DRL also serves as Auto mode. In the day time the inner high beam lamps are turned on at reduced power for daytime running light function. At night, DRL/Auto mode turns the full low beam lights on automatically. The lights DO turn off automatically when you turn off the car after about 20 seconds (not sure how long, but they turn off).

I believe the confusion lies in the fact that the switch serves two purposes in one mode.

 

so i should just leave it on DRL auto all the time and call it a day?

 

It's all personal preference - so it's up to you. Leaving it on DRL/Auto is probably the easiest.

 

A big myth (hasn't been proven or disproven) with having HIDs and starting your car in Auto mode is that it will shorten the life of your bulbs. I have my lights in the off position, start the car, and the switch it to auto at night.

 

DRL = DAYLIGHT Running Lights.

It's meant to be used during the day...not night. I hate idiots who drive with DRL on thinking they are lowbeam headlights. Its just as bad as people driving with no headlights at night or with just parking lights.

Like someone stated above, its personal preference. DRL/Auto is for the lazy people. I leave mine off during the day. When I need my headlights, I'll turn it on. DRLs are fugly also.

 

DRL/Auto is for the lazy people.

that is the intention purpose. For the regular/mindless people. Put in Auto and forget it.

It's better than the idiot turn on high beam.

 

Just another thought. DRL (whether it be from the 'Auto' mode or the 'DRL' mode) only burns the front lights, no tail lights. Any one who uses DRL for low-beams runs without taillights. A better mode to make standard would be to have the headlights (and tails) turn on when you turn on the wipers. More and more states are making it the law to have lights on when you run wipers.

gator1939

 

DRL is for lazy people like me who dont feel like switching on their lights on and off and ive had nothing wrong with my HIDs when i put them in

 

^ agree with gator

Imagine a black car + almost night time + cloudy gloomy rainy + no lights = accident waiting to happen.

 

The lights will shut off about a minute after you shut off the car, or immediately if you hit the lock button twice on your key fob.

 

hey everyone,

I've had Toyotas before with the DRL system. My question to everyone is, what's the point of the DRL system...especially at night. When you leave it on DRL it acts the same way as it does when you turn it on on the way? (correct me if i am wrong).

I do not like how it goes from Off, DRL (on), off, and then on. and if I leave it at DRL, it doesn't turn off when you turn off the car (at least I don't think so). Especially after installing HID, its more apparent on the off, on, off, on.

kinda annoying.

I think you are confusing between modes for the light stalk. Please read your owner manuals. The manuals have your answers.

Off = no lights outside of vehicle.
Auto = The ECU will think for you, Daytime is DRL, nighttime is headlights and tail lights (high or low beams are still a mandated choice by the driver)
Park = is what is implied (to be used only when parked, motor running) Tails and Front lamps "No Headlights".
Head lights = headlights and tail lights (high or low beams are a choice by the driver).

 

thanks

 

so lets see; what type of headlights do you have? ones with separate high/low or the dual filament bulbs for both high/low. if you have the separate high/low then using DRL auto will make the high beams work at a lower power for daytime, and when in darkness it will automatically switch to low beams. if you have this setup and put hids in the highs, you most likely used a relay harness which will make the hids run on full power all the time; and will blind people. IF you have the unified headlight then the DRL will make the bulb run at a low power and turn on full power at night. if you put HIDs in this, you would of also used a relay harness to stop the flickering. so your hids will be running on full power all the time.

 

No previous or current generation Camry's have bi-xenons. So we all have separate high/low beams

 

I'm from Fresh Meadows. I'm always in Queens visiting family, we should all meet up sometime.

 

^ R U all try to get together showing off your DRL lights? LOL

 

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3654810#post3654810
thanks last thread jack lol

 

Uh... you're wrong.

All Off
Auto (DRL only during daytime, and low beams/fogs on at night)
Low beams/fogs on
DRL + Parking lights on
And Highbeam

 

My old '04 has DRL but no auto function. So if in DRL the other lights don't come on at night but it looks like I have lights. Apparently at least on some years there was an option. Personally I don't use them. When the idea came about to drive with your headlights on it was an attention getter which allegedly could be safer for you as people knew you were there. Now it's so common I'm not convinced it's a big safety factor (if it ever was). 3rd brake light is another example except at least if you see the 3rd brake light you know the brakes are on rather than guessing at the relative brightness of the rear lights. I never had difficulty but maybe some people did. Other than that I think the novelty of seeing a middle light has long worn off and wonder if statistics still show an actual decrease in rear end collisions. I'm guessing not.