Auto Lights Upgrade - 99p Start!

[Toms306]

So I've had this nearly a year now, not sure why no-one seems to want it!

99p start -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261737456839?s...1555.l2649

[HDIkyle]

Maybe as noone on here is lazy enough to not turn the switch on the stalk :p

[Toms306]

Someone on the whole of ebay must be though....

Auto lights are awesome tbh, wouldn't buy another daily without them!

[1616six]

Why not?

My Astra J had them & they were bloody annoying, if you get a time of the day where it's just starting to get a bit dusky the lights come on if you go through a dull patch then go off if it gets brighter etc. Pain in the arse!

[Toms306]

So it gets dull and the lights turn on making you more visible...how is that annoying?

And they come on under a bridge...where its dark...

I fail to see whats annoying about them, I don't even notice them tbh, just leave them to it and haven't had any problems, was the same with the Vec. Auto wipers can get annoying if they're not set properly, but I just don't see whats annoying about the lights lol.

[nominous]

Am in the dont get it crowd too.
The bridge thing, it's a little pointless as they don't react for a couple of secs then the car is out the bridge and it's a couple secs later before they go off again.
The timing is a little off.

DRLs that are always on, fair enough. Not the new style, but old volvo style.
Unfortunately the new style DRL's means that numpties in low light don't bother with turning the side lights on as they can see from the front...

[cully]

just a wank gimmick sorry
if your worried about not being seen drive with the lights on all the time

[Piggy]

I HATE this sort of gadget with a passion.

It is producing the new generation of rubbish driver.

Auto wipers, auto lights, auto braking, auto parking.

Its just creating bad drivers who think its ok to eat or be on the phone etc while driving coz their car will save them/drive itself

#miserableoldgitrant

[Toms306]

I would hope the sort of car with auto lights also comes with handsfree phone stuff these days lol. So theres not really an excuse to be on the phone. IMO eating should be illegal in cars, as should smoking or fiddling with the stereo...

Tbf, I'm all for this sort of thing though, even things as minor as steering wheel stereo controls or one touch windows make a huge difference to the concentration and control you have when operating them. Auto wipers are awesome, with non auto when a lorry passes and sends a tidal wave across the screen it takes several seconds for you to find the stalk and wipe it, the auto clears it immediately. Auto lights mean you never forget to put them on, if you suddenly hit a patch of dull torrential rain at 70 the lights come on for your and others safety.

Oh and emergeny brake assist is good for emergencies as well, I don't know how it adds so much force but a deer jumped out at me at 60 a couple of weeks back, hit the brakes and I've never felt such brakeforce, despite the small brakes!

[swampy]

My old Mondeo had auto light and wipe but not Bluetooth.

As for it taking you a few seconds to find the wiper switch if your hands are in the correct place on the steering wheel then it's a simple flick of the finger to activate she wipers

[RetroPug]

just a wank gimmick sorry
if your worried about not being seen drive with the lights on all the time

That's what I do.

[Ruan]

Errr... Why aren't your lights just on?

Get in the car, turn on your lights. There is NO point in being less visible - I've had my bacon saved more than once by someone having their lights on even in the bright sunlight on a motorway - sun shining reflecting off slightly damp road, someones lights cutting through that.

It's the law in MOST EU countries, not this f*cking BULLSHIT DRL stuff - just turn on your f*cking lights.

[1616six]

Errr... Why aren't your lights just on?

Get in the car, turn on your lights. There is NO point in being less visible - I've had my bacon saved more than once by someone having their lights on even in the bright sunlight on a motorway - sun shining reflecting off slightly damp road, someones lights cutting through that.

It's the law in MOST EU countries, not this f*cking BULLSHIT DRL stuff - just turn on your f*cking lights.

This TBH

I just leave my light switch in the ON position, then the lights go off with the keys and come on when I start the engine.

Perfick.

[Toms306]

Think of the mpg you're wasting running lights all the time! . Reducing bulb life too tbh.

I suppose you could use sidelights all the time...they have literally no purpose imo! If you need lights on, put lights on, not some half arsed tiny bulb lol.

[Seb_Ryan]

I leave the ones on in my alfa all the time.. As soon as ignition is turned off even sidelights go out so i never need to turn them on/off lol

[swampy]

Why does having your lights on effect your mpg?

The altetnator runs the electrics after the initial start

Even running modern ac doesn't overly effect the mpg

My alfa averaged 60mpg on the run to Italy last year, that was with lights and ac on all the way

[1616six]

I leave the ones on in my alfa all the time.. As soon as ignition is turned off even sidelights go out so i never need to turn them on/off lol

This is the same setup as mine


Tom if you're more worried about bulb life over safety you need to get your priorities right!

[Toms306]

Alternator runs electrics...engine runs alternator... Uses more fuel for more load, the electric aux heater in the Foc really eats full on a cold start!

The lights won't use enough to worry about, even less with HIDs tbf, it will reduce bulb life though.

I don't see a need for them all day Jordan, its only my opinion though, you can do what you like.

