Turn signals and headlights

[jeffmorris]

I saw a new car whose driver used left turn signal. The right headlight is on and the left headlight is off while the left turn signal is blinking. I don't know the make and model of the car. It was daytime and not nighttime. Is the left headlight supposed to be on while the left turn signal is blinking?

[shorod]

That sounds like daytime running lights (DRLs) rather than headlights. Most newer vehicles with LED strip DRLs turn off the white LED DRL when the turn signal on that side is activated.

-Rod

[maxwedge]

Correct shorod, I see that on my wife's new Equinox.

[ottomotive]

Hey, I once saw a ride do the same trick. Left blinker flashing while that side headlight sat dark. In my experience, when I tap my left turn signal, both daytime running lights stay on while the indicator blinks. But I’ve learned some car models dim the DRL on the signaling side to make the blinker pop like a built-in heads-up to oncoming traffic. If it feels funky or uneven, it might be a DRL circuit hiccup or a loose bulb socket. To me, both lights should stay lit.

[aleekat]

Lots of the newer cars do this. Normal.

[OliviaS]

That actually sounds pretty normal for some newer vehicles. Many cars now have daytime running lights (DRLs) that double as turn signals. When the signal is activated, the DRL on that side often turns off so the blinking is more visible. So in your case, the left DRL turned off while the left turn signal blinked, and the right DRL stayed on. Totally expected behavior!

[shorod]

Originally Posted by BeirBrook

Nope, some cars are designed to dim or turn off the headlight on the side that's signaling so the blinking turn signal is easier to see in daylight.

I don't think that's quite accurate. It's not the headlight that's turning off, but rather the daytime running light. I suppose it's possible that maybe some countries allow the headlight to turn off, but what I've encountered, it's only been the DRL.

-Rod

[RidingOnRailz]

Originally Posted by shorod

I don't think that's quite accurate. It's not the headlight that's turning off, but rather the daytime running light. I suppose it's possible that maybe some countries allow the headlight to turn off, but what I've encountered, it's only been the DRL.

-Rod

I guess some experimentation, with a camera phone filming such equipped cars, will confirm one way or the other.

[aleekat]

It's DRL, at night the headlight does not turn off.