[sathya_nars]

Originally Posted by kick.throttle

i am so sorry my friend sathya, but i guess we were talking about the headlights and not the cabin light. well all cars have the "ON,DOORS,OFF" modes on the cabin lights. and as its directly connected to the batter, the keys "in or out" makes no diffrence at all ....

In Door position: When key is taken out, the cabin light comes on and when I lock the car it goes off. Same way, when I put keys in, light goes off.

Originally Posted by Venkatesh.C

@Sathya, I guess the talk was about the beeps we hear on leaving the head lights on and remove the key ring? Then it went on to why does the headlight even stay on when the key is removed when cars like Santro switch them off automatically when the keys are removed.

I don't hear any beep sound when I leave headlights on while taking key out - thats why I was confused what lights you guys are talking here.

[gopinathann]

Originally Posted by sathya_nars

I don't hear any beep sound when I leave headlights on while taking key out - thats why I was confused what lights you guys are talking here.

You will hear the beep when the key is taken out leaving the headlights on. Check again.

[kick.throttle]

Originally Posted by gopinathann

You will hear the beep when the key is taken out leaving the headlights on. Check again.

how foolish is that
you put off the engine or take the keys of and still the headlights are on..
oh my god!! thats a wast technology Maruti ppl use... i seriously dont understand what is the logic behind this thing..

all car owners exept maruti must surely be happy on this part.. that the lights go off when the engine is off or key are out....

[sathya_nars]

Originally Posted by kick.throttle

how foolish is that
you put off the engine or take the keys of and still the headlights are on..
oh my god!! thats a wast technology Maruti ppl use... i seriously dont understand what is the logic behind this thing..

all car owners exept maruti must surely be happy on this part.. that the lights go off when the engine is off or key are out....

There is mechanical switch/slider you have to turn on/off headlights, I guess it was difficult to restore it to off position when keys are removed. Yet they could design to switch off headlights when keys are taken out & when key is put in again lights will come up since switch position was on - is this how it happens in other cars?

[kick.throttle]

Originally Posted by sathya_nars

There is mechanical switch/slider you have to turn on/off headlights, I guess it was difficult to restore it to off position when keys are removed. Yet they could design to switch off headlights when keys are taken out & when key is put in again lights will come up since switch position was on - is this how it happens in other cars?

i m so sorry sathya.. i would't agree with what ever switch designe they go for. i think that the switch thigh is just of no use.


Come on --- its so simple..
keys off/engine off with Headlight-switch on --->>> Headlights off
keys on/engine on with Headlight-switch on --->>> Headlights on

what do you need another unwanted swith to keep toggleing between modes...


i wish - this so called thing never come on other cars......

[omishra]

Originally Posted by sathya_nars

There is mechanical switch/slider you have to turn on/off headlights, I guess it was difficult to restore it to off position when keys are removed. Yet they could design to switch off headlights when keys are taken out & when key is put in again lights will come up since switch position was on - is this how it happens in other cars?

What is there?
That is only matter of a relay in series with headlight bulb wires, keeps it operated from headlight switch connection and draws power direct from battery.
1. power for actual headlight and
2. power to operate relay itself.

How it works?
Headlight switch just triggers the action of ON/OFF relay which connects battery to bulbs.

What can be done?
Now I will be talking about item 2 from above. Remove its (relay operational) power connection from battery and connect it to power line of other accessory which turns on only when keys are in and accessory is on. That means relay will be operational from headlight switch only when keys turned in. It draws not more that 300mA current for 12V relay operation.

Do you still think its very complex technology involved here?

But don't do this, why?
Because this has a drawback. Once you switch off engine while headlights ON, realy will cut off headlight along with all accessory. But while starting engine again you will find headlights are turned ON if not switched off from headlight switch. This is what I always try to avoid. I switch off AC, headlights and ICE before starting engine. (You can think of problems.)

So better to keep it reminding us for switching off headlight using switch. I think headlight is for car driving only and not required when car engine is switched off. So switch off headlight while taking keys out ( or SX4 will remind you).

regards,

[nssrini]

kick throttle - in most cars & other LMVs - some of the lighting elements like - headlights, hazard lights & cabin lights - are directly connected to battery and NOT linked to ignition. This I believe is done with a purpose to help navigate during emergency situations - irrespective of ignition switch. So its not unusual. Most maruti (& I guess other cars) as well have the warning beep that is quite audible to alert you when you remove the ignition key with headlights on. So I can't quite understand what the problem is - when this should be a benefit...

Originally Posted by kick.throttle

i m so sorry sathya.. i would't agree with what ever switch designe they go for. i think that the switch thigh is just of no use.


Come on --- its so simple..
keys off/engine off with Headlight-switch on --->>> Headlights off
keys on/engine on with Headlight-switch on --->>> Headlights on

what do you need another unwanted swith to keep toggleing between modes...


i wish - this so called thing never come on other cars......

