[TwoTwelves]

Went to get the plates today for my daughter's Sport we picked up on Monday. Thought I would inquire about getting the DRL's activated. Here's how the conversation with the Service Advisor went.

Me: I would like to get the DRL's activated on this Patriot we purchased here this week. A teeneager will be driving it and I would like to do everything possible to make it safe for her. Can you do this?

Service Advisor looks at me with a dumbfounded look and says, "I'm not sure."

Me: I believe it's a simple procedure using your Star Scan tool that takes about 2:00 minutes. I will gladly pay to have it done.

Service Advisor: Sometimes it can be done and sometimes it can't. I'll be right back (goes to his office and gets on the phone).

I went on to tell him I had this done on my 07 Charger along with a bunch of other LX owners at a car meet. We watched the tech do it. If an 07 can be done, surely a 2012 can be done.

Service Advisor: I'm going to take it to the back. Have a seat in the waiting room it will be about 20 minutes.

About 20 minutes later, numb nuts comes back and says, "Nope, can't do it. Sometimes it can be done and sometimes it can't. Yours can't."

:doh:

 

[shmoeman]

Sounds like you need a new dealership, if that's possible? By activating this option, is it essentially having your lights on full-power all the time? Or would you still need to turn the arm switch at night? Just curious.

 

[TwoTwelves]

I agree. My first experience with this service department and I won't be back. The way it worked with my Charger which had automatic lights, the DRL's were less than full power and when the automatic lights came on or were activated manually, they override the DRL's.

Sounds like you need a new dealership, if that's possible? By activating this option, is it essentially having your lights on full-power all the time? Or would you still need to turn the arm switch at night? Just curious.

 

[Metaxa]

Generally speaking the DRLs are the high beam on partial power.

each manufacturer has its own method of integrating that into the normal lighting scheme.
Some also cause the rear lights to be on, some don't. Some light up the dash with just the DRLs on while not lighting up the rears.

Which is why on a grey, ugly day you see vehicles with no real lights...the "driver" has dash lights and just knows his lights are "on".

In Canada it is regulation that all vehicles have DRLs but it is left up to each manufacturer as to how to go about it. So you get some funny things going on...like idiots no seemingly able to turn on lights at dusk. GM actually has a good system, as does Suzuki.

Does the Patriot even offer automatic lights? I don't have them but if I turn my switch to the park light position, along with the DRLs I get lit up all around and when I stop or park and leave the vehicle I get gonged but those lights just go out by themselves after a bit and come back on as soon as I open a door...so sort of like automatic lights.

 

[NHPATRIOT]

You can't just assume because another model from the same mfg as your vehicle can have things done that it can also be done on yours. Not how it works all the time.

Here is a prime example. On my Dodge Rams I could have the dealer correct the speedo for non stock sizes by providing the tire dimensions and revolutions p/mile data( from the tire mfg )and they could then use that info to correct the speedo. On the Patriot however it appears that can not be done and ONLY stock sizes can be programmed. The Rams and Patriots, despite both being from Chrysler, are different vehicles, with different control modules handling the item, and with different programming possible.

I had a Chevy Equinox that did not come with the factory fog lights. I wanted to buy the parts( no GM Accessory kit offered so lights, bezels, switch, and harnessses)and have the dealer turn them on for me after it was all hooked up. Couldn't do it because the BCM that controlled the fog's was different on my vehicle than those that came with the fog's. It couldn't be programmed to turn them on. I would have had to change the BCM as well.

Now, I am not saying you can't have the DRL's turned on because I don't know the answer. However, it is entirely possible the dealer told you the truth. Just because you could do it to a 2007 Charger does not mean it can be done on a 2012 Patriot.

 

[shmoeman]

What I find odd is that my 2001 GMC Sonoma had a sensor built into the dash to turn the headlights from DRL to full brightness as soon as it got dark enough outside. That seems like a pretty smart thing to have for vehicles.

I have also not understood why the US has not followed Canada in having mandatory headlights on all the time. Seems to make the most sense for safety.

 

[the_jeep_now]

I have also not understood why the US has not followed Canada in ...

Metric system as well since everyone else is using it.

