Parking lights --- what's the point?

[Rebecca B.]

This may be a dumb question, but what are parking lights for?

I discovered my car had them today when one of the guys at the carwash
accidently bumped the switch while cleaning the inside and I couldn't
figure out why my tail lights and blinkers were staying on when my car
was off.

 

[Ragnar]

This may be a dumb question, but what are parking lights for?

Presumably for "parking".

 

[Rebecca B.]

Right, but I just don't understand why I would want to be able to turn

 

[othelloperrello]

As far as my understanding, the oft-misused parking lights are for
turning on when you are in your car but not moving. Thus, if you are
driving then need to pull over and stop for whatever reason you drop
your lights down one level to the parking lights so that other drivers
know you are not moving or about to move. That's about it. I use them
occasionally, and honestly I more than often I see people driving
around with them on as some kind of "dusk lights", but in fact it's
usually illegal to drive with your parking lights on.

you know, my subby has a switch on the steering column that allows me
to toggle whether the lights stay on when I turn my car off or not.
Pretty cool, I don't know if they discontinued that option or what, but
it's pretty handy.

Best,

 

[Ed]

Right, but I just don't understand why I would want to be able to turn
on this certain set of lights and have the stay on when my car is off.
It sounds like a dead battery waiting to happen to me.

So how do they do this in Europe. I've heard that in some places you
have to leave them on all night when you park on the side of the road.
Supposedly you can switch on just the left or right side, depending on
which side of the road you park.

 

[Rebecca B.]

As far as my understanding, the oft-misused parking lights are for
turning on when you are in your car but not moving. Thus, if you are
driving then need to pull over and stop for whatever reason you drop
your lights down one level to the parking lights so that other drivers
know you are not moving or about to move.

Isn't this what your hazards are for?

 

[B A R R Y]

Isn't this what your hazards are for?

Hazards are to attract lots of attention, when the vehicle is in a
hazardous spot or seeking help. They are annoying to other drivers in
certain situations.

Parking lights simply make you easier to spot in low speed situations,
and are way easier on other driver's eyes as they maneuver around you.
In some countries, parking lights are used when the vehicle is parked on
narrow streets at night.

On another note, the parking lights (and taillights) typically light
trailer running lights, and on my enclosed trailer, provided power for
the inside lights. That switch let me have lights inside the trailer
without leaving the keys in the vehicle or other electricals powered up.
Hazards gave me a portable disco inside the trailer! <G>

 

[Rebecca B.]

Hazards are to attract lots of attention, when the vehicle is in a
hazardous spot or seeking help. They are annoying to other drivers in
certain situations.

Parking lights simply make you easier to spot in low speed situations,
and are way easier on other driver's eyes as they maneuver around you.
In some countries, parking lights are used when the vehicle is parked on
narrow streets at night.

On another note, the parking lights (and taillights) typically light
trailer running lights, and on my enclosed trailer, provided power for
the inside lights. That switch let me have lights inside the trailer
without leaving the keys in the vehicle or other electricals powered up.
Hazards gave me a portable disco inside the trailer! <G>

Ah, I see. That makes sense.

 

[Lenny Kitching]

If you park on the right hand side of the road in the UK then the rear
reflectors are ineffective. It is advisable to therefore use the parking
lights. In sub-urban and rural areas they are also useful for visibility.

Don't believe it is law but more advisable.

Lenny

 

[Ed]

If you park on the right hand side of the road in the UK then the rear
reflectors are ineffective. It is advisable to therefore use the parking
lights. In sub-urban and rural areas they are also useful for visibility.

Don't believe it is law but more advisable.

Lenny

Ah, found it at the wikipedia:

In Germany, the StVZO (Road Code) calls for a different function also
known as parking lamps: With the vehicle's ignition switched off, the
operator may activate a low-intensity light at the front (amber or
white) and rear (red) on either the left or the right side of the car.
This function is used when parking in narrow unlit streets to provide
parked-vehicle conspicuity to approaching drivers. This function, which
is optional under ECE and US regulations, is served passively and
without power consumption in North America by the mandatory sidemarker
retroreflectors.

