Daytime Running Lights in a 77 (24v)

[Previa Diesel]

Seems the local shops are all scared to try installing DRTs in my 90 HZJ77, but it has to be done. I would really appreciate some tips from someone who has installed DRTs on a 24v system

[crushers]

use 24V bulbs in a set of aux running lights and wire to your fuse box under the hood. and you are good to go...

[Stone]

I have a simpler idea:

Use a Hella 24V relay (available locally at Lordco for around $6).

When I wired up my alarm system, I found the wire under my steering column that sees ground when the parking lights are turned on. This is where I've hooked up my alarm system to provide ground in order to flash my parking lights when the alarms chirps or is set off.

Find this wire and hook it up to Pin 87 (normally open) of the 24V relay.

Connect Pin 30 (source) of the 24V relay to Ground.

Connect Pin 86 (coil) of the 24V relay to Ground.

Under your hood, near your air filter can, there should be a power source outlet that looks like a small square plastic box. It should be bolted onto the side of your air filter can. When you open it, there should be a couple of fuses and four screws that are labelled "Batt", "ACC", "IG", and "GND"...or something like that.

Connect Pin 85 (coil) of the 24V relay to "IG".

When you have it all hooked up, when you turn your ignition to ON, or when you are running your vehicle, your parking lights will automatically come on...and you will have your daytime running lights. When you shut off your vehicle, the lights will turn themselves off (unless you have left your headlight switch on), and your alarm system (if you have it hooked up to the same wire), will be able to flash your lights as necessary.

*Don't use any 24V power source that is live when the key is on ACC to power Pin 85 on your 24V relay. Doing this will turn on your DRL when your key is on ACC, and would not be desirable in situations where you are sitting in your truck waiting for someone and just want to listen to the radio.

HTH.

[crushers]

i don't know stoney, just running the aux lights from the "on" from that fuse box you described seems simpler...
;^)
key on, lights are on, key off and the lights are off
the one requirement for daytime running lights is that there is NO WAY to shut them off with the key in the "run" position...you can not have a switch to turn them on and off...

[Stone]

Originally Posted by crushers

key on, lights are on, key off and the lights are off
the one requirement for daytime running lights is that there is NO WAY to shut them off with the key in the "run" position...you can not have a switch to turn them on and off...

Uhm...that's exactly how the system that I have just described works, Wayne.

The only way you could shut them off is by turning your key below ON and shutting off the headlight switch. Otherwise, when the key is in ON, even when the headlight switch is on OFF, the parking lights will still be on as DRL.

Regarding auxilliary lights, they also work...but you just have to make sure that they are DOT approved. And if you are in BC, to leave them uncovered and used as DRL, you have to make sure you look at the BCMVA closely and follow the mounting and aiming procedures to the T in order to avoid being fined for using auxilliary lights improperly on the highways.

[crushers]

are you sure you can use your parking lights as DTRL? if so then this is a sweet idea.
humm, are you sure the daytime running lights have to be DOT?
my interpetation is you have to have DTRL, i must have missed where it said DOT approved.

[Stone]

The late '90s Dodge Caravans have their amber parking lights as their daytime running lights. Maybe putting in 24V amber bulbs in the side pods, as someone mentioned in another post, is an idea.

As far as I know, all lights and lenses that are used on Canadian roadways must be DOT (and maybe SAE) approved. Off road, anything goes...but while you're on the highways those off road lights must be covered with an opaque cover.

I could be wrong though...remember, BC is probably one of the most anal retentive of the bunch.

[nickw]

Originally Posted by crushers

i don't know stoney, just running the aux lights from the "on" from that fuse box you described seems simpler...
;^)
key on, lights are on, key off and the lights are off
the one requirement for daytime running lights is that there is NO WAY to shut them off with the key in the "run" position...you can not have a switch to turn them on and off...

Actually Wayne, you can shut your DRL off.
All the regulations say is your lights have to come on with the vehicle.
It does not say they have to stay on, or that you can't shut them off.

I.E: If you were driving in fog, you can shut your DRL off and just use your fog lights.

Cheers,
Nick

[Stone]

All the factory DRL that I've come across cannot be manually shut off by the driver while the vehicle is in operation.

