Daytime running lights

Does the ridgeline or any Honda sold in the USA come with daytime running lights? If not does anyone know can they be added? In my neck of the woods many roads request that lights be used at all times, we have very high head accident rates.

Thanks

None of the US models. Don't know if you can retrofit the DRLs from a canadian model. One possibility on the higher models is to leave the lights on and let the auto-shutoff delay turn them off after you turn the ignition off. Think it was a thirty second delay in my 2001 Accord EX V6.

My '05 Odyssey does not have DRLs as far as I know. I hadn't thought of using the auto shut-off feature for keeping the lights on in the daytime.

I agree with the above poster that DRLs will probably not be an option for the US models.

what other differences are there between the canadian model and the US model?

Today while over at our transportation Department, I asked if they had honda manuals, since part of the fleet is accords. They were nice nice to look it up for me, and they said based on what they show in the pictures, and wire diagrams the difference is one relay, which is marked Canadian models only.
So they said that most likely, if you installed the relay, you would have DRL's in a US car, and that all the wires should be installed. I have sent an e-mail to my brothers local dealer, he lives in Canada, to ask them if this is a user installable part, since the local shop did not even know Honda made cars with DRL.
I will let you know what I find out from him.

OK, this what I got from a Canadian Honda dealer.

Go to www.hamsar.com they have place where you can put in make and model of vehicle, to part number. Then you can go to this link
http://www.puma-access.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/cgi-local/smpagegen.exe?U+scstore+rffy5663ffb449b4+-c+scstore.cfg+-f+0+-C+Hamsar%20Lighting

Where you can order the relay, looks like an easy install, and only $30.00

Robert

The Hamsar site does not list the Ridgeline yet. Has anyone found a Ridgeline-specific solution, either using factory items or accessory suppliers?

Thanks

I would like to add this feature to my truck. My insurance will give me a discount if I have this feature enabled.

I think Canada's DRL law (I assume it's a law) is a good idea. Hope someone here finds the magic relay to plug-in and make our US trucks behave their way! :cool:

Also interested in the DRL module if available ... please keep us posted ...really don't think it would take more then a "plug - in" relay. Figure the wiring harness is already included in the manufactured process? :confused:

I, too, am interested in this feature, as I travel to the eastern shore of Maryland often and they require your headlights on several roads. Since I'm pathetic with wiring anything, I'm doubtful that I would be able to do this. Especially if I have to take anything apart. :D

Hi All,

I called Hamsar today to ask if the had a kit for the Ridgeline, they may but they need to see the headlight wiring diagram. So if anyone has access to this diagram, and can send up, they will have thier engineers look it over so they can match it to the correct relay. Since they have one for the pilot, I am hoping the same unit might work.

.

"Day Time Running Lights" are low beam headlights at "HALF" power settings !

If you are concerned about safety , use your low beam headlights .

I drive with my headlights on all the time for safety and never have any
problems .

There is an "adjustment" that will allow the fog lights to come on by
themselves , with low beams , or with high beams . The light relay can
be dissassembled and tuned .

.

.

"Day Time Running Lights" are low beam headlights at "HALF" power settings !

If you are concerned about safety , use your low beam headlights .

I drive with my headlights on all the time for safety and never have any
problems .

There is an "adjustment" that will allow the fog lights to come on by
themselves , with low beams , or with high beams . The light relay can
be dissassembled and tuned .

.

The big issue I can see with your solution to keep your low beams on all the time is that by keeping you low beams on during the daylight hours, you are also dimming the radio and instrument panel. I believe the daytime running lights keeps the instrument panel and radio at full illumination and only dims them when you actually activate the head lights. Am I wrong about this?

Bongus,

ON my truck, the instrument lights stay off tillyou turn the headlights on, that way at night even though th edriveway is lit, you know the lights are not on.


The big issue I can see with your solution to keep your low beams on all the time is that by keeping you low beams on during the daylight hours, you are also dimming the radio and instrument panel. I believe the daytime running lights keeps the instrument panel and radio at full illumination and only dims them when you actually activate the head lights. Am I wrong about this?

Hi All,

I called Hamsar today to ask if the had a kit for the Ridgeline, they may but they need to see the headlight wiring diagram. So if anyone has access to this diagram, and can send up, they will have thier engineers look it over so they can match it to the correct relay. Since they have one for the pilot, I am hoping the same unit might work.

You might want to pose that question to "the kid" in this forum since he works at the factory. He might have access to the diagram. I would jump all over the DRL if they can figure it out for the USA Rigeline...can we just copy the Canadian version?

I personally don't see the big deal about DRL. I don't like them, period and am very glad that Honda didn't put them on the truck. Basically all it does is burn out the bulbs quicker. :confused:

An interesting article on DRL...

http://nordicgroup.us/drl/

I personally don't see the big deal about DRL. I don't like them, period and am very glad that Honda didn't put them on the truck. Basically all it does is burn out the bulbs quicker. :confused:To each his own.

Note however that if the DRL do indeed work as has been speculated here (that they burn at half intensity) then the lamps will last much, much longer than if they are burned at full brightness.

If you dim a 100watt household incandescent lamp to half or less, it will last darn near forever.

Now I have read the article referred to by Skywalker, which is virtually incomprehensible. The author does state at one point:

>Aside: I took a class in college where the text was The Language of Argument. It was not part of my major...

That's pretty obvious! Wonder what grade he got! :eek:

Swampler,

I don't how long they should last, but my chevy is 9 years old, and has 99,000 miles on it, all with the lights on thanks to DRL, and I have never changed the bulbs.

