Daytime Running LampsDaytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier forothers to see the front of your vehicle during theday. DRL can be helpful in many different drivingconditions, but they can be especially helpful in the shortperiods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functionaldaytime running lamps are required on all vehiclesfirst sold in Canada.The DRL system will make the turn signal lamps comeon when the following conditions are met:• It is still daylight and the ignition is in ON or START,• the exterior lamp control is in off or AUTO with theheadlamps off, and• an automatic transmission is not in PARK (P) or theparking brake is not set on a manual transmission.When DRL are on, only your front turn signal lampswill be on. No other exterior lamps will be on when theDRL are being used. Your instrument panel won’tbe lit up either.When the exterior lamp control is in AUTO and it’s darkenough outside, the DRL will turn off and the low-beamheadlamps will turn on. When it’s bright enough outside,the low-beam headlamps will go off, and the DRL will turnback on. If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, theautomatic headlamp system will come on immediately.Once you leave the garage, it will take about one minutefor the automatic headlamp system to change to DRL if itis light outside. During that delay, your instrument panelcluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure yourinstrument panel brightness lever is in the full brightposition. SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on page 3-24.If it’s dark enough outside and the exterior lamp controlis off, a Headlamps Suggested message will appearon the Driver’s Information Center (DIC) display.This message informs the driver that turning on theexterior lamps is recommended even though the DRLare still illuminated. Turning the exterior lamp control toAUTO or to the low-beam headlamp position willturn off the DRL and cancel the Headlamps Suggestedmessage. If the parking lamps or the fog lamps wereturned on instead, the DRL will still turn off and theHeadlamps Suggested message will be displayed. Youcan turn it off by pressing the OK button if you havethe Navigation audio system or the CLR button ifyou have the Base audio system.To operate your vehicle with the DRL off, turn theexterior lamp control off. Then turn on the fog lampsor parking lamps, and the DRL will turn off. TheHeadlamps Suggested message will appear on theDIC display. This will work regardless of gear positionand whether or not the parking brake is set.As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regularheadlamp system when you need it.3-22
