Why does the left headlight of the Mercedes GLC stay on after parking?
2 Answers
Reasons why the left headlight of the Mercedes GLC stays on after parking: Vehicle's Welcome Home function: First is the normal Welcome Home function where the lights remain on for a period after turning off the engine. Under normal circumstances, the Welcome Home function's light delay will not exceed 5 minutes, and this function does not depend on the lighting state before turning off the engine but follows a fixed lighting mode. Regardless of the position of the light switch before turning off the engine, the Welcome Home function will default to turning off the high beams and daytime running lights, only keeping the low beams on. Night parking light is on: Night parking lights were originally a mandatory requirement in some U.S. states, where all vehicles must keep their taillights on after parking and turning off the engine at night to alert pedestrians or following vehicles in environments without streetlights. Most vehicles will only light up one light, specifically the one on the side closest to the road, to indicate the parking position and the edge of the vehicle to following traffic. However, this lighting strategy is generally only applicable to models equipped with LED taillights.
I also experienced the left headlight staying on after parking my Mercedes GLC, which gave me quite a scare at first. After checking some information, this issue might be related to the delayed shutdown system. Mercedes has a feature called 'Follow Me Home,' where the headlights delay turning off for several seconds to a few minutes to illuminate the path when exiting the vehicle. However, if the lights remain on indefinitely, it could be due to the light sensor not detecting changes in ambient light—perhaps covered by dust or condensation, making it think it's not dark enough even at night. Another possibility is the control switch getting stuck in a position or a minor software glitch. This can drain the battery quickly; leaving the lights on overnight might prevent the car from starting. Next time you park, observe for a few minutes. If the lights stay on, first check the headlight switch position and try turning off the auto headlight mode. If that doesn’t work, wipe the sensor area with a cloth. If the problem persists, don’t delay—take it to a 4S shop for a professional technician to scan the computer module with diagnostic tools.
