In all newer post-2010 vehicles, installation of Daytime running lights as knows as DRLs is compulsory and comes as factory fitted component in all the automobiles. This is a security enhanced feature that is added into the manufacturing of cars to make them safer on the road by improving the glare. However, it comes now as a standard but depending upon the car’s make and model specifications, day time running lights are either factory fitted or retrofit in older cars onto the bottom of the front bumper.
What are LED DRLs?
Since mostly DRLs in older cars are fitted into the headlight unit, not to confuse them with the headlights because they do not have any rear marker lights nor they illuminate the road ahead of the vehicle. These are simply the dim lights at the front of the vehicle to provide an additional visual cue to the others on the road during day time. When you drive during daytime you don’t need to use xenon HID bulbs or LED lights because LED DRLs are a good source of providing better and earlier visibility of your car and saving energy whilst driving.
DRLs are installed as auto light function and usually turns on with ignition. Originally for older cars they worked by using a lower power setting on already existing high beam lights (halogen headlights) and require you to turn on side lights or main (low) beam manually and when sidelights will be turned on together with them but as the time is passing by, automakers are adopting DRLs as a brand identifier and each auto maker is now making its own unique look like Audi VW Skoda BMW or Mercedes-Benz.
So, when your Audi car is turned on by the driver or the automatic system of the vehicle, DRLs should be turned on and off with the ignition but sometimes, when the car is ignited you receive a warning message displayed on your dashboard asking you to check Right side light / daytime running light.
What does Right side light/ daytime running light error mean in Audi?
Though this error is common in other vehicles as well such as Mercedes Benz Skoda VW Volkswagen Seat Porsche BMW Ford Vauxhall Opel GMC Cadillac Fiat Citroen Peugeot and many others, in Audi and all other cars with this error message, this means that LED daytime running lights have got malfunctioned and one of the components from LED Power and Control Module (VAG group cars such as Audi VW Skoda and Seat are mostly fitted on Delphi and Keboda brand LED power and control modules for led daytime driving lights), LED with heat sink diode used to emit light or the lamp itself have stopped working.
Usually one side of LED DRL light component goes out, but we always recommend to check LED unit module and the best way to check it for a fault is to change sides or replacing it with a new one, since it is the mostly failing part in most cases, but if changing sides doesn’t work and message does not disappear it means both sides have stopped to working at the same time it might be a different issue as it is very rare that both DRLs fail at the same time and when it happens problem may be with the LED diode with heat sink.
Diagnosis and troubleshooting the DRLs malfunctioning
Since no indicator light illuminates with the DRLs warning message to indicate a specific problem, having an exact idea of where the problem actually lies or comes from saves you a lot of time, energy and cost. Sometimes it may be only about a cheap pound bulb but you may end up with buying an expensive LED modules or diodes and all in vain, all depends on the vehicle’s model year and headlamp specification as each car could be fitted with different headlights such as halogen, LED or Xenon headlights. So, we recommend that first you consult to the owner’s manual before diving deep into troubleshooting process.
Following are some symptoms that may be noticed if there is a problem with the daytime running lights system:
- The DRL indicator light is OFF on the dashboard.
- The DRL indicator light is ON, but the actual DRL are not working properly.
- The DRL doesn’t work and there is warning message about that as well
To start with diagnosis, first of all check wirings and fuses and try other lights with this bulb to check if the problem is identified because all the lights can’t go out of function at the same time. If this is a sidelight bulb failure then just pull off the faulty bulb and replace it with a new one.
If none of these tricks solve the issue then give a check to the DRL module and just change the side as it will save both time and money invested before purchasing a new module.
If the error still persists, a final check is to be given to the LED diode with heat sink which emits light to the DRLs. Like every electronic component, Led diodes have a life which may be completed over a period of time or sometimes it may be damaged due to the moisture or any accident which might have harmed it.
The most common warning messages for faulty module:
- Left Right Side Light Daytime Running Light
- Please check Left Right Daytime Running Lights/Side Light
- Side Light / Daytime Running Light, Left-Side Right-Side
How to fix the error?
Once you go through all these steps and performed the diagnosis and identified the real faulty part, the only solution to any fault identified is the replacement; since none of these parts are serviceable. So, you will have to either replace them on your own only if you can do it professionally or take your car to the auto dealer or garage for the replacement of the faulty part.
All replacement parts could be ordered at our shop at competitive prices with fast deliver worldwide.