Here's the pertinent section regarding DRL from the BC Motor Vehicle Act:

Daytime running lamps
4.08 A motor vehicle may be equipped with daytime running lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height of not less than 30 cm and not more than 2.11 m, that comply with the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada).

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Auxiliary driving lamps
4.09 (1) A motor vehicle may be equipped with 2 auxiliary driving lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height of not less than 40 cm and not more than 1.06 m, that are capable of displaying only white light.

(2) An auxiliary driving lamp must be directed so that the high intensity portion of the beam is, at a distance of 8 m from the lamp, at least 12 cm below the height of the lamp and, at a distance of 25 m from the lamp, not higher than 1.06 m from the road surface.

(3) An auxiliary driving lamp must operate so that it is illuminated only when the upper beam of a multiple beam headlamp is illuminated.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Parking lamps
4.10 (1) A vehicle may be equipped with 2 parking lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle, that are capable of displaying only white or amber light.

(2) A vehicle may be equipped with 2 parking lamps, mounted on the rear of the vehicle, that are capable of displaying only red light.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Fog lamps
4.11 (1) A motor vehicle may be equipped with 2 fog lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle below the headlamps, that are capable of displaying only white or amber light.

(2) Each fog lamp must be

(a) mounted not more than 30 cm below the headlamps, and

(b) adjusted and aimed so that, at a distance of 8 m from the lamp, the centre of the beam is at least 10 cm below the height of the fog lamp.

(3) The fog lamp wiring and switch must permit simultaneous operation of the parking lamps, tail lamps, licence plate lamp and, if required, clearance lamps.

(4) The operator of a vehicle may use fog lamps instead of headlamps when atmospheric conditions make the use of headlamps disadvantageous.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Side-marker lamps
4.12 (1) A vehicle may be equipped with

(a) 2 side-marker lamps, mounted on each side of the vehicle near the front, that are capable of displaying only white or amber light, and

(b) 2 side-marker lamps, mounted on each side of the vehicle near the rear, that are capable of displaying only amber or red light.

(2) The side-marker lamps referred to in subsection (1) may operate in conjunction with turn signal lamps or the hazard warning signal.

(3) A vehicle with an overall width of 2.05 m or more, or having a gross weight in excess of 1 400 kg, may be equipped with side-marker lamps mounted on each side of the vehicle at the horizontal mid-point of the vehicle.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Website: http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/...tm#section4-08

[crushers]

now this is interesting,
no where did mention DOT approved...

[Previa Diesel]

Thanks for all the help/comments. Interesting how the MVA says "may be equipped" and then uses "must' in regard to the details of mounting, adjustment etc. Suggests that there is an element of choice in what is fitted...Lawyers don't use "may" when they mean "must". Then again, the Act is one thing and 'policy' can be something else; ie the Inspection Guidelines.

I assumed there must be a clear and simple way (hopefully for the electrically-challenged ) to do this since dozens of HZJs have presumably been imported to BC and had DRTs fitted. Or have they?

A photo of the box mentioned above (someone's been in there obviously):

[crushers]

sad to say, MANY of the units brought in from Japan do not have DTRL hooked up so i have noticed...
i'll bet this will change soon...
turn the key on and test with a test light. turn the key off, if the power goes back off then that is the one you want to use...

[Previa Diesel]

So how do you guys do 24v DRTs at Luxury Imports Wayne?

Thanks again.

[crushers]

aux lights and on the 81s the fog or driving lamps.
on the 70 series i would be running the aux.
i have a call into MV here to see if these have to be DOT approved or not. my understanding is they do not but i want to make sure.
cheers

[Greg_B]

Originally Posted by crushers

now this is interesting,
no where did mention DOT approved...

Make sure you are reading this in context with the entire act. Is there a blanket statement somewhere else in the ACT that mentions DOT, SAE, etc and bleeds into all the other sections.

gb

[Turtle]

Mazda Miatas also used their front ambers as DTRL, so that is a legal option. I have noticed that some vehicles do have, or at least used to have a DTRL defeat switch, it is/was in the parking brake switch. I discovered that at the Drive In.

Chris

[Technikev]

In Canada we do not have a "DOT" that I am aware of, although transportation falls mostly under provincial jurisdiction and I guess each province could call that particular ministry anything they wanted to.

