Have you ever forgotten to turn off the headlights or any electrical equipment after turning off the car engine? Many drivers have encountered this situation and their car is out of battery the next morning. When the Subaru is idle and the engine is turned off, how will the headlights of the car work? Do Subaru headlights turn off automatically? Let’s learn about how automatic headlights work and the benefits of them.
Do Subaru Headlights Turn Off Automatically?
Whether car headlights automatically turn off after you turn off the engine completely depends on the type of headlight system that the manufacturer installs on that type of car. Usually, it will be installed in the control panel in on or off modes. You can customize whether the headlights turn on or off automatically on the car’s dashboard.
Subaru’s headlights will automatically turn off after you turn off the engine if you set the headlights to “automatic”. This is a necessary and safety feature for cars to prevent the battery from dying or draining. Automatic headlights can change phase near or far each time another vehicle approaches to ensure safe visibility for moving vehicles.
How Do Automatic Headlights Work?
Automatic headlights are a technology that automatically adjusts the lighting system in cars. This system has cameras and optical sensors that help to recognize the traffic situation in front and the light conditions in the moving area. Depending on the situation, the headlights will automatically adjust the light to ensure the best visibility and bring convenience to the driver.
The main structure of automatic headlights includes components such as optical sensors and cameras and automatic headlight control systems. The optical sensor is located close to the edge just below the windshield. Its function is to monitor the light conditions around the moving vehicle and transmit the data to the automatic headlight control system.
The front view camera is mounted on the rearview mirror in the vehicle. It will observe and detect the light source coming from the traffic ahead in both directions (in the same direction and the opposite direction).
The control system is responsible for automatically switching from headlights to lights and vice versa after receiving data from sensors and cameras. Depending on different situations, other vehicles moving in the opposite direction or the same direction, and good or bad lighting conditions around the passing vehicle area, the system will automatically adjust the lights accordingly.
With advanced technology, when the automatic headlights are activated, the driver does not need to turn on/off the headlights manually. This system will automatically control the headlights appropriate to each specific situation.
During travel, the optical sensor in the automatic headlights will recognize the light conditions in the area where the vehicle is moving. From there, it will send signals to the automatic headlight control system. If your vehicle is moving at night or in low-light conditions, the system will receive the information and turn on the car’s headlights to ensure visibility for the driver. Conversely, in case the light conditions around the vehicle are found to be good enough, the headlights will not be activated.
The operation of the CCTV camera takes place in parallel with the optical sensor. Specifically, the CCTV camera will automatically classify the light source of the vehicles ahead of the headlights or taillights. Once it detects that a vehicle is moving in the lighting area of the headlights, the system automatically turns off the headlights and switches to the low lights. After determining that the road is empty, the new headlights will automatically reactivate.
How Often Will The Headlights Turn Off Automatically?
Automatic headlights have a time delay to turn off. It means the headlights will stay on for a while after you have turned off the engine. Most headlight systems of car manufacturers will have the same operating principle. The time that the headlights automatically turn off after the engine has been turned off is usually between 3 and 5 minutes.
This time will depend on each manufacturer and does not have any specific criteria. The reason is that when the engine is completely turned off and there is no restart, the sensor will signal and the headlights will automatically turn off completely.
Why Are The Headlights Still On When I Have The Engine Off?
A common cause of automatic headlights remaining on while the engine is off is a problem with the body control module. This system is often referred to as daytime running lights in many automakers. As you know, the automatic high beam system does not affect the dashboard lights. If your automatic headlights cannot turn off, replace the module.
In addition, another reason is related to the delay time of automatic headlights. The automatic headlights will remain on for several minutes after you have turned off the engine. Therefore, if the sensor system is faulty, the headlights will not be able to turn off on their own. A malfunctioning headlight relay may prevent the headlights from turning off automatically. In this case, you should check and replace the relay.
Conclude
Subaru’s headlights can turn off automatically if it’s programmed in auto mode in the dashboard. Automatic headlights will automatically turn lights on or off, and change phase far or near when detecting vehicles moving ahead. Therefore, you and other road users will not be affected by the visibility ahead.
In addition, automatic high beams can also encounter some problems that prevent the lights from turning off automatically. The cause may be a faulty module in the body of the car or a faulty relay. Therefore, you should check the module and relay regularly to avoid problems with the headlights and affecting the car battery.