Daytime Running lights?

[inco]

"I agree that DRLs are helpful in these situations, but if it's really that dark then shouldn't people have their headlights on?"

 

The beauty of the fully automatic sensors and setting that adjusts for you. Gotta love it. :)

[Toz]

 

I agree! Perhaps the reason for not wanting them on by default is a perceived liability thing. I've found in chatting with a lot of people at work and elsewhere that many people who drive cars with DRLs and automatic headlamps think that they don't ever need to worry about their lights. MN, like many states, has a law requiring the use of headlights when it's raining/snowing/foggy, etc (any situation with reduced visibility). Many owners of vehicles with DRLs think that they are in compliance with this law because they have DRLs and automatic headlamps. But in low visibility conditions like the aforementioned list require tail lights as well as front lights for safety. For that reason, even with DRLs I would continue to turn my park lights on so that I have rear lights even during the day. I would like to have DRLs so that I have something for the occasions where I forget.

 

Ford's legal counsel might view DRLs in the USA as a liability issue. Someone could have an accident and blame Ford because they thought they were covered with DRLs and automatic headlamps. Ppl in this country are so sue-happy that it's just ridicuous.

 

It's important to remember that big corporations don't want to do anything for their customers unless it directly benefits their bottom line. Making DRLs standard equipment isn't something where Ford execs can look at this and say that it definitely will have a positive impact on the balance sheet or income statement. So, in their minds, there's no reason to do this. The customer requests must not have reached the level of being enough yet to make them do anything about it. It took government action to get the automakers to put seat belts in cars. There was no doubt that seat belts saved lives, but until the government mandated them, the automakers saw no reason to put them in their cars. DRLs are likely in the same boat.

 

I agree that DRLs are helpful in these situations, but if it's really that dark then shouldn't people have their headlights on?

 

 

I don't even know how this can be an issue. The headlights come on automatically when the windshield wipers detect enough rain to activate for more than a a few wipes. if you leave every thing in automatic it's almost impossible to not have the headlights on when you need them. when the rain stops the DLR's come back on. Looks like Ford already has any liability issues taken care of. So just give the customers what they want, and at least offer the option of having DLR's. BTW if you are ever in eastern Washington state, Jess Ford can activate DLR's

[FordService]

... I think you've been on our forum long enough to realize how thoughtful and measured our members are. Issues are carefully evaluated here and there are hundreds of readers for every single poster. We don't ask for your support lightly, and we value all the inside info you bring to the table. However your last official post exposes Ford to a dilemma: is it official Ford policy to turn off life saving safety equipment even if owners expressly want to turn DRL on?

 

I request that Ford update all dealer software to allow owners the choice of this critical safety device that already exists on their car. Please elevate my request, and post the response on this forum as to why Ford has this policy. I look forward to a change in policy soon.

 

kbailey990,

 

I've exhausted all of my resources on this subject and there is nothing more I can do, other than document your feedback. If you'd like me to do so, send me a PM with your name, phone number, VIN, mileage, and dealer info. I'll enter it into the system, where it can be reviewed by those responsible for product feedback.

 

Ashley

[kbailey990]

Hi Ashley,

PM sent with vehicle details.

Thanks again for offering to help elevate this question.

[milleron]

Ashley,

I've sent you a PM, too. Please don't take the scathing remarks personally. They're aimed at Ford corporate -- in fact, right square between their dumb-as-an-ox eyes.

But we're thankful and grateful for your participation here. I'd never insult you.

I'd just suggest that you find a way to convey to them that they're not dealing only with customer complaints here but also with a brewing and burgeoning PR issue. Perhaps if threats to their bottom line won't lead them to do the right thing, threats to their reputation might (which, of course, loops right back to their bottom line).

 

As I mentioned in the PM, it's no longer mainly the problem of getting my DRLs turned on, it's more the principle of the matter in which Ford refuses even to tell their heretofore-loyal customers why they won't help us. To me, it's that overriding issue of customer hostility in the face or earnest, reasonable pleas that will prevent me from being a repeat customer.

 

Thanks,

 

Ron

[tr7driver]

I wish my customers were demanding features I have already built, it’s a no brainer. I’d be happy to make customers happy and turn the features on (and claim accolades for good customer service).

[Waldo]

DRLs are a bit more complicated then they seem though. There are certain combinations of lights that are legal for use as DRLs in some places but not in others. There are also some DRL configurations that are not legal as DRLs (as in don't meet DRL requirements where they are required by law) but do exist in the vehicle's software. So having a formal policy allowing dealers to turn on the DRL does open Ford to some liability risk if the dealer were to do something incorrectly.

