Why don't my headlights turn off?

[Guest]

Hello, I've just bought myself a Ford Fiesta Zetec MK8. I was wondering if anyone could possibly help me out. Basically I'm a bit confused as to why my headlights don't turn off. I have a dial on the right hand side of my steering wheel which operates the headlights and the dial has three positions; off, parking lights and main lights. The problem is when I switch it to the off position they do not turn off, it just seems to turn the dipped headlights on instead. At first I thought maybe they were automatic dipped lights but they stay on through the day as well. Unless their is a broken sensor or something, in which case I need to take the car back to the garage to be repaired. Any help with this issue would be much appreciated. Thanks everyone. 

[MickB71]

Hi I’ve only just come across this post as I have the same problem! Did you get it sorted? Cheers Mick

[Treef]

I take it they are on when the engine is running, if this is the case they are likely to be the day time running lights.

The main beam bulb has two filaments, a 55 watt that is the normal main beam and a 15 watt filament that is your DRL.

[MickB71]

Hi, yes when it’s running but they are on permanently when in the off position as shown above. Surely they should remain off in the off position! Cheers 

[Daggerit]

9 minutes ago, MickB71 said:

Hi, yes when it’s running but they are on permanently when in the off position as shown above. Surely they should remain off in the off position! Cheers 

No, as Treef has said these are the daytime running lights that are on all the time.  They're not for illuminating the road, rather for other vehicles to see you as has become standard fit on all vehicles.  Same things as the newer Fiesta like mine that has the LED front lights on all the time.

It's not a fault, it's designed to do that so don't worry about it.

[eddie eastwood]

From a thread posted in 2014.

A: DRL only - one light in each unit at the front, nothing else (this comes from either an LED strip running along the bottom of each unit, or a bulb inside it).

B: Sidelights - same as the DRL above (if it's the LED strip running along the bottom of each unit then it will be dimmer in this position than in A, if it's a bulb then I'm not sure as mine is the LED strip) plus the tail lights, license plate lights and all the interior ones.

😄 Headlights - exactly the same as B with the addition of the dipped bulbs, one in each unit at the front.