Lights on all the time?

[Kedis82ZE8]

Can headlights be set to turn on all the time while in AUTO setting? If not, does anyone know where the light sensor is located at? On my G & Maxima I just used a small amount of black electrical tape to trick it into darkness.

I am a lights on for safety kind of guy.

 

[vroom]

What is the use of being on AUTO if they are going to be ON all the time? Why not just put them on the ON setting?

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

Just a little extra convenience of automatically turning on/off when I start/stop the car. I need to pick up an FSM for this car. I have one for every other car.

 

[CX-SV]

Standard DRL's are pretty well designed for the purpose of daytime safety. Headlights (versus DRL's) have no useful benefit. And having rear taillights on in the daytime might reduce safety due to reduced contrast with brake lights, not a safety disadvantage I would want. The safety experts did the homework and research IMHO on this subject already.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I do find less people pull out in front of me with all my lights on. I guess I am old and stubborn keeping my lights on.

EDIT: This has been my subjective experience... not saying everyone feels the same.

 

[vroom]

I agree with CX-SV, DRLs are designed exactly for the safety reasons you describe. And in any case, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that even on the ON setting the lights go off with the same delay as with the AUTO setting when the car is turned off...

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I need to check if this is an issue on this car but on my Nissan & Infiniti the ballast for the HIDs takes a hit every time you turn lights from OFF to AUTO and then ON if you are in a dark area as the lights are triggered twice. IIRC HIDs don't like to be turned on & off multiple times from a reliability perspective.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I agree with CX-SV, DRLs are designed exactly for the safety reasons you describe. And in any case, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that even on the ON setting the lights go off with the same delay as with the AUTO setting when the car is turned off...

I'll have to test that out tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[speedbegone]

I'll have to test that out tomorrow. Thanks!

I can already attest that it does work, having once turned my lights on manually on a rainy day, and they closed automatically after turning off the car with the same delay as in auto mode.

I realized i had left them in the on position later when it was sunny and my headlight signal was on.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

Not exactly a good idea to leave HID projector headlights on during the daylight. Its been well documented over at hidplanet & retrofitsource that the heating combination of the HID's with direct sunlight in hot climates can lead to projector housing reflector damage.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Just a little extra convenience of automatically turning on/off when I start/stop the car. I need to pick up an FSM for this car. I have one for every other car.

I think that is what's available free thanks to a member on the how to forum.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

Not exactly a good idea to leave HID projector headlights on during the daylight. Its been well documented over at hidplanet & retrofitsource that the heating combination of the HID's with direct sunlight in hot climates can lead to projector housing reflector damage.

Not generally very hot where I live near Seattle except the last two weeks.

Not saying it doesn't happen but my Infiniti has HID projectors and no melting has occurred with 7 years of use on all the time. I've never heard of anyone with OEM ones, in the G forums anyway, having this problem.

Like you said though maybe hotter climates contribute.

I could see with retrofits and maybe some manufacturers designs.

 

[Skorpio]

Here is the light sensor. It's behind the rear view mirror on the left side. I have used plastic iphone scteen protectors painted with a marker to "adjust" the curve of the auto setting

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

Here is the light sensor. It's behind the rear view mirror on the left side. I have used plastic iphone scteen protectors painted with a marker to "adjust" the curve of the auto setting

Thanks! Good tip.

 

[tibimakai]

HID bulbs, run cooler then the regular bulbs.
I don't have the GT, so I don't have the Auto feature, but I turned my lights on after I have purchased the car, set the Lights Off to 30 sec. and I have forgot about the lights, they are always on. I have installed aftermarket HIDs.

 

[vroom]

Great idea on the iPod screen protector! I like to have my lights on in bad weather, but it really needs to be apocalyptic for them to come on when on AUTO.

HID bulbs, run cooler then the regular bulbs.
I don't have the GT, so I don't have the Auto feature, but I turned my lights on after I have purchased the car, set the Lights Off to 30 sec. and I have forgot about the lights, they are always on. I have installed aftermarket HIDs.

I'm getting my aftermarket HIDs today according to tracking. How do you find the beam pattern and projection distance?

 

[Skorpio]

Great idea on the iPod screen protector! I like to have my lights on in bad weather, but it really needs to be apocalyptic for them to come on when on AUTO.

Lol, I liked how you put that(lol2). I also tried lightly misting paint on some protector screen squares(I call them "pills"), but it didn't work as well for me as simply using a marker. I probably tried 2 or 3 different pills before I settled on one that turns on perfectly for me. I used to max out my setting on "light" and AUTO still wouldn't turn on in dark fog, but now it's on "medium" and it works perfectly for me. Can you tell I like to experiment?!

 

[tibimakai]

The HID pattern is really good. I don't see a difference, to tell you the truth. Maybe it's even sharper, since the light output it's higher.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

HID bulbs, run cooler then the regular bulbs.
I don't have the GT, so I don't have the Auto feature, but I turned my lights on after I have purchased the car, set the Lights Off to 30 sec. and I have forgot about the lights, they are always on. I have installed aftermarket HIDs.

Yeah...I tried it this morning and it didn't work for me either with lights set to 0 seconds to turn off. Maybe some international models differ and allow for this functionality?

I really like the HIDs on the CX-5.... IMO they are better than my G's.

 

[vroom]

Just tried it and they turn off after 30 second even on the on setting. So if yours don't it must be a regional thing...