Installing Daytime Running Lights (Canadian Tire - HAMSAR kit)

[Jstreet]

With much thanks to SUPRATHEPEG for doing the background work here is my experience wiring DRL's.

1. Here is the kit packaging you can find at Canadian Tire, it wasn't worth asking the staff where to find it, as this kid just pointed me to a fog light install kit.

2. The kit comes quite complete, and the instructions are simple. In fact by just reviewing the instructions and the wire colors supplied by SUPRATHEPEG in an earlier thread it was painless. (pay attention that there are separate instructions for Toyotas.

3. First step was to disconnect the battery

4. Next pop out the drivers side marker light and unplug the harness (just one screw at the top)

5. I disconnected the sensor for the AC, and then pulled the headlight bulb out to make unplugging the harness from the bulb easier

6. using a sharp knife carefully slice open a couple inches of sheathing that protects the harness (do this on both the headlamp and the side marker section of harness)

7. I used a zip tie to hold the DRL box from the kit in the vehicle, as I dislike adding an extra hole to my truck (just something else to start rusting)

8. Run the wires from the DRL box to the appropriate locations:

Black goes to ground (I used the battery ground, but you can also use any good chassis connection)

Red for battery positive

White to headlight harness (Red/Blue) wire

Orange you don't use on Toyotas

Yellow to side marker light (Green/grey) wire

*** These are the colors for my 94, and I believe SUPRATHEPEG has a 95, I did notice that in all cases, this was the thicker of the two wires****

Green is the "signal wire" The kit recommends wrapping this several loops around a nearby spark plug wire and using the inductance to set off the switch. You can also tap into any line that goes hot when the key is in the "ON" position (oil pressure sensor, etc)

9. With the wires laid out to their proper locations, start crimping your wires into the harness (leave the green free) and connecting the positive and negative ( I leave the negative until last)

10. With everything but the green wired in, turn on your headlights as normal and everything should as it did before.

11. With the headlights turned off, touch the green wire to the positive battery terminal and the lights should come on. If this is happening, congrats you have it wired correctly.

12. Run your green wire to a sparkplug wire or any "on" hot wire.

13. Retest that your lights are working properly and you are on your way.



I have some pics to go with this, but I can't edit them down to a proper size, If somebody can resize them for me I will add them.

Thanks
Jeremy

 

[suprathepeg]

The one thing that I noticed and don't like is that the dash lights now are on all the time. This means that I can't read the stinkin clock in the truck without effort during the day. I think I'll just remove the green wire from the plug wire once I get the inspection done. That way if there is ever an issue in the future I can hook it back up in less then 10 minutes.

 

[Cymru]

I only hooked up the connection for the head lights and the green wire that wraps around the spark plug wire and my panel lights are not on until I manually turn the head lights on. Hope this helps!

 

[Jstreet]

Well that answers that question, I only wired the corner lamp and not the headlamp and my dash lights do come on.

Jeremy

 

[trk204]

confimed the same wire colors and install procedure on my 97

 

[mpreston73]

Thanks for the write up. It has been pretty helpful. I just got one of these today from Canadian tire because I need to get an out of Providence inspection done. I'm putting it in my 1990 HDJ81. One question though, do you need daytime running lights for your taillights? Or by running them to the front headlights will the taillights come on as well?

 

[YukonCruisers]

My '94 just passed everything on the inspection except DRL... I bought the new Cdn tire kit, all was perfect up until the I tried to get the green to grab the induction from the spark plug wire. The instructions suggest a direct connection, not an induction connection (perhaps this is new as this is an older thread).

Rather than running it back under the dash to one of the radio wires or something - is there an easily accessed "ignition on" wire I can grab near the battery? The oil pressure sensor is pretty hard to get to with enough space to splice in (wire is too short to pull out and work with). I just tested a number of the poles in the fuse box (engine bay) and nothing suitable came up...

Any help would be appreciated

 

[Tugboats]

My '94 just passed everything on the inspection except DRL... I bought the new Cdn tire kit, all was perfect up until the I tried to get the green to grab the induction from the spark plug wire. The instructions suggest a direct connection, not an induction connection (perhaps this is new as this is an older thread).

Rather than running it back under the dash to one of the radio wires or something - is there an easily accessed "ignition on" wire I can grab near the battery? The oil pressure sensor is pretty hard to get to with enough space to splice in (wire is too short to pull out and work with). I just tested a number of the poles in the fuse box (engine bay) and nothing suitable came up...

Any help would be appreciated

Did you find a spot? I have to get this done for an out of province inspection as well. Any tips with the newer kit?

 

[YukonCruisers]

Yes actually, and thanks for asking, I was meaning to update here.

Thanks to another thread I put in the EFI port in the engine bay fuse box. I pulled the fuse, inserted a spade end on my green wire, folded it over, and then put back the fuse (yes, my box is missing the ABS fuse, fortunately they didn't catch that as the PO didn't put back the tone rings when he changed the birfs).

Also, I have an arb bumper and I am not sure if this had something to do with it, but when I had the yellow connected, it was lighting up one side of my parking lights... I just disconnected the yellow and didn't use it. It worked perfect and I passed on Monday.

 

[Tugboats]

Yes actually, and thanks for asking, I was meaning to update here.

Thanks to another thread I put in the EFI port in the engine bay fuse box. I pulled the fuse, inserted a spade end on my green wire, folded it over, and then put back the fuse (yes, my box is missing the ABS fuse, fortunately they didn't catch that as the PO didn't put back the tone rings when he changed the birfs).

Also, I have an arb bumper and I am not sure if this had something to do with it, but when I had the yellow connected, it was lighting up one side of my parking lights... I just disconnected the yellow and didn't use it. It worked perfect and I passed on Monday.View attachment 1747946

Awesome! Glad it worked out.

I'm bringing my truck across from the States on Monday and hoping to get this installed before the VI I booked later that day. Will be one of those Canadian Tire parking lot wrenching sessions, ha. Thanks to the OP for the great DIY.

 

[YukonCruisers]

It won't take long, especially if you skip the yellow. Good luck!