How to turn OFF the lights while AC and power is on????

[lucchase]

How do you go wath a film at the drive-in cinema or just sit quietly in the car at night with the headlights completely OFF? Dashboard lights off too.
There must be a way to do this, surely.

 

[Rolfe]

This has been discussed in one or two threads now, notably with reference to sleeping in the car with the heating/aircon on, and as far as I know nobody has come up with a solution. A good few months ago a member joined asking specifically about this issue - apparently Teslas have a "camp mode" that allows this - but while we found ways round everything else we couldn't crack that one.

More recently a member reported actually sleeping in his car during a trip to the Highlands of Scotland, and confirmed that the heating/aircon stays on even without someone sitting in the driver's seat, but he had to put some sort of magnetically-attaching cover over the lights. When the wind blew that off he switched the car off and let the windows steam up.

I seriously wonder if there is a market for an aftermarket bushel to cover these lights with, that won't slide or blow off. Drive-in cinemas, just parking up to sit and wait for a while (in particular, aurora-watching), sleeping in the car - why is there no way to turn the lights off? Surely a simple matter to have the car set to turn them on if it's actually moving!

There's also an issue with the lights (rear lights as well) coming on when the pre-heating function is enabled. Some people find it useful in that the car lights are showing for them to walk out to the warmed car, but others worry that the car sitting motionless with lights blazing for ten or even twenty minutes at six in the morning is likely to annoy the neighbours.

So I don't know, but a solution would be welcome all round.

 

[Coulomb]

The eZS app (Android only) has a way of turning off the Daylight Running Lights. It's a bit of fussing about, but for camping, outdoor movies and the like, it would be worth the effort. It's possible that this function would work on other models, or (with time) be modified to suit.

 

[Lanster27]

Headlights can be turned off from the knob, right? For the screens, the only thing I can think of is turning the brightness all the way down.

 

[JonnyG]

Headlights can be turned off from the knob, right? For the screens, the only thing I can think of is turning the brightness all the way down.

Yes but the DLR's stay on.

MG need to add a dog/pet mode like all the other newer EV brands (Tesla / BYD etc...)

 

[lucchase]

The eZS app (Android only) has a way of turning off the Daylight Running Lights. It's a bit of fussing about, but for camping, outdoor movies and the like, it would be worth the effort. It's possible that this function would work on other models, or (with time) be modified to suit.

Will try this over the weekend.
My MG ZS is an import into Barbados from UK, so we'll see if that app can actually connect properly. So far, I've never been able to bind the car to the official app. But have managed to get a full, very stable wireless wifi+bluetooth data connection between an Android phone and the car via a USB transmitter.

 

[Ian Key]

Will try this over the weekend.
My MG ZS is an import into Barbados from UK, so we'll see if that app can actually connect properly. So far, I've never been able to bind the car to the official app. But have managed to get a full, very stable wireless wifi+bluetooth data connection between an Android phone and the car via a USB transmitter.

I notice in your profile you are driving an MG ZS. You might be better posting your question in the ZS forum instead of the MG4 one.

MG ZS EV Forum

Discussions and information about the original MG ZS EV and the refreshed SE, SE Long Range, Trophy and Trophy Long Range SUV electric cars from MG

www.mgevs.com

 

[lucchase]

I notice in your profile you are driving an MG ZS. You might be better posting your question in the ZS forum instead of the MG4 one.

MG ZS EV Forum

Discussions and information about the original MG ZS EV and the refreshed SE, SE Long Range, Trophy and Trophy Long Range SUV electric cars from MG

www.mgevs.com

Gosh, I didn't realise I was in the wrong group. Sorry about that.

 

[Alb]

I've moved it to the correct area

 

[Ruislip Resident]

I think if you use a OBD2 dongle you can switch the daytime running lights off. Though once you turn off the car and switch it back on, they will be on again.

 

[Joshua]

Digging up an old thread here, but do you have a link to such an ODB2 dongle, Ruislip Resident? Am looking for a way to turn off all lights but leave the A/C on for overnight camping in the MG4, if possible.

 

[Ruislip Resident]

Digging up an old thread here, but do you have a link to such an ODB2 dongle, Ruislip Resident? Am looking for a way to turn off all lights but leave the A/C on for overnight camping in the MG4, if possible.

Hi. I have never done it. I have just seen it mentioned in a thread somewhere on here (can't recall where) that its possible by means of an app ( don't know which) connected to the car via a OBD2 dongle. From what I remember of the thread the daytime running lights will come back on if the car is switched off and turned back on again. So there is no way of permanently switching them off. I don't think you need any specific brand of OBD2 dongle.

 

[Joshua]

OK, thanks

 

[Data]

How do you go wath a film at the drive-in cinema or just sit quietly in the car at night with the headlights completely OFF? Dashboard lights off too.
There must be a way to do this, surely.

Surely, you just turn off the car...or am I missing something here?

 

[Joshua]

Surely, you just turn off the car...or am I missing something here?

The missing part is wanting to keep the A/C and/or radio running but the lights off.

Even if content to have none of those accessories, you can’t sit in the driver’s seat because whenever you shift your weight slightly the car turns back on again.

 

[Coulomb]

I have just seen it mentioned in a thread somewhere on here (can't recall where) that its possible by means of an app ( don't know which) connected to the car via a OBD2 dongle.

You may be thinking of the eZS app, for Android only. Available from the Google Play Store. But I don't know if it will work with the MG4.