Symptoms of a Faulty or Faulty Daytime Running Light Module

If your daytime running lights do not come on, do not stay on when the vehicle is turned off, or emit a burning smell, you may need to replace the module.

Daytime running lights are a safety feature found on many late model vehicles. Daytime running lights are simply lights at the front of the car, usually built into the headlight unit, that come on whenever the car is in motion. They are a separate light source from the actual headlights and the light they emit merely provides an additional visual cue to help make the vehicle more visible to pedestrians and other drivers on the road. Normally the daytime running lights cannot be turned on and off manually and are controlled automatically by the daytime running light module. The daytime running light module is the computer that controls the daytime running lights and any problems with the module can cause the headlights to not work properly. Usually, a faulty or defective daytime running light module will cause several symptoms that may alert the driver to a potential problem that needs to be fixed.

1. Daytime running lights do not light up

One of the most common signs of a potential problem with the daytime running light module is that the daytime running lights do not come on. Since the module controls and supplies power to the lamps, if the lamps fail, the daytime running lights will be left without power and will not work as a result.

2. Daytime running lights remain on when the vehicle is turned off.

Another sign of a potential problem with the daytime running light module is daytime running lights that remain on even when the vehicle is turned off. Most daytime running lights turn off when the vehicle is no longer moving or when the key is removed from the ignition. If the headlights stay on even after the key is removed, this may be an indication that the module may have an internal short or a short in the wiring and is supplying power to the headlights even when it is not supposed to. This will cause accelerated lamp and housing wear, as well as parasitic battery discharge until the problem is corrected.

3. The smell of burning

Another sign of a potential problem with the daytime running light module is a burning smell. If there is any problem in the daytime running light module that prevents proper lamp power regulation, this can lead to overheating of the lamps, wiring, or even the module itself. This can lead to a burning smell from the engine bay and possibly even a little smoke as the wiring overheats and the insulation burns out. If this problem is not addressed quickly, it can quickly become a security risk.

The daytime running light module is a component of many new vehicles and is required for the daytime running lights to work properly. If you suspect that your daytime running light module may have a problem, have your vehicle checked by a professional technician such as AvtoTachki to determine if your vehicle needs to have the daytime running light module replaced.