Day Time Running Lights - self-install summary

[vertrkr]

Originally Posted by 5S Dude

vertrkr,

Man, you are the ultimate tinkerer! Very well posted instructions! I think your RL has been taken apart and put back together more than any five of us.
Thanks

Thanks 5S Dude. I fear I have 1 final project still looming ahead. I intend to buy a Leer shell/cap and I want their auto lock feature which I'm pretty sure has to be tapped into the door lock wires. Looks like I'll be taking it apart again one more time :-)

[vertrkr]

I recently learned the 45035 kit will also work, the difference is the 45035 runs the hi-beams at 60% reduction while the 45030 runs the low-beams at 24% reduction.

Not sure it makes much difference but perhaps the hi-beams might be more noticable, seems most OEMs use the hi-beams for DRLs. The hi-beam kit (45035) would draw 24watts while the low-beam kit (45030) would draw 42 watts so you'd be conserving a little engergy using the hi-beam kit although it's a negligable difference.

The biggest difference would be if you have fog lights and leave the button on all the time. Apparently the foglights tap into the power from the low-beam circuit so with the 45030 kit the fogs will be active. Of course if you use the 45035 kit this is not an issue since the fogs lights are automatically turned off by having the hi-beams on so you can leave the fog light button on all the time if you so desire.

[toolz_not_toyz]

Thanks for the update. When I looked into this a few weeks ago I was wondering about the 45035 kit, since it would be my preference to run the DRLs on the high beams....most of the cars in the GWN (Great White North) used to do it that way or use very bright parking lights (on the front). For some reason the Volvo I've had here in the U.S. implemented DRL by simply turning all lights on, with no way to turn any of them off except for the headlights (ironically) by switching to "parking lights only."

You'd think Honda would have made it easy to just swap a relay or something to implement DRL. But noooooo......

[toolz_not_toyz]

Do these DRL modules turn off the daytime running lights when we select the parking lights position on the headlights dial? Here in Washington state we need to be able to turn off headlights when boarding/unboarding car ferries.

[tadtam]

Installed the DRL module today and it works as advertised.
Great instructions Vertrkr !!
Would have taken much longer if I had to trace wiring myself.

[bongus]

Originally Posted by toolz_not_toyz

Do these DRL modules turn off the daytime running lights when we select the parking lights position on the headlights dial? Here in Washington state we need to be able to turn off headlights when boarding/unboarding car ferries.

The last time I checked, they do. So, you should be okay on a Ferry.

[bongus]

Originally Posted by oldguy

Question? and this has been bothering me? Why install a kit? Whynot just deactivate the dinger that dings when you exit the Ridge with the lights on, they go out in 20secs anyway and come on when you return. I would like to know how to deactivate that peskey dinger...

This question has been asked many times. The biggest difference you will find with a true DRL vs. "leaving your lights on" is a true DRL DOES NOT illuminate at 100%. If you were to leave your lights on all the time, you would need to replace your bulbs sooner. Also, you need to realize that by leaving your lights on, you will also illuminate the tail lights (front and rear). So there will be more bulbs for you to replace sooner than if you had true DRL. If someone else has other reasons to go to a true DRL please expand on this post.

[toolz_not_toyz]

Originally Posted by bongus

If someone else has other reasons to go to a true DRL please expand on this post.

Because real DRL only illuminates front markers or low-beam/high-beam at a reduced brightness, they use less energy than running all of the lights and theoretically, then, you burn less fuel. Most folks up here in the Pac Northwest seem to run all of their lights all of the time...heck, it rains a lot or it's overcast ...so you'd think they would just make DRL mandatory. At the very least all car manufacturers could offer it as an option since they have to include DRL in Canada anyway.

[RCracer]

My big concern with DRLs is that many people who have them seem to forget that they need to turn on the rest of their lights at night. Here in Atlanta, I see people all the time with just their headlights on (DRLs) at night, but no marker lights or taillights. I know that their train of thought is that they can see the headlights working, so everything must be okay.

In my opinion, if a manufacturer is going to equip a car with DRLs, then they should do what some companies have done (like some of the GMC trucks, etc) and equip the car with a sensor that detects when it is dark outside and will automatically turn on the rest of the lights for you, so that you do not forget and create a hazardous situation for yourself and those around you.

[toolz_not_toyz]

In Canada, all of my cars with DRL also had an indicator in the dash that let you know that your DRL's were on...not your headlights.

I see plenty of people drive around at dusk without any lights on at all or just their parking lights. Loads of people that don't turn their lights on in the rain. Clearly, it's more a case of people not paying attention. Perhaps it should be more difficult to get and keep a license instead of continuing to place a greater burden on the automakers to design cars that drive themselves.