Automatic daytime running lights (Page 1/2)
1985 Fiero GT JUL 06, 08:24 PM
I live in New Brunswick, and its motor vehicle act requires all vehicles made after 1989 to have automatic daytime running lights. That is normal, but here is the catcher, if they were made before 1989 and don't have daytime running lights, then they need to have headlights on all of the time, day and night. On a Fiero, where the headlights are popups, and create a lot of drag, that is a no-go, and having the headlights or parking lights on burns out the dash bulbs and dims the radio, etc. So I made the front parking lights automatic daytime running lights by adding a relay, and tapping into the radiation fan relay connector. The radiator fan relay has both a direct connection to the battery, and a switched ignition signal, perfect to hook an extra relay into to provide power to the front parking lights when the ignition is on. I moved the radiator fan relay over a bit, so it was held by one instead of two screws, and used the extra screw to mount the daytime running lights relay without drilling any extra holes. As for the lights themselves, I traced the front parking light power cables back through the harness so I had ample wire length, then cut them and insulated the ends that I wasn't using, then connected the bulb sides to the relay. I upgraded the turn signal flasher, then installed Holley retrobright amber 1157 LEDs on the front parking lights for a longer lifespan and brighter light, and for good measure, installed Diode Dynamics amber hp3 LEDs in the front side marker positions (chosen for their ability to accept bipolar voltage). I was initially worried about the side turn signals malfunctioning due to their using the front parking light filament as a ground when turn signals are on and parking lights are off (as explained in the Ogre's Fiero cave) (which they can't anymore as the front parking light filament is now an isolated independent system), but everything works as it should, so my theory is that instead of using the front parking filament, it is using the appropriate rear parking light filament. As for the brightness, the Holley retrobright 1157 front bulbs and Diode Dynamics HP3 194 bulbs are roughly twice the brightness of the original incandescent/halogen, and should last much longer. Fitment of the bulbs was spot on, and results look good, visibly brighter and clearer looking


Front Amber bulb is Diode Dynamics amber HP3 194, rear red is 164 halogen bulb


Light on the right is Holley Retrobright amber 1157 LED, light on the left is standard 1157 halogen
theogre JUL 07, 03:37 PM
HL Up doesn't Drag enough to bother MPG/KPL a lot if any. I run them like that often because Black Car w/ a lot of Gray to Black background, shadows, etc. Including at 65mph or more driving several hours to where ever.

Larger problems is wears HL lift parts and big target to smash/break just from road trash because Open/Close often and Open a lot of Time.

But ⚠️ Warning: You may still Fail "The Law" requiring DRL by this or any DIY "fix..."

Example: Cops etc can "run the Tag" and find is pre 89 and Stop you for...
Not having LB HL On as DRL
Not having LB HL On w/ Fog/Driving Lamps On.
Having Fog/Driving Lamps On w/o having Bad Weather at the time as some areas require this.

If/when Cops/Inspectors look at the Fixture will find Lens is "coded" DOT IP 84 GUIDE 2P
I for Turn
P for Parking

And Not see Y2 for DRL in most places, Y2 or DRL for DRL in US.

(Before you ask, T is for Taillights. See https://one.nhtsa.gov/cars/...picuity/TBMpstr.html but Has Canada statement at bottom. Page is for Trunk/Bus industry and doesn't have all Codes for New Cars.)

Or Nothing if the lens was bought from TFS then not legal in many places and get a Ticket or Fail Inspection just for that.

Even if don't have cop/inspection problems, Insurance Co and others can be worse problems w/ any iffy "upgrades" after a wreck.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

