No daytime flash-to-pass feature for HID-equipped '08 CTS

[1701]

Yep. I think the BI-ZENON part is critical. My other cars, all with only Zenon low beams, had FTP. Including the '04 CTS. But, still makes no sense to me.

[1701]

oh, my Murano with bi-zenon had ftp!

[gm_eng]

I got in touch with Cadillac today about this. The answer I got was the HID lights have a warm-up time. Because of this, they decided not to have the flash-to-pass feature. They are looking at what it would take to enable it, but the solution would reduce the life of the lamps. My guess is that they would have to have continuous power to the lamp circuit to eliminate the warm-up time so the lamp would flash when the stalk is pulled back. I guess you could manually turn the lights on during the day so you'd have the feature if you needed it.

[Bender]

I'm surprised they don't use the DRLs for flash-to-pass. If the DRLs are on, then they could turn them off with each pull of the light stalk. I think other drivers would get the message. If the DRLs are off, flash them on. They're bright enough for the task. No extra halogen bulb needed.

I think the usage of flash-to-pass varies a lot by region. Around here (Boise, ID), people mainly flash the lights to say "Hey, you just cut me off, but I'm not torqued enough to lay on the horn"

[Cadillacboy]

Feck, I can't use them in my Fleetwood either . It really surprises me that such a modern and newest Caddie in the model line up don't come with such a system

[bad63lac]

Originally Posted by Bender

I'm surprised they don't use the DRLs for flash-to-pass. If the DRLs are on, then they could turn them off with each pull of the light stalk. I think other drivers would get the message. If the DRLs are off, flash them on. They're bright enough for the task. No extra halogen bulb needed.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Should be a simple wiring modification between two relays.

[mikeokeefe]

Jst to add some fun to this, in Florida you can now supposedly be given a ticket for aggresive driving if you "flash to pass". Guess it is easier than teacing people how to drive correctly.

[RAB]

Originally Posted by Bender

I'm surprised they don't use the DRLs for flash-to-pass. If the DRLs are on, then they could turn them off with each pull of the light stalk. I think other drivers would get the message. If the DRLs are off, flash them on. They're bright enough for the task. No extra halogen bulb needed.

I think the usage of flash-to-pass varies a lot by region. Around here (Boise, ID), people mainly flash the lights to say "Hey, you just cut me off, but I'm not torqued enough to lay on the horn"

Bender, that's an interesting point... but let's face it... a truly effective "daytime" Flash-To-Pass lamp component has to have SIGNIFICANT lumens and angle of attack going for it, especially if it is to be used for its primary mission (which is flashing the guy ahead of you when you're AT SPEED on the freeway/autobahn). A winking DRL won't be noticed by many people at all, whether it be the freeway/autobahn environment or the local shopping center parking lot.

From the posts I've read here it appears that those members who actually utilize "flash-to-pass" do so on a quasi-regular basis in mostly urban settings, where principally "Go Ahead" messages or "What the hell are you doing??" messages are being conveyed (or at least they're attempted messages). One could argue that most of those 'communications' could be done with hand signals, emergency flashers or the toot of the horn.

If I was Cadillac monitoring this forum and thread (and they absolutely DO monitor this forum), I would conclude that there's a clear lack of consensus by forum members on this issue, and that Cadillac's decision not to throw additional resources (people, time & dollars) at developing a 'full-time' functional flash-to pass feature on HID equipped '08 CTS's was actually a very good one, at least in the myopic short term.

Regardless of the concensus here... it is 100% certain that European buyers will demand of Cadillac/GM to properly address this issue.. and because of this imminent demand we will no doubt see a properly functioning flash-to-pass function appear on the 2009 or 2010 model CTS. Hey, better late than never, right?
Continuous improvement. Gotta love it!


RAB.