2007 S80 - turning off daylight running lights

Discussion in 'Volvo S80' started by Forty Two, Apr 1, 2007.

  1. Forty Two

    Forty Two Guest

    Hi there,

    does anyone know how to turn off the daylight running lights in a 2007
    S80? My old S40 had instructions in the manual - the S80 only says to
    have it done by a dealer....

    Thanks,
    Wolfgang.
     
    Forty Two, Apr 1, 2007
    #1
  2. Forty Two

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    On my 1999 V70, there is a little screw in the corner of the light switch
    housing - but more recent models don't have this - and it requires some of
    the data in an on-board computer to be changed which, unfortunately, is a
    dealer job.

    I suspect that some dealers may be reluctant to help - even though they have
    the technology - in case you subsequently have an accident, and the dealer
    gets sued for removing a 'safety' feature. So you may need to insist. But,
    unless you live in a country where *all* cars have to have daylight running
    lights by law, you have a perfect right to have the bl**dy things switched
    off. Apart from anything else, it will save you a fortune in replacement
    light bulbs.
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
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    Roger Mills, Apr 1, 2007
    #2
  3. Forty Two

    Guest Guest

    Any data to back up this claim?

    The reason I ask is that we have a 2001 V70 in which we leave our light
    switch in the on position all the time. We got about 70,000 miles out
    of our first headlamp capsule, and about 60,000 miles for a turn signal
    lamp, at which point in each case we replaced the pair. That's all the
    lamps we've replaced...

    In the grand scheme of Volvo maintenance about $10-$20 for a pair of
    lamps really isn't too much in trade for never having to think if it's
    appropriate to turn on the lights. In my opinion...
     
    Guest, Apr 3, 2007
    #3
  4. Forty Two

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    Which part - the right to switch them off, or the money saved?

    The first part is fairly obvious. In any country where the majority of new
    cars are legally supplied *without* daytime running lights, it's a 'no
    brainer' that you can turn them off on cars which *are* supplied with them,
    without legal consequence.

    With regard to money saved, I have only anecdotal evidence from this NG,
    where people have complained about repeated bulb failures (possibly only
    relating to certain models but, IIRC, including the 850 -> 70 series, but
    maybe not S80)

    You will appreciate that I used a little poetic licence in referring to a
    "fortune". <g>

    What amazes me is the absence of the pro-running-light brigade who almost
    invariably get exercised whenever I advocate turning them off!
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
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    Roger Mills, Apr 3, 2007
    #4
  5. Forty Two

    Glenn Klein Guest

    You have bring the car in to the dealer they have to change a setting in
    the CEM ( Central Electronic Module ) as for a charge it depends on the
    servicing dealer
    Glenn
    Volvo Certified Technician
    ASE Certified Technician
     
    Glenn Klein, Apr 4, 2007
    #5
  6. Forty Two

    Guest Guest

    Well, the money saved was the part to which I replied...
    I've got, as noted, a 2001 V70. The lighting has been exemplary. I
    heard of an early run of V70s with lighting problems, it appears to have
    been fixed by June 2001.
    Yeah, but my experience has been completely the opposite. I've spent
    more on car wash soap than I've spent on replacement lamps. That's why
    I'm curious about the need to turn off a safety feature to save money.
    Oh, no, I'm not offended - knock yourself out! I persoanlly don't get
    it - I can see no reason to make myself less visible, but I'm not you.
    Though I hope I don't run into you in a period of low visibility because
    you forgot to flip the switch... <g>
     
    Guest, Apr 4, 2007
    #6
  7. Forty Two

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    The money saving bit was really a throw-away line. My real motivation for
    turning them off is that it looks stupid to be driving around with your
    lights on in broad daylight. I can understand the need in northern
    Scandinavia, where it never gets light for a great chunk of the year - but
    let's not impose that on the rest of the world.

    If it was *that* much of a safety feature, wouldn't it be mandatory
    *everywhere*?

    Turning them off also makes a contribution - albeit small - towards saving
    the planet. The electricity to power the lights has to be generated, causing
    the engine to work a bit harder, resulting in slightly greater fuel
    consumption and exhaust emissions. It's a small amount, but multiply it by
    the many millions of vehicle miles covered, and it begins to add up.
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
    Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
    monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
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    Roger Mills, Apr 4, 2007
    #7
  8. Forty Two

    Allen Guest

    Not to mention the global warming caused by the heat that is generated from
    all those millions of light bulbs.
     
    Allen, Apr 4, 2007
    #8
  9. Forty Two

    fishplate Guest

    Stupid? How so? Given to the number of jokes about it posted on the
    Internet, is it any stupider than you look driving a Volvo in the
    first place? After all, we are all clueless tree-hugging liberals and
    Birkenstock-wearing soccer moms. I would posit that DRL detracts very
    little from the image.

