Topic: 01 Elantra Daytime Running Lights Problem

[Pcan]

 I just purchased a  2001 Hyundai Elantra.
The car has daytime running lights so a portion of the head lights are on when the car is started.
The problem is the tail lights and the front side markers are also on.
These normally come on in the second position on the light switch.
The third position, head lights on works fine.
Any ideas how to fix this?

[Gardiner Westbound]

Check a similar 2001 Elantra before you conclude there is a problem. A few makes include the rear and side marker lights in the DRL scheme. The headlights should be at reduced illumination. A tip-off may be if the rear licence plate light is on in the daytime. If it is you likely have a problem. I have no idea how to repair it.

[Pcan]

Thanks for the tip...I discoverd another problem now.
The licence plate lights on the rear were off.
However they were still off when I turned on the head lights.
I picked the car up on Saturday and its going back to the place I bought it tomorrow.
Guess I'll let them fix it.
Shouldn't that have been discovered during the "safety"?

[articsteve]

Yes, working license plate lights are part of an  Ontario Safety Inspection Certificate.

[Pcan]

I just checked and both licence plate bulbs are burnt out!

[barrie1]

The law in Ont states that you must have one white light and at least one red light on the back of any vehicle to be legal. Of Course the white light is the license plate light. This should have been picked up in the safety for sure. 

[exserviceguy]

Hi Pcan and welcome to the forum.  For your peace of mind, on your Elantra it is normal for the marker and taillamps to be illuminated on daytime running light settings.  I guess the gurus in Korea thought if having the headlights on all the time make you more noticeable to oncoming traffic, there is some merit in having you more visable to traffice coming at you from the rear or sides.  All late model Hyundais operate that way.

[wing]

  Hyundai is one of the few manufacturers that are smart enough to turn on the taillights as well as the headlights for Daytime running lights.  My hats off to Hyundai for that, since tons of people are too dumb to turn on their lights at night.

[bmorton]

Hyundai USED to have the taillights come on with DRLs, but not for a while now. Neither my sister's '06 Tucson or a co-worker's '04 Elantra works that way, although another co-worker's '97 Accent does. Headlights only now.

[articsteve]

  Hyundai is one of the few manufacturers that are smart enough to turn on the taillights as well as the headlights for Daytime running lights.  My hats off to Hyundai for that, since tons of people are too dumb to turn on their lights at night.

My Bimmer, Sabb and my 98 Volvo were all lights on when car running.  Have they changed that?

[tpl]

bmws no longer do that....stupid car company... I think that buying a new headlight switch at a Swedish bmw dealer would fix it tho'

[Pcan]

Thanks for all the help guys.
I had no idea that tail lights are used in the DRL system on some cars.
Nice to know it wasn't a problem after all.
We live...we learn!