no difference in lighting on my A4 1997.

hi there. i have always noticed that in my 1997 a4 1,8tq, when using my
daytime runners (in Canada) or using the full headlights, there is zero
change in lighting in the headlights. there is no bulb actually even
switching on when the headlights are on as compared to the daytime runners.
if i switch to highbeams, the lights do get brighter - but it really only
seems like the same bulbs are growing brighter - not a separate bulb turning
on.

it wasnt a problem before, but now im going to be buying a xenon kit upgrade
.. obviously i need a separate set of leads to power the xenons and cant be
driving around all day with xenons going full blast. if someone knows why my
audi headlight wiring is so messed up please fill me in. im pretty sure it
isnt the bulbs since both sides have the same problem. could it be a fuse i
need to change positions for or something?

"G" > wrote in message
...
> hi there. i have always noticed that in my 1997 a4 1,8tq, when using my
> daytime runners (in Canada) or using the full headlights, there is zero
> change in lighting in the headlights. there is no bulb actually even
> switching on when the headlights are on as compared to the daytime
> runners. if i switch to highbeams, the lights do get brighter - but it
> really only seems like the same bulbs are growing brighter - not a
> separate bulb turning on.
>
> it wasnt a problem before, but now im going to be buying a xenon kit
> upgrade . obviously i need a separate set of leads to power the xenons and
> cant be driving around all day with xenons going full blast. if someone
> knows why my audi headlight wiring is so messed up please fill me in. im
> pretty sure it isnt the bulbs since both sides have the same problem.
> could it be a fuse i need to change positions for or something?
>

What's wrong with the xenons?
In Europe we drive al day with them switched on. Law in Italy and strongly
advised in Holland and more countries.

Ronald (NL and I)

In message >
"G" > wrote:

> hi there. i have always noticed that in my 1997 a4 1,8tq, when using
> my daytime runners (in Canada) or using the full headlights, there is
> zero change in lighting in the headlights. there is no bulb actually
> even switching on when the headlights are on as compared to the
> daytime runners.

That sounds perfectly possible - is there any reason why dipped beam
headlights shouldn't also serve as DRLs?

> if i switch to highbeams, the lights do get brighter - but it really
> only seems like the same bulbs are growing brighter - not a separate
> bulb turning on.

Depending on what type of bulbs your headlamps take, it is quite
possibly a dual filament bulb. When you switch to main beam, an
alternate, slightly more powerful, filament is turned on.

> it wasnt a problem before, but now im going to be buying a xenon kit
> upgrade. obviously i need a separate set of leads to power the xenons
> and cant be driving around all day with xenons going full blast.

Why not? Xenons run at a lower power than normal filament headlamps.

> if someone knows why my audi headlight wiring is so messed up please
> fill me in. im pretty sure it isnt the bulbs since both sides have the
> same problem. could it be a fuse i need to change positions for or
> something?

I would be surprised if there is anything wrong.

--
Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with 'bellfamily')

Maybe Audis just turn on the lights for DTR. There is no separate bulb on
other cars, just lower voltage to the lights.
"Peter Bell" > wrote in message
...
> In message >
> "G" > wrote:
>
>> hi there. i have always noticed that in my 1997 a4 1,8tq, when using
>> my daytime runners (in Canada) or using the full headlights, there is
>> zero change in lighting in the headlights. there is no bulb actually
>> even switching on when the headlights are on as compared to the
>> daytime runners.
>
> That sounds perfectly possible - is there any reason why dipped beam
> headlights shouldn't also serve as DRLs?
>
>> if i switch to highbeams, the lights do get brighter - but it really
>> only seems like the same bulbs are growing brighter - not a separate
>> bulb turning on.
>
> Depending on what type of bulbs your headlamps take, it is quite
> possibly a dual filament bulb. When you switch to main beam, an
> alternate, slightly more powerful, filament is turned on.
>
>> it wasnt a problem before, but now im going to be buying a xenon kit
>> upgrade. obviously i need a separate set of leads to power the xenons
>> and cant be driving around all day with xenons going full blast.
>
> Why not? Xenons run at a lower power than normal filament headlamps.
>
>> if someone knows why my audi headlight wiring is so messed up please
>> fill me in. im pretty sure it isnt the bulbs since both sides have the
>> same problem. could it be a fuse i need to change positions for or
>> something?
>
> I would be surprised if there is anything wrong.
>
> --
> Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with
> 'bellfamily')

Pre-99.5 A4s use low beams as DRLs in Canada, so you wouldn't see a
difference when you switch on your headlights, because they're on all the
time. Newer model A4's (1999.5 and newer) use the lower front foglights as
DRLs. On other cars, they use the high beams at a reduced power for DRLs,
so when you flash your high beams, it gets brighter.

There is a simple way to disable your headlights and just having your
parking lights as DRLs if you don't want to run your Xenons all day. Check
out http://www.audiworld.com/tech/ext7.shtml


"G" > wrote in message
...
> hi there. i have always noticed that in my 1997 a4 1,8tq, when using my
> daytime runners (in Canada) or using the full headlights, there is zero
> change in lighting in the headlights. there is no bulb actually even
> switching on when the headlights are on as compared to the daytime
> runners. if i switch to highbeams, the lights do get brighter - but it
> really only seems like the same bulbs are growing brighter - not a
> separate bulb turning on.
>
> it wasnt a problem before, but now im going to be buying a xenon kit
> upgrade . obviously i need a separate set of leads to power the xenons and
> cant be driving around all day with xenons going full blast. if someone
> knows why my audi headlight wiring is so messed up please fill me in. im
> pretty sure it isnt the bulbs since both sides have the same problem.
> could it be a fuse i need to change positions for or something?
>
>
>