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Headlights on When Garaging~Cause Trouble?

Wxman

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Wxman Enthusiast

Wxman

Posted
Posted

Maybe silly question here.  I park in a garage at home.  It takes me just long enough to park that the headlights come on in place of the DRLs (garage is dark) before I am stopped and shut the truck off.  With the HID bulbs in my LT is this going to cause a problem with the bulbs or ballasts?  It isn't like I am doing this multiple times per day or something, but it catches my eye that the headlights click on, initially looking very bright against the wall, and then dimming down after a second.  Not familiar with the lifespan or number of cycles these things made to handle.

 

thanks

MHPrior80 Enthusiast

MHPrior80

Posted
Posted

It’s not really good for the ballasts but what you could do is as you are about to pull in just shut the DRLs off till you are parked in the garage. Your headlights won’t kick on then

SirenRed16 Senior Enthusiast

SirenRed16

Posted
Posted
How do you turn off DRL’s?


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Turn the knob that controls headlights to the left until it springs back.

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SirenRed16 Senior Enthusiast

SirenRed16

Posted
Posted
That doesn’t work in Canada


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It's because in Canada you need to have on the DRLs correct. If you have 16+ you can turn on the headlights before you enter your garage.

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Wxman Enthusiast

Wxman

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Posted
4 hours ago, MHPrior80 said:

It’s not really good for the ballasts but what you could do is as you are about to pull in just shut the DRLs off till you are parked in the garage. Your headlights won’t kick on then

I sort of figured as much.  Guess maybe I can try to wear the switch out instead of the ballasts.

 

Thanks

Eddie 70 Senior Enthusiast

Eddie 70

Posted
Posted

if it is daylight out, I reach up and turn the headlight switch to the left and turn the daytime running lights off every time. There is a thread where someone details taking the headlight switch out and removing the spring that makes the headlight switch spring to auto.

Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted
19 hours ago, Wxman said:

Maybe silly question here.  I park in a garage at home.  It takes me just long enough to park that the headlights come on in place of the DRLs (garage is dark) before I am stopped and shut the truck off.  With the HID bulbs in my LT is this going to cause a problem with the bulbs or ballasts?  It isn't like I am doing this multiple times per day or something, but it catches my eye that the headlights click on, initially looking very bright against the wall, and then dimming down after a second.  Not familiar with the lifespan or number of cycles these things made to handle.

 

thanks

I would not worry or alter anything.  I could count on one hand the number of times I've had to touch my headlight switch in the past 10 years.  The electrics are designed to last and I doubt you are anywhere close to meeting or exceeding the design expectations of these components.

oburgtiger Enthusiast

oburgtiger

Posted
Posted

I have the same situation with my '14. I've been running HIDs since late '15 and have only had problems with relays.

Havvkeye Enthusiast

Havvkeye

Posted
Posted
On 2/10/2018 at 12:59 PM, Wxman said:

Maybe silly question here.  I park in a garage at home.  It takes me just long enough to park that the headlights come on in place of the DRLs (garage is dark) before I am stopped and shut the truck off.  With the HID bulbs in my LT is this going to cause a problem with the bulbs or ballasts?  It isn't like I am doing this multiple times per day or something, but it catches my eye that the headlights click on, initially looking very bright against the wall, and then dimming down after a second.  Not familiar with the lifespan or number of cycles these things made to handle.

 

thanks

The HIDs in my 2007 Z4 are still going strong and it acts similarly every time I pull into the garage.  I wouldn't worry myself.

kickass audio Enthusiast

kickass audio

Posted
Posted

For non-canadian trucks you can just turn the headlight knob to the left of where it is on automatic and it will disable DRL. It will read a message on the DIC of automatic headlamps disable or something like that.

 

For Canadian trucks, try to turn the knob to the right just once to turn on the running lights. Your headlights should stay off in this mode (at least they do on mine and I have a 14 silverado with the halogen bulbs, not sure about the newer HID/LED lights) and then when you get out turn the knob back off.

 

I know in my old GMC Envoy there was a way to wire up the DRL to a relay so it would keep the DRL's disabled every time you turned the truck on. This probably won't work since the DRL is controlling the led portion of your headlight and then when it gets dark enough you are turning on the headlamps and parking lights as well.

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