 

[y_p_w]

As far as my understanding, the oft-misused parking lights are for
turning on when you are in your car but not moving. Thus, if you are
driving then need to pull over and stop for whatever reason you drop
your lights down one level to the parking lights so that other drivers
know you are not moving or about to move. That's about it. I use them
occasionally, and honestly I more than often I see people driving
around with them on as some kind of "dusk lights", but in fact it's
usually illegal to drive with your parking lights on.

I tried leaving them on in a dark parking lot. I was under the
impression that they could be left on overnight without draining
the battery completely. I came back to my car with the battery
almost completely dead. The power locks functioned weakly,
and I didn't have enough to start the engine.

Luckily I was staying at a place where the manager had battery
problems before and kept an emergency jump starter in his van.
It worked like a charm and I had a long enough drive to charge
up my battery for at least a couple of cold starts.

When I got home I checked what was available and got a couple
of these for the family:

<http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-PS-120A-Mity-Mite-JumpStarter-Internal/dp/B00030BFJW>

There are other brands on the market. I know Wal-Mart and many
auto parts stores carry different kinds. Some come with on/off
switches (to avoid accidental shorting). Some have lights or
air compressors built-in. I like this one since it's small and easy
to handle. I've actually used it twice. Once was in a parking lot
for someone who would have had a hard time getting another car
in position to use regular jump cables. The other time it was for
a coworker who used to make fun of my penchant for electronics
gadgets. If you use one of these things, I've heard it's a good
idea to let it run a minute or so. Something about reducing the
current charging a mostly dead battery and to actually charge
the jump starter's battery.

 

[AS]

I think you already got your answer. They are used to make your car
visible at night, while parked, drawing less current from your battery.
Some european cars can turn the lights on only one side of the car or
both. I normally use them when I leave my car on the street at night.

One secondary benefit, is that they partially and slowly discharge the
battery, thus avoiding "cristalization" of the chemicals in the battery
plates. When I was younger and went out at night a lot, I always used
them and the battery in my father's car, lasted just around 9 years (he
sold the car after 20 years, ). The issue is that you will get many
well intentioned people calling your attention to you having left your
lights on.

 

[Rebecca B.]

Thanks, everyone for your responses.

 

[Jim Stewart]

This may be a dumb question, but what are parking lights for?

I discovered my car had them today when one of the guys at the carwash
accidently bumped the switch while cleaning the inside and I couldn't
figure out why my tail lights and blinkers were staying on when my car
was off.

As others have mentioned, they are commonly
used in Europe, when parking in unlit alleys
and narrow streets. Typically they are not
used all night, just for the time it takes
to shop or have a meal.

It is a good habit to use them at night when
you stop to yield the right-of-way to someone,
but you still want them to know you are there.
For example, a car pulling out of the parking
place in front of you. Use the parking lights
to let him know you're there, but don't blind
him with your headlights. Similarly, when
I pull over for an emergency vehicle, I always
switch to the parking lights to indicate that
I see him and am yielding the right-of-way.

 

[Paul Knudsen]

This may be a dumb question, but what are parking lights for?

For visibility, when driving in the rain. (assuming running lights
also). Other than that, not much I guess.

 

[John Rethorst]

For visibility, when driving in the rain. (assuming running lights
also). Other than that, not much I guess.

If you need to park somewhere at night where others would not expect a car to be
parked.

 

[y_p_w]

If you need to park somewhere at night where others would not expect a car to be
parked.

My experience was that my battery was drained to the point where it
didn't have enought to start after about 10 hours. I don't know at
what point it wouldn't have started, but I have the feeling it isn't
meant for more than a couple of hours tops. If you really need to
make sure the car is visible, I might suggest something like a
battery powered LED blinker for bicycle use.

 

[Stephen H]

It often is a dead battery! Just did one today. The point is that Subaru has
the regular light switch ties to the ignition switch, and this gives someone
the option of leaving the light on with the key off. Not normally possible
on Subaru's
Sorry i'm late on thir reply, and i'm also sorry is someone else answered
it.


--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/
http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm

 

[Jeff Clodfelter]

good question let me know if you find out .. Jeff

 

[Ed]

good question let me know if you find out .. Jeff

This is has got to be one of the oddest posts. There are a good dozen
plus replies with several good answers and all you can do is ask what
the original poster finds out???? Try following the thread.