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Enabling Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)

106K views 168 replies 65 participants last post by  RandySmith 
#1 ·
First and foremost, your dealer (or me) must have version 6.03 or higher to get the DRL's to work. Earlier versions had a bug that would let people enable it and it looked like everything was ok, but it did not work. So here we go:

From the main screen, click Vehicle Preparation. NOTE THE VERSION NUMBER IN THE TOP RIGHT SECTION OF THE SCREEN. Mine shows 6.03 so we are good to go.



Scroll down the list until you see the selection "Enable DRL"



Select it by touching the screen where it says "Enable DRL" and then press the start button. After a few seconds a window will pop up (yeah pop ups are everywhere not just the internet).



If this is really what you want to do, click the next button at the bottom of the pop up.



Click the Enable button and wait a few seconds. If the change was successful you will see a window like this one:



Click Finish and that is it. Go and check to make sure your DRL's are working now. Here is what mine look like:



Looks like the beam is on at about 1/2 power or less. My scientific guess.
 
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#2 ·
I would like mine enabled! I run parking lights and fogs in the day most of the time.
Some people have a hard time seeing certain color cars, midnight blue and gray are couple of them. I am really interested to see how they would look through my blue tint roadbluckers. I'd ratehr be seen and no excuses of "I didn't even see you"
 
#3 ·
Two questions:

First, I see the "add navigation radio" in your pic. Wonder what that does? Everybody's been talking about how it's all just plug and play to add a nav unit. I just added one, and everything appears to be working fine, but since I have access to a guy who's got access to a Starscan, I guess I should have it done. Just wonder if it's necessary or what it does.

Second, did you run across anything regarding the "wipers on/lights on" feature? Had that done on mine, but it appears it didn't take. I was going to have it done again, but there was no rush. Now that the navigation issue has come up, maybe I'll give him a call and have him come out again.

Paul
 
#4 ·
As far as the add nav feature. I am not sure but I can go check for you. It may enable nav messages for the evic display. I will go and check in a few minutes and let you know.


The lights on when wipers on feature evidently doesn't work. Probably a bug like it was with the drl originally. I tried this feature on my car and it does not work either. Maybe they will fix it in a later version.

Magnum8r I agree 100%. To me if a safety feature is available no matter where you are you should be able to turn it on. Preferably without a starscan.
 
#5 ·
Went to thed ealer today to have my DRL's enabled, among other things, on my Grabd Cherokee. They attempted to do it but got a message via starscan that "the vehicle was not certified." The tech said that maybe it was because my Jeep has the auto on headlights. Well, we all know that's wrong as I have read a lot on this and another forum that a lot of "C"s had them enabled and they have the auto on headlights.


I notice on one of the screens you show above above the starscan statement, "This routine will allow DRL feature to be enabled/disabled or enabled only depending on the market the vehicle was sold in." This statement would lead me to believe that you can only enable them if the vehicle was sold in Canada. Am I correct in my assumption? If so, do you think this is why my dealer got the message, and if so, how did you get around it?

You know it's sometimes easier to get the answer to our problems on these boards as the dealers mostly don't have a clue.

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
#6 ·
No, my vehicle was sold in U.S. so it can't be that. Haven't tried it on a Jeep yet so I cannot answer for that model. I know it works well on a Magnum, Charger, and Durango. All local tests.
 
#7 ·
jeepgrady said:
"This routine will allow DRL feature to be enabled/disabled or enabled only depending on the market the vehicle was sold in."
in US they can be enabled or disabled. in canada, where it is law, they cannot be disabled.

assuming your grand cherokee is an '05/'06 (WK). not sure if they can be enabled on this vehicle yet.
 
#8 ·
Thank you from the LX Know it all!! Fnky, you are great!!

When I finally get the Mag to the Dealer for new plugs (past due by 5K miles) I will ask them to enable the DRL's as a safety feature. I also want the scan for the tire size 255/55/18 done. They wanted to do $600+ additional service items that are not required at this point.
I'm sure they will want to charge me for this, but IMHO they otta comp it.
I have bought 4 new cars from them and loyalty better mean somthing.
I may have to remind them that there other Dealers out there, and they really screwed our freind, Cucamonga Red on his ordered SRT Magnum, I'm glad he walked with the $10K or so mark up after the deal was made when ordered his SRT.
 
#9 ·
MagnumFreak said:
As far as the add nav feature. I am not sure but I can go check for you. It may enable nav messages for the evic display. I will go and check in a few minutes and let you know.
I stuck the Navigation radio in my SRT8 and I get the nav messages on the display, but I understand there are steering wheel controls for nav and the uconnect, that I don't get.

I've also noticed the navigation does not seem to know night and day, and does not auto dim the backlighting. This could be a configuration error on my part, but it is set to Automatic for this, in the navigation radio.