1985 Fiero GT JUL 07, 07:23 PM
Yeah, none of that is a problem for me, as new Brunswick's motor vehicle act is very vague in many things, and has some dumb rules like the daytime running lights one, for example, I am right on the border, so there are lots of US cars imported, many of which do not have daytime running lights, and for those, they do a similar thing, they hook the parking lights into the ignition circuit, only difference is that I only used the front ones. Also the motor vehicle act resident require any specifics for the light used, only that there is some form of light visible from the front, whenever the car is on. Like I said, the motor vehicle act is very inconsistent, with some things being super strict, and set in stone, and other things being essentially meaningless
theogre JUL 07, 08:50 PM
Can be problems driving to US States for about same reasons as the Example.
Bright Turn/Park "bulbs" can be Glare problems that cops can stop you too.
1985 Fiero GT JUL 07, 09:38 PM
Fair enough for the US states, also the reason I went with Holley retrobright LEDs and the mid-range ones from the other brand was to get slightly better visibility, while not being overly bright, mainly do people can see my signals during the day, while not being to bright at night, the side ones are definitely not too bright, considering you have like 6 shining at your face through the instrument cluster, and the led is essentially 2 normal bulbs, and the front ones are nothing compared to the headlights (even out of the beams direct path), overall a balanced upgrade, not to bright, while giving better daylight visibility. Daylight visibility is a must have, I don't know what you have heard about Canada, but Quebec drivers are horrible, and I live right near Quebec, in an area where everyone drives SUVs, so having a small car, a little extra light will do nothing but help.
Patrick JUL 07, 10:55 PM
I went through the opposite problem when I bought my '98 JDM Subaru Impreza WRX STi. It had been privately imported into Canada from Japan several years (and several owners) previously. The person who brought it over needed to have automatic daylight running lights implemented on it in order to have it pass inspection and be registered. The way it was set up, as soon as the ignition key was turned to ON (or whatever the first "notch" is called), the headlights would come on (full brightness). I didn't like this for two reasons. First, I don't like the headlights putting a relatively heavy draw on the battery while I'm engaging the starter (especially in the winter when the battery is already being taxed by the cold)... and Second, I simply don't like having the headlights on all the time while driving during daylight hours. However, I do like the parking lights to be on during the day while driving. (I do this manually in any vehicle I drive, including my Fieros.)

I had a helluva time trying to figure out how the mock daylight running lights had been implemented. I even tracked down the person who originally imported this vehicle... and he couldn't remember how he did it!

After a lot of messing about... I finally discovered how the headlights were made to come on as soon as the ignition key was turned. There was a very short piece of wire (1/2" long total length) that jumped a couple of terminals inside the headlight switch. Hard to see, but it's the upside-down grayish-white V in the photo.



Yes, it might seem like that was the logical location to have looked in the first place, but hindsight is always 20/20. I was just glad to have eventually put the car back to "normal".

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 07-08-2023).]

theogre JUL 08, 09:04 AM
Hard to see is right. Barely see that in the pic so no wonder took days to find.

Yes, HL draw enough power so starting cold can easy fail.
Halogen draws 8-10a
Real HID draws less after strike the lamps but may have problems when start the engine because of low volts during starter runs. So the HID ballast or bulbs may fail and fixing that often is bigger headache and cost.

Note:
Actual HL DRL run LB @ ~ 50% bright.
For Halogen sets, Often a Relay is setup to turn on w/ LB HL but bulbs wired in Series.
Then that relay/switch cuts out and other things "rewire" to turn on @ 100% bright to drive @ night etc.

DRL is a Gimmick many times over. Only helps for a very small set of conditions.
SUV etc can run over a Fiero even when you have lights, standing on the Horn, and stopped.
Like the Fool didn't care when ran over me with plenty of Sun Light turning right into me. And then called a lawyer to sue because "I rear end them."
Summery: Weather was Clear Bright Day. Way More light then any entire vehicle can make.
No turn signal and turn across my lane.
I tried to avoid by squeezing the curb and stopping hitting the horn at the while.
Fool saw me even w/ "Limo Tint" glass and didn't care and claim I hit them even to cops coming to the "crash."
One ~ 20 second clip of Dash Cam send to State Police and both I-co quick a day or two later flipped the claim and their I-co paid everything. So bent over that their I-co call my I-co even before I finish the call with them saying their paying. (Because my I-co tried to call me when that happened.)

If I had Fiero HL On, would have Smash the entire assembly. As is damage the fender.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 07-08-2023).]

1985 Fiero GT JUL 08, 09:15 AM
Wow, yeah, there are a lot of drivers who should have never been given licenses, how bad was the damage?
theogre JUL 08, 10:16 AM
Got lucky as mostly messed up paint and small cracks in fender.
But If HL where on likely wreck the assembly as their "bumper" ran over the front as it peeled off their SUV.
But didn't break the marker lens... Likely hit to high...

If had to go to body shop, both I-co would try to "Total" the car, more so if wreck the HL assembly or did other "real" damage to frame etc.

I thought about posting more in Dash Cam tread in TOT but not editing pic/video just to post.
If you post to much then can get sued for other reasons so likely need to "blur" a lot of things.
Is why you only sent video to cops etc only edited for Time showing enough before and after a wreck/crime.
Like show no turn signals and crowding the line before turning into me.
Plus w/ many current Dash Cam models, even short clips are very large files. 20 sec is ~ 65MB because high res that allowed clearly read Tags and more yards away not feet away like many others.
So Cops and 1 I-co got thumb drive delivered because too big for E-mail and many other ways to move it let alone E-mail etc are unsecured.

That on top of State Run Traffic cameras that the intersection has that might see a crash. Most have auto rotation that switch views every few seconds and often looking wrong way when you need them...
1985 Fiero GT JUL 08, 10:30 AM
That's good that the damage isn't too bad.