Position Lights....what are they good for?

[wtc101]

I have a 2014 Genny and wonder why the "position lights" only come on for a few seconds when the engine starts. Is this right, or is there a function or process to use them? I reviewed the manual but these lights are mentioned only once with no info thereafter!

 

[iSOBigD]

I googled it and I'm not sure what lights you mean. Do you mean the AFLS light on your dash? If so, that levels your HID lights depending on the weight of the car or weight in your trunk apparently for legal reasons.

 

[kn5owa]

Position lamps or position lights are new terms for what we use to call side marker lights (if they are on the side of the car) also called parking lights or parking lamps or side lights.

I think the headlight stalk or stick has a notch or position for turning them on manually. Why would they come on for a few seconds during engine starting? Who knows? My 2015 Genny makes all kinds of lights and sounds for short periods of time. Maybe to warn people that you're cranking up that macho engine.

Wikipedia says that parking lights (which is the term I'm mostly familiar with) are supposed to make your car conspicuous when parked. Go figure. Maybe they warn people that you're starting your engine, in your case.

I personally have always considered them essentially worthless - a lot of times, people drive around at night with only their parking lights on - thinking their headlights are on. This is why they have laws against driving at night using only your parking lights.

The owner's manual, of course, is useless - it mentions them only once at p. 7-79 in my Genny manual to denote their position on the rear tail-lamp assembly.

In the area of trivia - shut the ignition down - and leave the car with the side door window down, the car plays the nicest little tune - at least on my 2015 Genny.

 

[craigt]

In the area of trivia...

I think I missed the question.

 

[wtc101]

I googled it and I'm not sure what lights you mean. Do you mean the AFLS light on your dash? If so, that levels your HID lights depending on the weight of the car or weight in your trunk apparently for legal reasons.

Thanks guys, let's try this one more time. Page 7-62 of the 2014 manual makes the only reference to this "position light". When looking into the headlight there is the low beam, high beam, side marker, turn signal, position light (then fog light below). This position light looks like a bright white LED "ribbon" that starts below the low beam then curves up and over the high beam and ends at the side marker.

 

[wtc101]

Position lamps or position lights are new terms for what we use to call side marker lights (if they are on the side of the car) also called parking lights or parking lamps or side lights.

I think the headlight stalk or stick has a notch or position for turning them on manually. Why would they come on for a few seconds during engine starting? Who knows? My 2015 Genny makes all kinds of lights and sounds for short periods of time. Maybe to warn people that you're cranking up that macho engine.

Wikipedia says that parking lights (which is the term I'm mostly familiar with) are supposed to make your car conspicuous when parked. Go figure. Maybe they warn people that you're starting your engine, in your case.

I personally have always considered them essentially worthless - a lot of times, people drive around at night with only their parking lights on - thinking their headlights are on. This is why they have laws against driving at night using only your parking lights.

The owner's manual, of course, is useless - it mentions them only once at p. 7-79 in my Genny manual to denote their position on the rear tail-lamp assembly.

In the area of trivia - shut the ignition down - and leave the car with the side door window down, the car plays the nicest little tune - at least on my 2015 Genny.

Thanks guys, let's try this one more time. Page 7-62 of the 2014 manual makes the only reference to this "position light". When looking into the headlight there is the low beam, high beam, side marker, turn signal, position light (then fog light below). This position light looks like a bright white LED "ribbon" that starts below the low beam then curves up and over the high beam and ends at the side marker.

 

[wtc101]

I think I missed the question.

Thanks guys, let's try this one more time. Page 7-62 of the 2014 manual makes the only reference to this "position light". When looking into the headlight there is the low beam, high beam, side marker, turn signal, position light (then fog light below). This position light looks like a bright white LED "ribbon" that starts below the low beam then curves up and over the high beam and ends at the side marker.

 

[PMCErnie]

I'll answer your three identical questions (?!) once. Forget about the name of these lights. They come on when you select the headlights or parking light settings. They are accent lights only and good for nothing. No, they are not DRLs.

 

[kn5owa]

I'll answer your three identical questions (?!) once. Forget about the name of these lights. They come on when you select the headlights or parking light settings. They are accent lights only and good for nothing. No, they are not DRLs.

Excellent answer:

They are known under a variety of names as I noted in my orig. post, and they are worthless - except people do get tickets for driving around at nite with only those lights on.

 

[wtc101]

Thanks for your advice!

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