    What looks stupid is the 50% or more GM vehicles with one DRL burnt
    out. At least my lights are symmetrical.
    Not everyone is as enlightened as Canadians...
    Do you have any idea how small?

    Here's a quiz: While driving your reasonably modern Volvo (new enough
    to have DRL), which adds more to global warming - running your auto's
    air conditioner, or shutting it off and putting the windows down?
     
    fishplate, Apr 6, 2007
    #9
  10. Forty Two

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    Well we Brits are (with some justification) believed to be overly safety
    conscious and risk adverse - but *we* don't require vehicles to be fitted
    with daylight running lights.

    No - do you? But it's finite.
    The answer may not be as obvious as you think. Driving with the windows open
    adds to the drag, and makes the engine work harder. I don't know which
    effect is larger. Shutting off the aircon when you don't need it *is* a good
    idea, though (but keeping the windows shut).
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
    Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
    monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
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    Roger Mills, Apr 6, 2007
    #10
  11. Oh no! Not only the endless DRL thread, but the endless A/C vs. windows
    thread. A double whammy.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Apr 7, 2007
    #11
  12. Forty Two

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    Well, you're getting two for the price of one. Beat that for value! <g>
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
    Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
    monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
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    Roger Mills, Apr 7, 2007
    #12
  13. Forty Two

    fishplate Guest

    Indeed it is. But is it significant?
     
    fishplate, Apr 7, 2007
    #13
  14. Forty Two

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    Go on, then - tell us!

    Quite possibly. Here in the UK, there's quite a lot of publicity aimed at
    getting people to turn off wallwart-type mobile phone chargers and the like
    when not needed on the basis that - taken collectively - they could account
    for a whole power station. A similar argument could be applied to DRLs.
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
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    Roger Mills, Apr 7, 2007
    #14
  15. Forty Two

    Guest Guest

    That's my point - most people throw out all kind of arguments against
    these things, but cannot provide any evidence. But, geek that I am,
    I've done the work for you. The numbers aren't informative by
    themselves, but it's the equivalent of a tire underinflated by 2 psi, or
    maybe not washing your car for a year.
    Yes, it could. Let me ask you, though - what are the safety issues
    involved in not keeping your wall wart plugged in?

    My route to work is through the countryside, where small lanes enter the
    roadway at inconvenient places. There are trees lining both sides for a
    good part of the trip. This morning, I was headed to work in the '91
    245, which also has the lights on all the time. As I came around a
    curve, I noticed a car quickly stopping short of entering the
    roadway...it appeared that, had he not seen my headlights through the
    trees, he might very well have pulled out in front of me, as there was
    no line of sight for him around the curve.

    Now, how minscule an amount of CO2 emissions is worth me having to test
    my airbags?
     
    Guest, Apr 11, 2007
    #15
  16. Forty Two

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    Possibly the opposite of what you think - in extremis, they could constitute
    a fire risk if they *are* left on. My wife often leaves her mobile phone
    charger plugged in and switched on - with the phone not connected to it. How
    could it possibly be *unsafe* to switch it off?

    There are obviously occasions when poor visibility or difficult lighting
    conditions make it sensible to turn your lights on. But that doesn't mean
    that you need to have them on all the time.
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
    Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
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    Roger Mills, Apr 11, 2007
    #16
  17. Forty Two

    Guest Guest

    Not my point - I am saying that in general your phone charger is not a
    safety feature. Certainly not like increased visibility. Of course,
    you will think of some obscure reason that has a one-in-a-million chance
    of being in that category. for that, I commend your ingenuity.
    How can I know for certain that I am visible? Why not take chance out
    of the equation?

    Roger, turn your lights off if you wish. Be as contrary as you like. I
    can think of a thousand reasons to keep my lights off -- none of them
    are worth my life. On my cars without DRL, I turn them on each and
    every time I start the car. It's just plain common sense - certainly
    where I live - to take every opportunity to make the mouth-breathers
    aware of my occupying the roadway. I expect that on your tiny island,
    where you drive the only car and spend most of your time high up in your
    ivory tower, the other guy does not merit consideration. So be it...

    Cheers, mate.
     
    Guest, Apr 18, 2007
    #17
  18. Forty Two

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    But we were actually talking about the energy and emissions aspect of not
    using DRL's - it was you who introduced safety in relation to wall warts.
    I wish! Actually, you may have unwittingly hit the nail on the head. On my
    'tiny' island - which has umpteen million vehicles on relatively little
    road, the roads are so crowded that you're never more than about 10 yards
    away from the nearest vehicle. That's probably why we don't need DRL's -
    'cos you can't help but see nearby vehicles - with or without lights!
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
    Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
    monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
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    Roger Mills, Apr 18, 2007
    #18
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