As for that link, well that guy has never been in a car with DRL's is my guess. How does this change my ability to flash the light? the switch on the colum is the same one that chevy has alway used. If you could turn them off, then they would not get used, just like many people do with regular headlights, I always see people with no lights on at night.
As for forgetting to turn your lights on at night because the headlights are shinning, that is covered in two ways, they have an indicator light, that tells you DRL's are on, and in the dark I can't see the dash board. ( its like my weather rock, if its white I know its snowing, if its wet I know its raining.)




I personally don't see the big deal about DRL. I don't like them, period and am very glad that Honda didn't put them on the truck. Basically all it does is burn out the bulbs quicker. :confused:

My 12+ years old 93' Ford Explorer with DRLs (mandated as required in the great white north since 1989) has only needed one headlight bulb replaced (3 years ago). I'm still waiting for the other side to go! :)

Dimming a halogen bulb isn't the same as dimming a normal incandescent when you talk about lifespans.

An incandescent filament will last until all the tungsten has vaporized on the inside of the bulb (bulb starts to look grey). When the bulb is dimmed the filament will last longer.

A halogen bulb is different. The bulb and the glass is much, much hotter. Through a complex process the tungsten is redeposited on the filament. If a halogen bulb is dimmed this process doesn't take place. (as a side note, oil from your fingers acts as an insulator and creates a hot spot on the glass, which is why you don't touch the surface of the bulb.)

On the flip side, if a halogen bulb is run too hot (too high a voltage) you will get a really, really bright light but the lifespan of the bulb drops off just as steeply. That's why the "superwhite" halogen bulbs on the market have such low lifespans. They are engineered for a slightly lower voltage and are slightly overdriven. It's a tradeoff.

On the RL the bulbs are in series during DRL operation, thus they are dimmed. I'm not an expert on halogen bulbs, but I would guess that the lifespan wouldn't be reduced to the level of annoyance. Maybe you would need to change the bulb once or twice during the time you own the car.

Different cars have different options for DRL, some use seperate, lower wattage bulbs and drive them at 100%, some underdrive the existing headlight bulbs.

As for the circuit on the DRL, it's in the online service manuals.

Yes you are bang on it's law in Canada that all new vehicles in Canada must be equipped with DLR's (at present don't remember the date of manufactor). I am 100% in favor of this feature WHY?? certain lighting conditions in particular at sun up and sun down. However have found a downside to them, driver education is needed, have encountered many drivers under adverse weather conditions ie; dense fog--white outs with snow and in particular with swirling snow behind the vehicle in front of you "yep no tail lights" some have not caught on yet. PS: Have installed Red Rear Fog Lamp on the back of my vehicles (KC Lites) these rear fog lights are common in Europe & the UK. My personal opinion they should be standard on all vehicles (if used properly in time of need) Yes help to reduce the multi vehicle pile up's that we hear about every year. Try this type into Google Rear Fog Light Red and read away.
"Drive Carefully Watch The Car Behind The Car IN Front Of You"I think Canada's DRL law (I assume it's a law) is a good idea. Hope someone here finds the magic relay to plug-in and make our US trucks behave their way! :cool:

.

I have been driving various motor vehicles since 1965 and have never had a
problem or burned out any lights .

Like the poster from Canada stated , rear lights are also on when using the
low beams and adding to the safety factor .

If DRL is considered good at half power , the the full power low beams give
even more visibility .

.

Good article on DLR's..
http://www.theopenroad.com.au/motoring_roadsafety_headlightssafefeature.asp .

I have been driving various motor vehicles since 1965 and have never had a
problem or burned out any lights .

Like the poster from Canada stated , rear lights are also on when using the
low beams and adding to the safety factor .

If DRL is considered good at half power , the the full power low beams give
even more visibility .

.

I can see how they would help in inclement weather but what about the accidents in broad daylight? I think the bigger issue is people paying attention when they drive. I use to ride a bus (like a Greyhound) to work and at that height you can see what people do in their vehicles. I saw drivers reading, grooming themselves (makeup, shaving), eating out of a bowl--cell phones weren't popular then but can you imagine now what it's like? Geez!

Other than DLR's, the Odometer & Speedometer is in Metric (Kilometers) in bold script and mph in small script. At present don't know about the TPMS system (but think it only indicates low tire pressure) but should it show the PSI then the Canadian would be in kilopascals and not PSI.
The one that really ticks me off even if you get a Ridge with Navi NO XM Radio. This is just political BS, it's about Canadian Content (what you hear and see) We have a regulator Board (bureaucrats) the CRTC (Canadian Radio & Television Commision) Duh a bunch of fat cats trying to justify their jobs and postion. I call it Censorship not Democracy and freedom of speech. Quess it would just to simple if you don't like what you are hearing or seeing just hit the dam kill switch or change channels. What the heck do we mortals know Just pay your Taxes. We live in hope " Have contacted CRTC (oh boy) maybe approval by Sept 05. Hope you enjoy your Ridge luv mine, zero problems but not broke in yet (350 kilometers to go) will hit to-morrow.what other differences are there between the canadian model and the US model?

After researching both US and Canadian model Wireing schematics. I found no quick plug in solution. There is a module plus lots of extra wiring in the Canadian modle thats missing in the american. The headlights are Positive voltage activated and you could use any basic Hamsar Kit. The ones at Canadian tire will work. But if you want a cleaner unseen solution. I figured out that the headlight switch sends a negative signal to the headlight controller which then sends out positve outputs to the headlights. So using a $9.00 relay and harness kit from Canadian Tire. I tapped into the headlight switch output and when the relay is acitvate with a positive accessory signal available at a fuse panel My lights activate as if the switch was turned on without having to touch the switch. An easy install if your handy with 12v electronics. If not let a pro do it. I am a licensed tech and the whole procedure took me 15 minutes to install. Probably took me 30 minutes to figure out however. For all those looking for insurance company benefits. This method will turn on both front and rear lights for maximum visibility from others.