Should the Headlights Always be on??

[John Mike]

I just got my new 2024 Maverick XLT Hybrid in March. I hadn't noticed it initially until I installed fog lights on it that were tapped into the main headlight wiring harness, that the headlights are continuously ON when in the Auto position (which causes the fog lights to always be on also, unless I manually turn them off). Is there no separation of Daytime Running Lights and main headlights on the Maverick? I just wanted to confirm that this is the way it's supposed to be. Thanks.

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[REMUB40]

I think the headlights are used as DRLs on XLs and XLTs. There may be a setting to turn them off, but that would not help either. IDK a got a Lariat.

 

[RoyalTeaDee]

 

[Rroba8822]

There is a setting where you can turn off the DRL permanently. I don’t like having my lights on during the day so I turned them off, they won’t come on even with the lights in the Auto position. I also installed the fog lights and they only turn on when the main lights come on.

 

[Master Blaster]

The headlights are LED, with about a 70-year life expectancy. They consume almost no power and will not wear out. There are lots of studies to show that having at least DRLs on at all times will lower your accident rate, and therefore your insurance rates. Ask any bike driver why they have their lights on in the middle of the day if you don't understand. Just leave them on, the way they were intended. The fog lights should be separately controlled, as the headlights are way too high up and should be off in fog to prevent blinding you.

 

[Demoguy1]

The headlights are LED, with about a 70-year life expectancy. They consume almost no power and will not wear out. There are lots of studies to show that having at least DRLs on at all times will lower your accident rate, and therefore your insurance rates. Ask any bike driver why they have their lights on in the middle of the day if you don't understand. Just leave them on, the way they were intended. The fog lights should be separately controlled, as the headlights are way too high up and should be off in fog to prevent blinding you.

I turn on the lights all the time. I'm anal about safety. Does not cost a penny.

 

[HeyBales]

Disabled mine per the instructions given.

Watched enough traffic around here it doesn't help distracted drivers see anything better.
Obviously I can't tell if their last second maneuvers were better than crashes due to DRL's on helping, or made no difference.

I've seen better head glances based on I think just a bigger surface area on truck compared to prior Rav4 to hit the eye when they glance.

 

[Howard]

If you drive rural roads with patches of deep shade alternating with bright sunlight, you can be almost invisible to someone driving into the shaded areas from the sun, particularly if you have a dark colored vehicle. I learned long ago to drive with my lights on before there were DRL's for my safety, the same as a motorcycle.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I just got my new 2024 Maverick XLT Hybrid in March. I hadn't noticed it initially until I installed fog lights on it that were tapped into the main headlight wiring harness, that the headlights are continuously ON when in the Auto position (which causes the fog lights to always be on also, unless I manually turn them off). Is there no separation of Daytime Running Lights and main headlights on the Maverick? I just wanted to confirm that this is the way it's supposed to be. Thanks.

In the US, you still have a Choice, whether to have your headlights/DRL on during the day or not. I choose not to have mine on.
If you choose not to have your headlights on during the day. Post #3 has the instructions to turn them off.
As a long time motorcyclist I saw the value in having the headlight on as a matter of fact in the daytime I drove with the high beam on.

If I chose to have my headlights on during the day I would run with the high beams on. Same as I did with my motorcycles.
If other drivers complain about the high beams during daylight hours, I guess they see you.

 

[rlhdweman]

I was never a fan of DRLs, when I used to ride a motorcycle they were on all the time, which is advantage in being seen, later on when most vehicles have them on all the time, the motorcycles no longer stand out & have lost that safety edge. Now after 16 years am getting on a motorcycle again & am looking into a brighter headlight, or what I also did in years past, drive with the high beam on during daylight. After all that I will still leave my Maverick's DRLs on. Occasionally I drive on a divided highway in light fog, & when I see 10 vehicles driving in the other direction, the one that doesn't have headlights on is the one that stands out because it's different.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I was never a fan of DRLs, when I used to ride a motorcycle they were on all the time, which is advantage in being seen, later on when most vehicles have them on all the time, the motorcycles no longer stand out & have lost that safety edge. Now after 16 years am getting on a motorcycle again & am looking into a brighter headlight, or what I also did in years past, drive with the high beam on during daylight. After all that I will still leave my Maverick's DRLs on. Occasionally I drive on a divided highway in light fog, & when I see 10 vehicles driving in the other direction, the one that doesn't have headlights on is the one that stands out because it's different.

I used a 3 light setup on my motorcycle's. Similar to the arrangement on locomotive's.
Two lower were my road lights, the main headlight was aimed higher down the road, mostly as an attention getter. I do see some motorcyclists with a flashing headlight during the daylight hours.

This is a perfect example why a three headlight system on a motorcycle works so well.

 

[John Mike]

Thanks All, and thanks RoyalTeaDee for the screen shot (I should have found that). I do want to keep my DRL on during the daytime for that safety (and yes I've had multiple motorcycles also and always kept my high beam on during the daytime for that reason also), just didn't realize it was using the main headlights for them instead of a separate light source (which I hadn't seen in any previous vehicle I've owned).

 

[John Mike]

I used a 3 light setup on my motorcycle's. ...

I've also had the 3 light setup on my last 3 bikes, but always kept my high beam on along with a modulator on it during the daytimes. My theory on that was if the high beam burns out, you still have a low beam for night time driving until you can get it replaced.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I've also had the 3 light setup on my last 3 bikes, but always kept my high beam on along with a modulator on it during the daytimes. My theory on that was if the high beam burns out, you still have a low beam for night time driving until you can get it replaced.

Absolutely

 

[Rivers90]

Only the lariat has dedicated daytime running lights, all other Mavericks use the headlights.

At least once a week I see a car with no headlights on driving at night on the highway. I don't get it how they can't tell they have no lights on, it is always newer model cars. Maybe they just have really good vision, I could not see to stay on the road without lights on, this is on a 4 lane highway with no street lights and mostly through dark farmland areas.

Nearly every night in town I see a car or two with headlights off driving at night the street lights do light things up to the point you can kinda see. But I don't think it is a safe way to drive.

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