Question regarding Insight Headlights

[dotnetnoob]

Hi, new 2010 Honda Insight Ex owner here. I just bought my insight this Sat. I didn't notice this when I drive it home but the light next to the blue-tinted headlight is alway turn on even when the headlights is turn off.

Is this normal? What is that lights call and why is it alway on? did i bought a defected car?

Thanks

[JimJohnD]

Those would be the Daytime Running Lights. Page 120 in the Owner's Manual describe their operation. It is nothing to worry about.

[Everplayzinsight]

yep thats normal....daytime driving lights=)

[mank]

All of the Insights I have seen in my area, Pittsburgh PA, do not have daytime running lights.

[noseph]

Daytime Running Lights are standard on all 2nd Generations Insights. Individuals that have upgraded their High Beams to HIDs do not have DRLs. Maybe you have an unusually high concentration of High Beam HID equipped I2 in your area. I personally have never seen one.

[dotnetnoob]

I'm in Houston, TX. Is anyone else from Houston? Is your Daytime running lights is always on?

Is there any way to program it to only turn on when I turn the headlights on or i shouldn't even care about it.

[JimJohnD]

Originally Posted by dotnetnoob

Is your Daytime running lights is always on?

Is there any way to program it to only turn on when I turn the headlights on or i shouldn't even care about it.

The DRL are designed as a safety feature and are on specifically when the headlights are turned off. The only way to 'turn them off' would be to remove it's fuse. This would of course disable them all of the time defeating their safety function. If one were to install HID High-Beams they would need to disable them. The worst effect they might have is shortening the high-beam's bulb life. On the plus side, we will get a DRL error message on the display when a bulb eventually goes out

[mank]

Okay, I know I am not cracking up. I test drove the Insight headlights were not on. I have seen three now on the road and no headlights were on. Is there a switch to turn them off? I hight doubt that all of them had HID lights

[JimJohnD]

After reviewing the service manual, there is no switch. The only way to 'disable' the DRL is to remove fuse # 15 as shown on page 410 of the Owner's Manual.

However, the Service Manual does have the following note(Chapter 22, page 163):

The DRL are disabled when the ignition switch is turned to LOCK(0). To keep the DRL from coming on, apply the parking brake switch while the ignition is in the LOCK(0) position. When you then turn the switch back to ON(II), the DRL will not come on until the parking brake is released. The headlights revert to normal operation when you turn them on with the headlight switch.

The only logic I can find in that is the DRL are designed to make a car in motion more visible. If you are parked with the hand-brake pulled why put the load on the bulbs if you don't need to. I park near a wall and can see mine come on when I start the car in the morning. If it is dark I can use them to guide me into my parking space So I know mine are working correctly.

[mank]

JimJohn,

I understand what you are saying. The Insights I have seen were moving and I saw no lights on. I ordered an Insight and I won't get it until next month some time. This ordering process will take about 3 months. My point is when I see an Insight on the road I make sure I catch up to it, pass it, etc. so that I can see it from every angle. I have not seen the lights on. I don't like the daytime running lights I think it detracts from the looks of the car. If I had noticed them on while looking at Insights I would have thought to myself darn another car with those lights on that I don't like.

I am wondering if the lights are so dim in the day that you can't really see them?