Move turn signal and main beam lever both down and to the rear (lefthand turn signal and headlamp flash)and hold it in that position. Turn the ignition on for 3 secs and then switch it off again . The daylight running lights function is now deactivated"
To reactivate the same procedure is carried out with the turn signal lever in the up and to the rear.i.e. right turn and headlamp flash positions.

I would be surprised if the POLO had different coding .

[Crasher]

DRL’s, the curse of the nanny state! Their introduction will cause a massive increase in the number of organs being available for transplant from dead motorcyclists.