[swampy]

The load on the alternator doesn't vary, it constantly spins in line with vehicle rom

Tom your ocd is getting a bit bad seriously if this is the sort of thing you spend time thinking about you need alot if help and not from people sat on computers

[procta]

tom why don't you just fit them to one of your motors?

[Toms306]

Lol swampy, I've been sat on the loo 35 minutes now trying to get ready to go out, need something to take my mind off it!

I don't see how alternator load doesn't change? Yes it pumps out 14v all the time, but put the lights on and the engine note drops, so the alternator must be taking a bit more power?


Procta the focus already has auto lights. And there's no way id attempt wiring this kit in muself anyway lol.. thought it was pkug and play before I opened it.

[cully]

bulbs get planted in the garden and they last a long time flowering each year!

lamps are consumable items like brakes , clutch's and fuel

[nominous]

I would hope the sort of car with auto lights also comes with handsfree phone stuff these days lol.

If the likes of MB, Audi and BMW can build cars with cameras to monitor the driver's attention and alter them to sleeping, them can monitor behaviour such as using a phone and stop teh car moving.
It should be a requirement for teh EU for new cars to come with handsfree kits and a device to actively stop people from using a ahnd held phone.

[Toms306]

bulbs get planted in the garden and they last a long time flowering each year!

lamps are consumable items like brakes , clutch's and fuel

A lamp goes on a table for reading...  Why do electrical people call bulbs lamps?  Always annoyed me at college!

But still, a clutch isn't a consumable, should last the life of a vehicle!  Besides you don't spin up the wheels everyday and say 'doesn't matter, tyres are consumable'.

---

I would hope the sort of car with auto lights also comes with handsfree phone stuff these days lol.  

If the likes of MB, Audi and BMW can build cars with cameras to monitor the driver's attention and alter them to sleeping, them can monitor behaviour such as using a phone and stop teh car moving.
It should be a requirement for teh EU for new cars to come with handsfree kits and a device to actively stop people from using a ahnd held phone.

I think all new cars do come with handsfree don't they?  I know even the cheap little 107s do! 

Stopping the car may not be practical if they decide to make a call at 70, but I'm sure the idea can be tweaked lol.

[Piggy]

Sorry, spend ages finding the wiper stalk when a lorry passes?!
Clearly two main issues:
1) why the hell do you not know where the wiper stalk is already?! Its a flick of thr finger away
2) why are you not observing the road and anticipating that HUGE lorry to spray your car with water?!

Perhaps both of those issues are quite common due to everyone trusting in auto this and that.


And technically, eating and smoking in the car whilst driving is illegal. Down to discresion of the officer.

[Toms306]

How is smoking already illegal? They encourage it with a built in ashtray and lighter!

I may have exaggerated the time scale, but even a second with no visibility at 60/70 is enough to cause an incident. Plus I find the stalk is never where I left it. Keep hitting the audio stalk instead lol.

You cant always anticipate it, particularly on the dual carriageway when the puddles and lorry are on the other side, I've been caught out like that a couple of times on the A14, first time it was on a slight bend, and as soon as it wiped I hit standing water that I hadn't previously seen.


Sure 9 times out of 10 you could anticipate it and prepare, but the auto function covers the one you miss.... It also gives a more relaxing drive if you're not hanging off the wiper stalk with every lorry you pass, allows more concentration to be given to the road ahead imo.

[procta]

Lol swampy, I've been sat on the loo 35 minutes now trying to get ready to go out, need something to take my mind off it!

I don't see how alternator load doesn't change?  Yes it pumps out 14v all the time, but put the lights on and the engine note drops, so the alternator must be taking a bit more power?


Procta the focus already has auto lights.  And there's no way id attempt wiring this kit in muself anyway lol.. thought it was pkug and play before I opened it.

just have a look at the kit and have a go, make an adapter piece for it, not hard to do, rob the ends from a scrappy and ebay.

[Toms306]

The focus already has auto lights lol... And I wont be changing that for a while...when I do it'll be for something else with auto everything.

[swampy]

Smoking and eating are illegal Tom,
Goes under something like not in full control of the vehicle but of course that is all down to dvd plod

As for most cars having an ash tray and lighter that's wrong, these days a smoker kit is an option, BUTVDUE to the number of electrical devices we now use in a car the lighter socket us now a 12v outlet

My Saab has two one in the center console and one under the arm rest,,Alit if cars also have them in the boot

[Toms306]

Fair enough then, maybe they should make it a bit better known... The amount of people I pass on the road doing something other than driving is ridiculous lol. I worry about my own concentration but at least I'm looking in the right direction.

Yeah that's true for newer cars, but the majority of older ones had a lighter and ashtray. The Focus has 2 as well...with a fake lighter blank thing now I think about it. Personally I'd like one in the top corner of the dash, with a flush cover when not in use but so theres no dangling leads when the sat nav is out, not seen one there yet though, although I suppose a lot of newer cars come with an optional sat nav anyway tbf..