How to turn off headlights

[mig0s]

Sorry for stupid question but is there a way to turn off your headlights while driving? I find it stupid that the headlights stay on during the day lol. Would be nice to be able to have only parking lights on during the day

[Debonair]

US model - Yes, set the headlight to OFF.

Canada or other factory Daytime Running Light model - No. If the car is on, the DRL's will be on.

[mig0s]

US model - Yes, set the headlight to OFF.

Canada or other factory Daytime Running Light model - No. If the car is on, the DRL's will be on.

I'm in Canada and its weird because in my previous car ( Acura TL), I could turn the headlight off manually and the DRL (fog lights, inside housing) would stay on. Before that, I had a Toyota Solara and Lexus ES, the DRL's would stay on but there was a half-globe like plastic piece on my dashboard, which I could disconnect and turn DRL's off.

I see the same half-globle thing on my M37's dash. I'll try to pry it op to see if there's a connector under it and disconnect it to see if it will turn the DRL's off.
thanks

[Ilya]

I'm the complete opposite, I ALWAYS drive my car with the lights on and on my bike as well (bike does it by default though).

[Debonair]

US model - Yes, set the headlight to OFF.

Canada or other factory Daytime Running Light model - No. If the car is on, the DRL's will be on.

I'm in Canada and its weird because in my previous car ( Acura TL), I could turn the headlight off manually and the DRL (fog lights, inside housing) would stay on. Before that, I had a Toyota Solara and Lexus ES, the DRL's would stay on but there was a half-globe like plastic piece on my dashboard, which I could disconnect and turn DRL's off.

I see the same half-globle thing on my M37's dash. I'll try to pry it op to see if there's a connector under it and disconnect it to see if it will turn the DRL's off.
thanks

That sounds like the sunlight sensor which is also used for turning on the head & taillights automatically when it gets dark out.

[mig0s]

I'm the complete opposite, I ALWAYS drive my car with the lights on and on my bike as well (bike does it by default though).

its kinda illogical to drive with headlights on n a sunny day at 1pm lol

[Debonair]

I'm the complete opposite, I ALWAYS drive my car with the lights on and on my bike as well (bike does it by default though).

its kinda illogical to drive with headlights on n a sunny day at 1pm lol

For seeing the road ahead of you, yes you are correct. For ensuring all other drivers have the best chance of seeing you it makes perfect sense. It's the whole reason DRL's are used at all, and required in some states / areas / countries.

[mazz]

I think if the parking lights which i might call fog lights are on the headlights must also be on.

[Altim8M37]

I'm the complete opposite, I ALWAYS drive my car with the lights on and on my bike as well (bike does it by default though).

I'm the same, I run my HL and fogs at all times.

[M37xfan]

..

For seeing the road ahead of you, yes you are correct. For ensuring all other drivers have the best chance of seeing you it makes perfect sense...

which for the life of me I can never understand why some people refuse to turn on their lights in foggy or rainy weather...so that others can see you...

[wideopn11]

Yeah I run my headlights and foglights all the time as well. I see no reason to turn them off and if it saves me from another driver even once it's worth it.

[szh]

For seeing the road ahead of you, yes you are correct. For ensuring all other drivers have the best chance of seeing you it makes perfect sense...

which for the life of me I can never understand why some people refuse to turn on their lights in foggy or rainy weather...so that others can see you...

Yes. In California, the laws require you to turn on your lights when the wipers are on - even in slow mode. So, in rain, the lights are expected to be on.

Z

[szh]

US model - Yes, set the headlight to OFF.

Canada or other factory Daytime Running Light model - No. If the car is on, the DRL's will be on.

I'm in Canada and its weird because in my previous car ( Acura TL), I could turn the headlight off manually and the DRL (fog lights, inside housing) would stay on. Before that, I had a Toyota Solara and Lexus ES, the DRL's would stay on but there was a half-globe like plastic piece on my dashboard, which I could disconnect and turn DRL's off.

I see the same half-globle thing on my M37's dash. I'll try to pry it op to see if there's a connector under it and disconnect it to see if it will turn the DRL's off.
thanks

AFAIK, the DRL's are required by law in Canada, but am not certain. Don't disable them without checking ... you could get a ticket.

Z

[szh]

and required in some states / areas / countries.

Like the picture you showed, there are specific areas where lights have to be on at all times, but I believe, in the US, states do not require DRL's at all times at all locations ... within the entire state, that is.

As mentioned in another post, California has a law that says, in essence, "lights on when wipers are on".

Z

[Debonair]

...but I believe, in the US, states do not require DRL's at all times at all locations ... within the entire state, that is.

I agree; not for automobiles, not yet. I think Cali requires them for motorcycles and a bunch of other US states want their headlights on full time. But we are getting too far into the fine details at this point I think.

OP - DRL's are safer to have than not. DRLs are illegal not have some places. Disable at your own risk.

Mic drop.

[nebojsa_o]

I am also in Canada, and while I do understand and am ok with DRL's, I don't understand why on the M37 the HID low beams are on as DRL. My 2002 Maxima SE has HID's as well, and when DRL turns on, there are two small separate bulbs that light up the headlight housing. When put to Auto, the HID low beams turn on when it's dark only. With the M37 my low beam HIDs are on 100% of the time the car is running. Is this normal?