So I'll be wanting that one enabled on mine! Thanks for the pic, if you have more info on this or enabling Uconnect controls, I'd love to know!
 
#10 ·
jaak said:
I've also noticed the navigation does not seem to know night and day, and does not auto dim the backlighting. This could be a configuration error on my part, but it is set to Automatic for this, in the navigation radio.
You either have the dimming on the headlight switch turned all the way up, or the Nav unit isn't set for automatic.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Ahhh... Cool, I'll try that! Yes I have the dimming set pretty high. For sure it's in Automatic. Thanks Oldsfan!

I'll see if I can get my dealer to do enable the Nav option in this screen, next time it's in as well. I wonder what that enables... Sorry for being off topic! But I have DRL of course!

Edit: Yup, one click too high on the dimmer. Thought it was in the right position, but not! I can't believe how great the LX is! This thing never stops impressing me. Now if I could just make it go a little slower. Gassed it to pass someone and I was doing over 110 MPH without even trying.
 
#12 ·
fnkychkn said:
in US they can be enabled or disabled. in canada, where it is law, they cannot be disabled.

assuming your grand cherokee is an '05/'06 (WK). not sure if they can be enabled on this vehicle yet.
The 6.03 starscan update lists the 05/06 Grand Cherokees as having the fix as well as the LX models.

Anyone elsae input will be appreciated.
 
#13 ·
jeepgrady said:
Went to thed ealer today to have my DRL's enabled, among other things, on my Grabd Cherokee. They attempted to do it but got a message via starscan that "the vehicle was not certified." The tech said that maybe it was because my Jeep has the auto on headlights. Well, we all know that's wrong as I have read a lot on this and another forum that a lot of "C"s had them enabled and they have the auto on headlights.

I notice on one of the screens you show above above the starscan statement, "This routine will allow DRL feature to be enabled/disabled or enabled only depending on the market the vehicle was sold in." This statement would lead me to believe that you can only enable them if the vehicle was sold in Canada. Am I correct in my assumption? If so, do you think this is why my dealer got the message, and if so, how did you get around it?

You know it's sometimes easier to get the answer to our problems on these boards as the dealers mostly don't have a clue.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Suggest you review & print out the Technician's Checklist, found here: http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=20055&highlight=enable+drls

Take a very good look at the notes at the bottom of the page. With switches improperly set and the vehicle in a semi-dark work bay it will appear that the fix did not work. If the tech then continues to fiddle with it he may inadvertently leave DRLs disabled in starscan.

ALL LX bodies WILL enable. I've heard of Grand Cherokees enabling also.

Have never heard of the message you reported. May be correct, maybe not. I'd ask to observe the process, with the tech going through this checklist point by point. And would reward them for their efforts afterwards.

For more info on enabling DRLs see here: http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=19444&highlight=enable+drls
 
#14 ·
Meister,


Thanks for your reply. I have been following your great success with the DRL feature as I also have a "C" that I will be taking in for the same process.

The tech must have turned off my auto headlight switch as it was off when I picked up the vehicle, so that doesn't appear to be the problem. When you had yours flashed, you stated that he had to enable, disable, then enable again. Are yopu aware of any error messages he received during the process?

I guess you are right that I should stand over them when they attempt it again.
 
#15 ·
jeepgrady said:
Meister,

Thanks for your reply. I have been following your great success with the DRL feature as I also have a "C" that I will be taking in for the same process.

The tech must have turned off my auto headlight switch as it was off when I picked up the vehicle, so that doesn't appear to be the problem. When you had yours flashed, you stated that he had to enable, disable, then enable again. Are yopu aware of any error messages he received during the process?

I guess you are right that I should stand over them when they attempt it again.
Here's that pertinent portion of the checklist, jeepgrady:
...
4. Select Enable (Note: some vehicles may already show Enabled, if so select Disable, then re-Enable.)

5. Select Disable. You will hear an alert chime and see various warning lights appear on the instrument panel.

6. Select Enable.

7. Start engine. Manually select headlamps to Off with light switch*.

8. Visually confirm DRLs on (High beam lamps partially illuminated). Note: DRL will extinguish with turn signal blinking, selected side. This is normal.


Note that if a tech has previously attempted, unsuccessfully, to enable your DRLs (example: using a starscan unit with version 6.02 or prior) and left them in Enable position, one must first "Disable" them, then Enable with a starscan updated to v6.03 or newer, THEN Disable.

This is critical: The indication that this particular starscan unit will be able to activate your DRLs is the accompanying bells & whistles & lights that come on when Disable is selected. Getting all these warnings is GREAT news - it means it's going to work. So one should totally disregard all the hoopla and merely proceed to the final step, selecting Enable once again AFTER all the flashing lights, noises, and perhaps even script messages, have appeared.

