HID Question

[jdobbstl]

OK, so I know this probably sounds like a dumb question - but I am going to ask it anyways.

Why does the "flash to pass" feature not work during the day, when the xenon lights are not on? The only time I can get my bright lights on is when the headlights are on, which means that if I need to flash at someone that there is a cop up ahead or some sort of road hazard then I have to first turn on my headlights?

I know that on other cars (BMW, Audi) that this feature works with their HID's, just curious why Cadillac left it out for us.

[C "T" ess]

My flash to pass works all of the time. Maybe because I have a base model.

[ultimate_ed]

That is correct - flash to pass only works on HID equipped CTS's when the lights are already on. The non-HID CTS's get flash to pass all the time.

There's been threads about this one previously - the suggestion was concern about premature failure of the HID's with the cycling from off to flash to off quickly. I don't know what other makers do to enable flash to pass with HID's.

[FrankRizzo]

The info about the cycling makes a lot of sense. Most vehicles up until now have had separate bulbs or at least filaments for low and high beams. The previous generation CTS had a non-HID high beam that you could make use of all the time. The current CTS w/ HID uses the same bulb for both low and high beam: you can actually hear a mechanical noise as the "eyelid" raises and lowers to switch between the two postitions (this really surprised me the first time I heard it).

It's odd however that when dark, the HID lights come on when you unlock the doors - that seems like needless cycling as well.

[PAO]

[quote=FrankRizzo;1843268]The info about the cycling makes a lot of sense. Most vehicles up until now have had separate bulbs or at least filaments for low and high beams. The previous generation CTS had a non-HID high beam that you could make use of all the time. The current CTS w/ HID uses the same bulb for both low and high beam: you can actually hear a mechanical noise as the "eyelid" raises and lowers to switch between the two postitions (this really surprised me the first time I heard it).

It's odd however that when dark, the HID lights come on when you unlock the doors - that seems like needless cycling as well.[/QUOTE]

you may want to check you DIC, beleive you may have them set to come on during an unlock......mine dont in the 09 with HIDs....they only come on when I start the car in the dark.....