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Noticed that the LEDs on Audis go off when Signalling

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by TonyPSchaefer, May 11, 2011.

  1. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I noticed this the other day and thought there was a problem with the dude's car. But then I noticed it in other similar cars. I'll try my best to describe it:

    Audis now have that "eyebrow" of LEDs that run along the top of the headlight assembly. When the car is signalling a turn, the LED eyebrow turns off as the signal blinks. Not as an alternating "LED . Signal . LED . Signal" but the LEDs turn off, the signal blinks and when the signal gets cancelled, the LED comes back on.

    I find this odd. Has anyone else noticed this and does anyone have a rational explanation as to why they would implement this?


    addendum: Here's a thread at AudiWorld acknowledging this: http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2801816
     
    #1 TonyPSchaefer, May 11, 2011
  2. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    #2 GrumpyCabbie, May 11, 2011
  3. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    Yes - I have noticed it as well. In many of the models the LED strip also doubles as the turn signal so it is the strip that is actually blinking. It does look a bit strange, but it seems like it is needed as it would be tougher to notice the blinking if it stayed on - white and amber alternating would be tougher to notice than amber blinking alone. I do not know if this was mandated by the government or if Audi just decided to do it on its own, but I think it is a good decision.
     
    #3 stevemcelroy, May 11, 2011
  4. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    I believe it's to meet the requirements of the FMVSS. Specifically, Standard 108 (49 CFR 571.108), S5.5.11(a)(4)(iv) which requires deactivation of an adjacent DRL when the signal lamp is activated and certain other conditions are not met. Here is the text. I made minor changes in braces for readability.

     
    #4 Politburo, May 11, 2011
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  5. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

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    I noticed it for the first time yesterday while coming to work. Thought it looked pretty cool.
     
    #5 San_Carlos_Jeff, May 11, 2011
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Is Audi the one with the sad LED brows, or angry like BMW?
     
    #6 Trollbait, May 11, 2011
  7. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i noticed this a couple months back...

    i was going to say i don't like it.. i think it looks odd.. and it's probably done that way so that people can see the turn signals better (as someone else already proved.. sorry.. not looking at names).

    I like the Mercedes turn signals on the higher end S sedans... an entire row of yellow LEDs under the entire lamp.. very clear to see..
     
    #7 V8Cobrakid, May 11, 2011
  8. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Yes. Actually, I'd seen a bunch of Audis where it seemed like one LED strip was burned out. I mentioned this on an OT Audi thread at my350z.com and that's when someone pointed out to me the behavior Tony's pointing out.

    Maybe I wasn't paying that close attention before but now when I look, when I see a Audi w/a strip out, that side's turn signals are on. Now, I'm not so sure about what I saw before. Was I previously seeing a mix of Audis w/the by design behavior and another set really with one set burned out?
     
    #8 cwerdna, May 11, 2011
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    A few Chrysler products do as it as well but their DRLs are still the high beams. I believe it's so that the indicators can be better seen. Those Audi DRLs are pretty bright (and so are some of the Chrysler products' halogen DRLs)
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, May 14, 2011
  10. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    The Prius's turn signal mirrors does the same. I've seen some Cadillacs do the same too. KK6PD's switchback LED mod does the same except his alternates between white and amber. You can get bulbs that act the same as the Audi's.
    This is the Prius's signal mirror
     
    #10 cproaudio, May 14, 2011
  11. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    I noticed it on a friend's new Audi. I beleive they do it to reduce any confusion between the turn signal and other accessory driving lights (e.g. the LEDs)
     
    #11 a_gray_prius, May 18, 2011
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