Headlights in ON position - battery dead

[propofolboy]

Hi there.

I woke up to a dead battery on our 2020 Telluride SX.
No previous problems with the battery.
Car was last driven 12 hrs prior (about a 2 hour drive).
The headlights were left in ON position and the car was locked.

Usually the headlights are left in AUTO position. I was under the impression it really didn't matter, as the car would shut off all lights in all the headlight modes.
Today, after getting the battery going again (it appears to be fine - well I know its never fine after dying - but it is starting the car), I have noticed the when I shut down the car with the headlights in the ON position the car leaves the DLR amber lights and the rear brake markers ON -- and they don't turn off!!

Can anyone check there Telluride and see if this is the correct behaviour of the vehicle.

Mike

 

[beato1]

I have EX-P 2021. I always have the headlight in ON position and never encountered this problem. My issue with the always ON position is when I’m inside the Telly trying to learn a feature and I turn the accessory on (pressing the starter button twice without turning the engine on so I can turn the screen and the instrument cluster to access features), the headlight is understandably on, too! So I turn headlights off to avoid depleting the battery in case I stay in too long learning whatever it is I’m trying to learn! Once I’m done, I put the headlight in ON position again (it doesn’t matter whether I turn off the starter first or last) and the headlights and DLR amber lights will turn off automatically after about 30 secs. I am always very conscious of this, of course, by waiting to see that lights are turned off before walking away (to avoid a dead battery). The 30 sec delay (auto lights off) is an option versus immediate off, btw. But one time, I noticed the DLR amber lights stayed on (but not the headlights)! Then I found out I forgot to turn off the starter (accessory radio only still on)! Thinking back now, I must have been listening to Sirius xm while reading the manual in the car. I think I got distracted as I walked away leaving the radio on and therefore didn’t hear the Telly’s beep (meaning “keypad not in vehicle”—you also cannot lock the Telly if accessory is on despite having the key in your pocket). So when I got inside the house and looked outside the window, I saw the DLR amber lights were still on. Btw, I only was able to find the time to replicate this now after I read your post. Back then, this puzzled me for a while after it happened but forgot to try to replicate it since it didn’t happen again. So, let’s back up a little bit here. Headlight in ON position and accessory radio only on is the only way the DLR amber lights will remain on (leaving you with a dead battery). The headlight in ON position will automatically turn off as long as accessory is off. Headlights in ON position will not turn on if only accessory radio is on. But DLR amber lights will be on if headlight is in ON position and accessory radio is on. I know this is confusing! Sorry, this may not shed a light in your situation but we are all still trying to learn some of the hows and whys of our Tellies! Thanks.

 

[propofolboy]

Thanks for your input. The car is definitely completely off, and the car is even locked with the FOB -- but my DRL stay on and its repeatable every time.
This is clearly why my battery drained overnight.
This must be some sort of failure in the shut off system.
I'm pretty sure it didn't do this previously.

Interestingly I also had a gremlin with the air conditioner where it blew HOT air on a very hot day on two occasions. It then has worked normally.
I'm wondering if these are connected now.

 

[Pappy]

Any chance you left the lights in the parking light position? That will light up the DRL’s and rear lights like you described. I believe those will stay on indefinitely even if car is off.

______________________________

 

[propofolboy]

No this is in the ON position, but yes the same behaviour happens in the 'parking lamp' position as well.
Mine stay on indefinitely in both positions - just went out and confirmed this.