[mig0s]

...but I believe, in the US, states do not require DRL's at all times at all locations ... within the entire state, that is.

I agree; not for automobiles, not yet. I think Cali requires them for motorcycles and a bunch of other US states want their headlights on full time. But we are getting too far into the fine details at this point I think.

OP - DRL's are safer to have than not. DRLs are illegal not have some places. Disable at your own risk.

Mic drop.

I dont want to disable DRLs... I just want to have parking lights on as DRLs instead of headlights lol

[mig0s]

I am also in Canada, and while I do understand and am ok with DRL's, I don't understand why on the M37 the HID low beams are on as DRL. My 2002 Maxima SE has HID's as well, and when DRL turns on, there are two small separate bulbs that light up the headlight housing. When put to Auto, the HID low beams turn on when it's dark only. With the M37 my low beam HIDs are on 100% of the time the car is running. Is this normal?

Thats what I'm saying... In canada our headlights are hooked up as DRLs. Only parking lighta would be enough imo

[Altim8M37]

Taking into account the idea that you are calling fog lights, parking lights, headlights are much higher off of the ground than fog lights and are therefore much more visible.

The idea is to break up the image that a car blends into its environment; similar to "white noise" to your eye. Vehicles that are not very bright (white, black, silver, gray, beige, dark blue, brown, dark green, etc) are very susceptible to this effect.

The low price of bulbs should only enhance the want to drive with them on as much as possible. We as enthusiasts do many things to make our cars stand out, but this is a little too close to the line IMHO. Akin to replacing your seatbelts with a much less rigid material just for the sake of having something different.

[M37xfan]

I think if the parking lights which i might call fog lights are on the headlights must also be on.

The parking lights and fog lights are separate. You can have the parking lights on without having the headlights on. It's one of the settings on the stem. If you have the headlights on the parking lights remain on.

when you turn on the fog lights all lights are turned on.

[nebojsa_o]

So, can you US guys turn your low beam HID light off in the middle of the day when you put the stalk to OFF position?

[Mjkkb2]

Yes. In California, the laws require you to turn on your lights when the wipers are on - even in slow mode. So, in rain, the lights are expected to be on.

Z

same in VA. Headlights ON when wipers ON continuously. Does not apply if you just clean the windshield or use it intermittently in light mist/rain.

[Mjkkb2]

So, can you US guys turn your low beam HID light off in the middle of the day when you put the stalk to OFF position?

yes we can

[nebojsa_o]

That's what the OP and I would like as well. We can't. Our low beam HID bulbs act as our DRL. Stalk in off position and our low beams are still on. 100% of the time. The small lamps are on as well, but you can barely see them because of the bright HID beams.

[Ilya]

That cause you guys in Canada, where the entire country requires DRLs. The reason why many cars in the US also have almost always-on lights is because manufacturers don't want to design multiple product lines for the same product...so they just ship basically the same car to both countries.

However, you'd be surprised how many idiots I see driving with just their DRLs (Subaru's are known for this - the DRL's only go off if the parking brake is engaged) at night with their actual lights not on. I was blinking at this one lady on Sunday who was in a newer Pathfinder I believe because her DRL's were on but none of her rear lights were on. How do you not notice your actual lights aren't on at night? Doesn't the dash go dark until you turn them on?

I finally passed her and turned my lights on/off quick and she just waved at me like a moron.

[Mjkkb2]

that's because in Canada automatic DRLs are required on all vehicles. I'm not sure what the workaround would be, but I would be careful disabling them as it is illegal to operate a vehicle without DRL on.

[nebojsa_o]

I understand that, but on my other 2 cars in Canada, DRL bulbs are always on as they should be, and the low beam light is controlled by me, just like you guys. Same thing on all other cars I have access to. The M is the only one I've seen that DRL controls the actual low beams.

And I also see people with no actual lights on very often. It is ridiculous. It's people being stupid, but also s*** manufactures decision to turn on the instrument cluster lights with DRL on some vehicles.

[nebojsa_o]

I don't want to disable DRL, I just want it to operate the other bulbs, like on every other car in the country. And apparently like your US models.

[Mjkkb2]

ok I get it now. The CAD version has both the low beam and the parking light on at all times to serve as the DRL (correct?) And you would like the control of the low beam, with only the parking light being the DRL (yes?).
Not sure why it's set up like that. Some of the provinces on top of the DRL requirement (national) have a recommendation for headlights to be on at all times. That's only a recommendation but maybe Nissan just want's to be extra safe for you folks...

I personally also drive with headlights on at all times for safety.

[Debonair]

I don't want to disable DRL, I just want it to operate the other bulbs, like on every other car in the country. And apparently like your US models.

You would have to find a way to disable the OE DRL's and the wire up a DRL module to whichever lights you want on as DRL's instead.

Turning on the Fog Lights with the stalk automatically turns on the headlights so a custom job would be needed to get them on by themselves. This is the easy part. Disabling your OEM DRLs is the tougher one in my opinion.

11-14 US model does not have OEM DRL. If we want we have DRL's we have to add it ourselves. I am not sure about the facelifted 15+ models, they may have LED DRLs.