People throw around the term "DOT approved", but who is the DOT? Who sets these regulations and guidelines that constitute DOT approval? I know that everyone's lights all have DOT stamped into them, but I think this is just for the benefit of our American friends who may possibly have a governing body called the Department of Transportation (DOT). In Canada you can bet that anything like this would have the name "Ministry" in the title.I think the anyone would be hard pressed to find the word DOT in any provincial regulation published here in this country.

I know this is all semantics and technical mumbo jumbo, but isn't the Law all about technical mumbo jumbo? And that's what we are talking about, aren't we, legal requirements?

Anyway this is just my two cents, and I am by no means a legal professional so don't take my word for it. I would just recomment reading the applicable statute and try to ignore what your neighbor's best friend's brother in law did with his vehicle.

On another note, I have owned a vehicle on which the DRLs could be turned off when activating the e-brake. My current driver, will only turn on the lights after starting to drive for a few feet after initially starting the vehicle. I have seen others which turn out the lights when the automatic tranny is placed in park. With the vehicles that use marker lights for DRLs, perhaps they have to be of a certain intensity to qualify for this purpose.

-kevin

[Gold Boy]

There is a cut off date (pre 1990 I think) for DRLs where they are not a "DOT" requirement. And I was told I did not need these DRLs at the time of inspection.

GB

[crushers]

dec 89, after that then you need DRL...

[Gold Boy]

Originally Posted by Stone

Maybe putting in 24V amber bulbs in the side pods, as someone mentioned in another post, is an idea.

The Toyota Yaris has amber lights in a clear lens http://www.toyota.ca

If that is any help ?

GB

[George Cowan]

My buddy just bought a DTRL module from Canadian Tire for $25. At first look it appears that the signal to turn on the lights comes from a spark plug wire but once you look at the instruction sheet you will find that for diesels you can get a signal from the oil pressure switch or any high 12V source. I think I will be using my hand brake circuit. Hand brake on - no running lights.

[108Cruz]

After reading the above post's in regards to DRL. I am still a bit confused if DRL are a legal requirement.

I have a 1990 LJ71 which does not have DRL.

The B.C. Motor Veh. Act quoted above says " A motor vehicle may be equiped with daytime running lamps " The word " may " leaves it open somewhat as Previa Diesel above states,

Wayne says there is a cut off date of Dec. 89 and then you need them.

My Veh. has been assigned a B.C. Vin. number which I take that it has passed an inspection to get into the country , meaning that it should be up to snuff on the legal aspects of the M.V.A. ( hopefully )

While on the topic of lights ,does anyone's L.C. have a buzzer system that tells you that you left your lights on when you exit the veh. and lock the doors. I've forgotten numerous times that I left my lights on.

Thanks

Peter

[Stone]

Originally Posted by 108Cruz

While on the topic of lights ,does anyone's L.C. have a buzzer system that tells you that you left your lights on when you exit the veh. and lock the doors. I've forgotten numerous times that I left my lights on.

Thanks

Peter

Nope...but again easily taken care of with a simple 24v relay and maybe using that annoying speed buzzer that came from the factory that comes on at about 105 km/h. I haven't done this with my truck because frankly, there's getting to be waaaay too many relays for my taste in my truck.

[Previa Diesel]

Originally Posted by 108Cruz

I have a 1990 LJ71 which does not have DRL. My Veh. has been assigned a B.C. Vin. number which I take that it has passed an inspection to get into the country , meaning that it should be up to snuff on the legal aspects of the M.V.A.

Did you buy it from an importer and was it inspected and registered before you bought it?

If so, I would take it back to them and ask that they correct the problem. If they want to take it up with their inspector they can; not your problem. I'd be surprised if there are any importers who don't know about the DRT rule by now and any inspection joint that bothers to read the manual should know too.

[108Cruz]

I bought the veh. 2 weeks ago from a Toyota dealership in B.C. I assume that it was inspected and registered for the dealership to buy it from the importer and then sell it to any prosepective buyer.

I put a call in to the dealership to get info as to who the importer is etc.

I take it that it is reg.'d since I have a new B.C. assigned VIN plate on the door frame

Peter

[crushers]

all units 12/89 and newer MUST have daytime running lights.
i would return it to the dealer and get them to install the lights for free...