DRL activation

[NLC-KC]

Originally Posted by iamz

Don't the LEDs come on with just your parking lights on?

Yes, they do. However, DRLs should come on automatically when the engine is started without have to turn on the other parking lights, too.

[GapBoyPCS]

Originally Posted by NLC-KC

If you ever find out a way to turn on the DRLs please let me know. Personally, I think the LEDs in the chrome bezzels would look great as DRLs.

I find it difficult that Ford would actually use a different wiring harness for Canadian and US cars & Canada requires DRL. Also, they sell vehicles back and forth across the border according to customer need.

Canadian and US cars do NOT easily go back and forth that easily across the border. There are safety and trade regulations, as well as package options/market configurations that differ between the two countries. Plus, Ford of Canada and Ford USA have strict rules as to the marketing of vehicles offered in their home country.

I think you're thinking that there's a SIGNIFICANT drastic change to the wiring harness. In many cases, the differences are very minor so there's no significant cost issue. Any cost issues would be reflected in the price.

Dealers can post what they want. But it really depends on the accuracy of the information source they go from. Right now I can't find anything on Ford's actual website about DRLs, including their media site. Some sites are too quick to post whatever they find, and then slow to retract/remove the inaccurate info they have.

[G2244]

Okay after having my Fiesta now and seeing the LED lights, I really want to figure out a way to make them into Daytime Running Lamps. That would not only be a good safety feature, it would look pretty cool to. Hopefully someone here will figure this out.

[NLC-KC]

Originally Posted by G2244

Okay after having my Fiesta now and seeing the LED lights, I really want to figure out a way to make them into Daytime Running Lamps. That would not only be a good safety feature, it would look pretty cool to. Hopefully someone here will figure this out.

I certainly hope someone does figure out how to do it and lets us know!

[iamz]

Originally Posted by G2244

Okay after having my Fiesta now and seeing the LED lights, I really want to figure out a way to make them into Daytime Running Lamps. That would not only be a good safety feature, it would look pretty cool to. Hopefully someone here will figure this out.

They come on with the parking lights. Turn the parking lights on.

[mrbirdman330]

DRL's are nothing in the terms of safety.

[NLC-KC]

I realize the activation of DRLs is a personal choice but would ask that we each respect the others choice of wanting them activated or not.

[G2244]

Originally Posted by GapBoyPCS

In Canada, all new cars need DRLs. So even the base S model needs to have DRLs i.e. it needs DRLs without the LED parking lights. Plus, DRLs have to be of a specific colour and/or intensity per Transport Canada rules. Ford has to have wired/installed DRLs for all model configurations, including those without the LEDs. I'm not entirely sure they'd use the LEDs for some models, and then the headlights for others. It'd have to be across-the-board and standardized if it were to be cost-effective.

Indeed, it appears that LEDs are not standard in Canadian Fiestas. I just built one on the website; www.ford.ca. So I would assume that the DRLs are going to always include a main light from the headlight assembly and the LEDs (when the vehicle is equipped with them). Unfortunately that means even if I was to be able to figure out how to activate the DRLs on my US Fiesta, it would include main lights (in addition to my LEDs) which is not what I want to do.

What I am looking for is a way to make *only* the LEDs be on whenever the ignition/car is on.

[Harry Ford]

Originally Posted by NLC-KC

Back from the dealership and the mechanic couldn't figure out how to activate the DRLs.

Had to make another appointment for Friday morning and, hopefully by that time he will have figured it out.

Does anyone on this forum know how it's done?

This is news to me, I didn't even know that activation was necessary. What in the wide world of sports was Ford thinking when they designed the Fiesta? Better that we should have been given fog lamps on the Fiesta in the first place, and been done with it!

On every car/truck/suv I've seen with DRLs they illuminate automatically while the vehicle is running, and none of my friends ever mentioned having to go thru an activation process to get the feature to work. In any event, this better be a freebie activation at the dealership next week because I sure ain't paying to have it done!

Harry

[NLC-KC]

Originally Posted by Harry Ford

This is news to me, I didn't even know that activation was necessary. What in the wide world of sports was Ford thinking when they designed the Fiesta? Better that we should have been given fog lamps on the Fiesta in the first place, and been done with it!

On every car/truck/suv I've seen with DRLs they illuminate automatically while the vehicle is running, and none of my friends ever mentioned having to go thru an activation process to get the feature to work. In any event, this better be a freebie activation at the dealership next week because I sure ain't paying to have it done!

Harry

I was unsuccessful in getting the LEDs activiated as DRLs. If I want the LEDs to light up then I need to turn my lights to Park or on full. No DRLs on the Fiesta.