Hi, I have a 2016 Kuga Titanium TDCI, 1997 cc. If I turn on the ignition and turn the lighting switch to the side light position, my rear lights come on but not the front side lights. I have been reading different comments about the operation of such and now feel a bit vague about it all. What appears a simple operation may not be as it seems. Then, if I turn the lighting switch to off, with ignition on, the rear lights go out but the front side lights come on.

In my mind that appears to be wrong, or am I wrong? Help please.

On auto both the main beams and rear lights work fine. (No front side lights though.)

Many thanks for feedback. Ray.

Hi,

The sidelights act as DRLs at the front during the day. So DRLs on with lights off is correct.

If they are LED then they should dim to half brightness when the headlights are switched on.

If they're normal bulbs then they should stay on with headlights. Which type are yours?

Hi Tom, thanks for responding. My front DRLs only come on if I have had headlights on and then turn the switch to off with the ignition still on. All other lights switch off as they should but the DRLs come on. At no other time do the DRLs come on. They are not on with headlights. Rear lights are working as they should.

I hope that clarifies.

Ray.

2 minutes ago, Ray Grant said:

Hi Tom, thanks for responding. My front DRLs only come on if I have had headlights on and then turn the switch to off with the ignition still on. All other lights switch off as they should but the DRLs come on. At no other time do the DRLs come on. They are not on with headlights. Rear lights are working as they should.

I hope that clarifies.

Ray.

Thanks Ray. There is more than one type of headlight used on the 2016 and unfortunately I still can't work out which yours are at the moment.

The functions should be:

0 - DRLs
1 - Parking lights (possibly separate to DRLs), tail lights and reg plate lights.
2 - Dipped beam headlights (DRL's off or dimmed), tail lights and reg plate lights

Auto function could be either 0 or 2 depending on the ambient light levels at the time.

If the DRL's don't come on until after you've had headlights on, that sounds like a fault. But it is quite difficult to visualise exactly which lights are on at that time. It could be the 'guide me home' lights rather than DRL's.

Hi Tom, it would appear that my car is cleverer than I. From your previous message I looked up the term DRL on the gov web site which is quite a precise description / explanation. Following that I have just done a comparison with a neighbour who has a Merc with DRL's which operate exactly as mine do.

My lights are of the halogen type. My DLR's only come on during the day whilst other lights are in the off position and the engine is running.

The functions as you described above are spot on and so my lights are in accordance with those modes.

Thank you so much for your expertise and knowledge as a result I have cancelled the auto electrician, who by the way gave me three possible scenarios, the first being "Operator error." Which I couldn't believe, but he was spot on.

This is really my first issue with my Kuga, but, any issues in the future I will make a point of coming to this forum first. Excellent!!

Ray.

For info for others who like me didn't understand the function / use of DRL's (Daytime Running Lights) I have attached a link to the AA description.

What are daytime running lights? | The AA

Ray.