 

[cali-brate]

With different software and trim levels, sometimes the hardware to respond to the programming is not installed. It can be confusing, and they did appear to try for you, so I wouldnt blame the dealer on that one.

 

[jack.allwardt]

What I find odd is that my 2001 GMC Sonoma had a sensor built into the dash to turn the headlights from DRL to full brightness as soon as it got dark enough outside. That seems like a pretty smart thing to have for vehicles.

My '98 Checv S-10 p/u had this too. And I owned this vehicle for ten years, and only replaced one lamp--a tail/stop lamp. My wife's '01 VW new beetle went back on warranty several times to replace the head lamps--it too, had DRL. When I complained, the dealer/service mngr. stated that "...well, you need to understand that these lights are on all the time and they will burn ut sooner!" My response was that my Chev had all the same features and not this problem--how about that!!??

 

[Metaxa]

My '98 Checv S-10 p/u had this too. And I owned this vehicle for ten years, and only replaced one lamp--a tail/stop lamp. My wife's '01 VW new beetle went back on warranty several times to replace the head lamps--it too, had DRL. When I complained, the dealer/service mngr. stated that "...well, you need to understand that these lights are on all the time and they will burn ut sooner!" My response was that my Chev had all the same features and not this problem--how about that!!??

I mess around with electric things, mechanical switches used just at the step down from 220 to 110. The only thing keeping me in this rather lucrative business is the fact that electricity runs inconsistent.

That is why we have (are supposed to have) surge protectors upstream of our home electronics. Basically the parts I R&R are the very bits (writ large) in a surge protector that both protect your computer or TV and that wear out...which is why you really need to replace your cheap surge strips with some real protector units.

But I digress. No electrical power is constant and continuous. Even in an automobile. While I know of no effective method of conditioning the electrical supply in a vehicle I always bed each bulb in dielectric grease, silicone grease, electric grease...whatever you call it.

If I was building a street machine I'd do them all proactively. On my Pat I'm doing them as other things cause me to get into there, wherever there is, and as they burn out...which hasn't happened yet to me.

Now, I'm not an electrical engineer...I have a 6 month tech certificate that allows me to do what I do but the electrical engineers I work with (who tell me where to go and which switch to R&R) are the ones who turned me onto this bedding automotive bulbs in dielectric grease.

sorry this is long but often its nice to have a bit of background when someone proposes a wacky solution to something.

And LEDs solve a lot of things, eh?
And I run whole house surge protection with additional units at my computers and TVs.

 

[jeepthing1985]

They can deffinitely set up your patriot to have the DRL on. All they have to do is change the country code in the jeep to make sure it says canada or any country where DRL's are the law. To my knowledge it's optional in the states so they may be off but it can be done at your dealer.

 

[Metaxa]

They can deffinitely set up your patriot to have the DRL on. All they have to do is change the country code in the jeep to make sure it says canada or any country where DRL's are the law. To my knowledge it's optional in the states so they may be off but it can be done at your dealer.

Wouldn't it be wonderful and so elegant if that is the solution?
Somebody has to try this out...somebody who has a dealer that will play.

 

[TwoTwelves]

I'm certainly not giving up. I will not be using the dealership I purchased it from for service. When the first oil change is due, I will definately be taking it a different dealership and I will pursue this again.

They can deffinitely set up your patriot to have the DRL on. All they have to do is change the country code in the jeep to make sure it says canada or any country where DRL's are the law. To my knowledge it's optional in the states so they may be off but it can be done at your dealer.

 

[jeepthing1985]

I was a Tech for Chrysler for six years I have done this switch many times, including patriots.

 

[jepstr67]

If I live to be 1000 years old, I will never understand why this is not something the owner can simply change. I think they are ugly and annoying and I'm glad my car does not have them. Other people, like the poster, think they are a valuable safety feature. Why on earth isn't there a switch so we can choose what we want?

 

[MKP12]

If I live to be 1000 years old, I will never understand why this is not something the owner can simply change. I think they are ugly and annoying and I'm glad my car does not have them. Other people, like the poster, think they are a valuable safety feature. Why on earth isn't there a switch so we can choose what we want?

I deleted DRL and TPMS from my safety convenience group, I only got what I wanted and nothing I didn't out of it.