 

In a couple years you're going to see most Fords have the DRL feature as a configurable in the cluster menus though, not that it will help customer's of the older vehicles.

Edited March 19, 2014 by Waldo

[FordService]

Hi Ashley,

PM sent with vehicle details.

Thanks again for offering to help elevate this question.

 

Ashley,

I've sent you a PM, too. Please don't take the scathing remarks personally.

 

kbailey990 and milleron,

 

I got both of your PMs and replied!

 

Ashley

[hybridbear]

 

kbailey990,

 

I've exhausted all of my resources on this subject and there is nothing more I can do, other than document your feedback. If you'd like me to do so, send me a PM with your name, phone number, VIN, mileage, and dealer info. I'll enter it into the system, where it can be reviewed by those responsible for product feedback.

 

Ashley

Please also submit this "product feedback" on my behalf as well. Please PM me if you're missing any of that info. Thank you.

[FordService]

Please also submit this "product feedback" on my behalf as well. Please PM me if you're missing any of that info. Thank you.

 

Will do, hybridbear.

 

Ashley

[corncobs]

Please also submit this "product feedback" on my behalf as well. Please PM me if you're missing any of that info. Thank you.

Me too! Let me know if you need my info Ashley.

[milleron]

DRLs are a bit more complicated then they seem though. There are certain combinations of lights that are legal for use as DRLs in some places but not in others. There are also some DRL configurations that are not legal as DRLs (as in don't meet DRL requirements where they are required by law) but do exist in the vehicle's software. So having a formal policy allowing dealers to turn on the DRL does open Ford to some liability risk if the dealer were to do something incorrectly.

 

In a couple years you're going to see most Fords have the DRL feature as a configurable in the cluster menus though, not that it will help customer's of the older vehicles.

I sincerely doubt that. It seems implausible that enabling DRLs on Fusions is anything at all other than turning on the functionality that comes already-enabled in the Fusions delivered through their Fleet sales. Their liability could be no different. If there were a liability issue, it would have been addressed before delivery of those fleet cars with DRLs.

[FordService]

Me too! Let me know if you need my info Ashley.

 

I'll send you a PM if I need anything else, corncobs.

 

Ashley

[corncobs]

I don't have a picture but my DRLs are ON.

 

Thanks acdii for making the request on my behalf worked out great! Had them take care of the tint as well.

Edited March 27, 2014 by corncobs

[corncobs]

Triple post

Edited March 27, 2014 by corncobs

[corncobs]

Triple post

Edited March 27, 2014 by corncobs

[corncobs]

Well just made a stop at my dealer on the way home to show off my new DRLs.

 

He almost couldn't believe what he saw but the reflection in the window didn't lie. "DRLs there they are, I can't believe it".

He wanted to call his technican to take a look but they were already gone for the day. When he got out of my car he said I was going to call acdii's dealer right away to ask how they did it. :)

[GrySql]

The Forum strikes again... ! ;)

[GrySql]

The Forum Strikes again...

Edited March 27, 2014 by GrySql

[corncobs]

The Forum strikes again...

...very deadly.

[acdii]

Well just made a stop at my dealer on the way home to show off my new DRLs.

 

He almost couldn't believe what he saw but the reflection in the window didn't lie. "DRLs there they are, I can't believe it".

He wanted to call his technican to take a look but they were already gone for the day. When he got out of my car he said I was going to call acdii's dealer right away to ask how they did it. :)

Wow, And they are EV certified! Makes me cringe. Whats even more funny is, WE know how to turn them on! We just lack the computer interface to do so.

[milleron]

Wow, And they are EV certified! Makes me cringe. Whats even more funny is, WE know how to turn them on! We just lack the computer interface to do so.

 

Oh, all three of the dealerships that gave me that tired old song-and-dance routine about it's being "impossible" were EV certified! I still have no DRLs.

[kbailey990]

I wonder.... Is there a way to find out if a dealer is "fleet certified" and would they have the necessary software? We know that certain dealers can turn on DRL with no problem, so what's different about those dealers?

[kbailey990]

I wonder.... Is there a way to find out if a dealer is "fleet certified" and would they have the necessary software? We know that certain dealers can turn on DRL with no problem, so what's different about those dealers?

[milleron]

I wonder.... Is there a way to find out if a dealer is "fleet certified" and would they have the necessary software? We know that certain dealers can turn on DRL with no problem, so what's different about those dealers?

I thought that the fleet Fusions were actually delivered with DRLs enabled -- i.e., there's probably no one trained in actually turning them on, but maybe there are dealers that work with fleet sales who'd be better able to handle this problem. Fingers crossed.