That is why it's so important to provide your tech with a copy of my latest tech checklist - you'll scare him to death when all the bells & whistles go off & he thinks he's just trashed all the car's computers, or worse. I suspect your tech, after changing his shorts, made up a story to cover himself, immensely relieved that your GC startup up and appeared to be normal after all the excitement.

And remember: Just because a given dealership has the version 6.03 (or higher) update CD for Starscan, there is no guarantee that the given unit the tech grabs has been updated. Going line by line through the checklist, with you there verifying each step, WILL get your DRLs up & running barring an anomaly with your system or the starscan.

If the first starscan unit won't do it, have them grab another one. It only takes 2 or 3 minutes to do the whole procedure.

Murphy has ruled so far. You'll win the next, and final, round.
 
#16 ·
Good news. Went back to the dealer today. They enabled the DRL's. It appears that unlike the LX's, the Jeep requires that the country code be changed to Canada. Best part of all, NO CHARGE.

My "C" will go in for the change once the weather gets a little better.

Thanks for all the input.
 
#17 ·
jeepgrady said:
Good news. Went back to the dealer today. They enabled the DRL's. It appears that unlike the LX's, the Jeep requires that the country code be changed to Canada. Best part of all, NO CHARGE.

My "C" will go in for the change once the weather gets a little better.

Thanks for all the input.
Persistence pays off once again, jeepgrady. :wink:

Good show.
 
#20 ·
I have a 2005 RT with the factory Nav system. Can I enable the day time driving lights through anything already in the car or do I have to have the dealer do it. Is there a list of things we can enable on our own that the factory doesn't do. I know on my past Mopars that there were things they didn't tell you that you could make work unless you knew someone that was a tech.
 
#21 ·
dadshemi said:
I have a 2005 RT with the factory Nav system. Can I enable the day time driving lights through anything already in the car or do I have to have the dealer do it. Is there a list of things we can enable on our own that the factory doesn't do. I know on my past Mopars that there were things they didn't tell you that you could make work unless you knew someone that was a tech.
DRLs can only be enabled using starscan. as for other options, see owner's manual.
 
#22 ·
dadshemi said:
I have a 2005 RT with the factory Nav system. Can I enable the day time driving lights through anything already in the car or do I have to have the dealer do it. Is there a list of things we can enable on our own that the factory doesn't do...
As funky said, DRLs can only be enabled using starscan.

See posts 13 and 15, dadshemi, printing out the referenced DRL enabling checklist for your tech.

Something else that can be enabled only by the Starscan unit is fogs with highbeams. Here's the checklist for that, if interested:

Tech's checklist - Enabling fog lamps with high beams:

1. Go to vehicle preparation.
2. Select Fog lamp output. Start this program. You will be asked if you want to enable the output for the fog lamps. Simply click Next.
3. The next question is the crucial question. Your car is typically set to US/Can/Me. Set it for Export by clicking on the button that says "Export". Hit Finish and wait about 20 seconds.

You now have fog lights that will stay on with the high beams.

Notes:
1. Make sure you & your tech follow the steps slowly & precisely. Don't assume you don't need the checklist at any point in the process.
2. Manually select fog lamps off, if desired, via the fog lamp button.
3. So far the only starscan units used have been running version 6.04 or higher software. This procedure may work with versions older than 6.04, but that has not yet been demonstrated.
4. 6 forward-firing lamps blazing is not a legal configuration in most, if not all, states. Use your good judgement as to when to employ. Consider them a visual airhorn. And a good way to brighten up a dark country road.
 
#23 ·
Meister/Fnky - does telling the car it's a Euro to get the foglamps to stay on have any other implications???
 
#24 ·
Nope. It only effects the fog lamps. There is a different export setting that will effect everything else.
 
#25 ·
Super T said:
Meister/Fnky - does telling the car it's a Euro to get the foglamps to stay on have any other implications???
What our master starscan freak said. :thumbs_u:

No other implications at all - other than the minor detail of have 6 forward firing lights being illegal in most, if not all, states.

I've sat facing LEOs across an intersection, and passed them many times, with all 6 on with no resultant "discussions".

I run all 6 for sure when I want to be highly visible (doing 50 or 60 mph in the HOV lane with traffic in the adjoining lanes at a standstill or slow crawl, for example).
 
#26 ·
Just for the record:

I got DRL enabled on my european 300C last week. StarScan first refuses to do so because "not certified". This was easily solved by first setting the country code to US, then enabling DRL and then setting the country code back to Germany.

This will probably work for all cars which have that feature, you just have to make sure the country code is switched back to the original one after enabling DRL. The lock to refuse DRL when not being a US/Canada car is only in StarScan, not in the car's computer.
 
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