[Venkatesh.C]

Originally Posted by sathya_nars

There is mechanical switch/slider you have to turn on/off headlights, I guess it was difficult to restore it to off position when keys are removed. Yet they could design to switch off headlights when keys are taken out & when key is put in again lights will come up since switch position was on - is this how it happens in other cars?

Yes Sathya you are right that's the way it works. You remove the keys with headlight Switch in the ON position, the lights still go off
When you put your keys back in and turn the engine on, the lights come back ON automatically coz you left the switch in the ON position.

Only Maruti leaves the Lights always ON. And if you forget to switch it off, GOod luck pushing your car to start whenever you come back

[gopinathann]

I too own a Santro and it's good that the head lights turn off when engine off or key taken out, but some times I felt irritated during signals when the lights go off and come on when I switch off the engine.

In santro, when the key is taken off only the headlights go off and not the parking/city lights. Where is the logic gone here ???

One incident happened in our office. In the morning one guy has parked his Santro with the headlights turned on (without knowing). When the key taken out, headlight switched off but parking lights still on. In the evening the battery got dried and he had to call the help line to restore it.

Moral: Each one has its own advantage and disadvantage.

Originally Posted by kick.throttle

i m so sorry sathya.. i would't agree with what ever switch designe they go for. i think that the switch thigh is just of no use.


Come on --- its so simple..
keys off/engine off with Headlight-switch on --->>> Headlights off
keys on/engine on with Headlight-switch on --->>> Headlights on

what do you need another unwanted swith to keep toggleing between modes...


i wish - this so called thing never come on other cars......

[Venkatesh.C]

Parking lights are essential sathya. It is a good practice to leave parking lights on especially when you are parked on a road-side with little light. It is a good habit to leave hte parking lights on always but in the city more often than not you will find enough lighting. So, it is an essential (and maybe a legally required too) thing to be able to turn on the parking lights even with the keys out. However there is no reason why one would want to leave the head lights ON with the keys out.
Thats the bottom line.

[VBV]

Originally Posted by gopinathann

I too own a Santro and it's good that the head lights turn off when engine off or key taken out, but some times I felt irritated during signals when the lights go off and come on when I switch off the engine.

In santro, when the key is taken off only the headlights go off and not the parking/city lights. Where is the logic gone here ???

One incident happened in our office. In the morning one guy has parked his Santro with the headlights turned on (without knowing). When the key taken out, headlight switched off but parking lights still on. In the evening the battery got dried and he had to call the help line to restore it.

Moral: Each one has its own advantage and disadvantage.

Completely agree with your argument and moral.

The other day, I was driving on a highway with another car. The other car got a flat and we were about to replace it. We could do it from the headlights of my car. And I did not have to waste petrol on that. On the highway, its especially useful. I can think of many contexts. I've even used the headlights to change my son's diapers.

Leaving headlights on is kinda stupid. (I know, 'cos I am stupid in this way many times). But I don't think I'll blame the design for that. I mean, if I were the designer, I would probably think of somebody w/ avg intelligence as my end customer and not somebody who's stupid like me. I really don't think its a car design issue...

VBV

[Venkatesh.C]

I raised this topic earlier and let me raise it again. What is the deal with one reverse light in SX4. I hate it for it looks plain silly for such a big car to have just one reverse light. They could have placed the stupid rear fog lamp elsewhere and given a pair of reverse lights instead of just one. What is the majority opinion here.

[kick.throttle]

Originally Posted by gopinathann

I too own a Santro and it's good that the head lights turn off when engine off or key taken out, but some times I felt irritated during signals when the lights go off and come on when I switch off the engine.

In santro, when the key is taken off only the headlights go off and not the parking/city lights. Where is the logic gone here ???

One incident happened in our office. In the morning one guy has parked his Santro with the headlights turned on (without knowing). When the key taken out, headlight switched off but parking lights still on. In the evening the battery got dried and he had to call the help line to restore it.

Moral: Each one has its own advantage and disadvantage.

alright i go with you.. but still wanna comment that.. parking lights dont drain much of the battery as much as headlights..

[gopinathann]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh.C

I raised this topic earlier and let me raise it again. What is the deal with one reverse light in SX4. I hate it for it looks plain silly for such a big car to have just one reverse light. They could have placed the stupid rear fog lamp elsewhere and given a pair of reverse lights instead of just one. What is the majority opinion here.

Yes Venkatesh, it is just a cost cutting, but I don't know how much they will save doing that. Looks weird when taking reverse as if one of them is not working. Them same is being followed in Logan and some other cars also.

[PRADEEP KUMAR]

Folks,
I find it very strange as well.
The reverse fog lamp works "ONLY WHEN THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE ON".If it is to used only when reversing it is a criminal waste.Why will you want to ride with a fog light switched on in the rear
Any experienced DRIVER will tell you to switch off the head ligths while reversing at nights.