Added Daytime Running Lights to the Q today.

[Q451990]

I know there are conflicting studies on the effectiveness of daytime running lamps in reducing accidents - but I think we might be getting to a point where there are so many cars with them, that it's possible that the average driver's eye is now accustomed to seeing them - and maybe overlooks cars without lights. I know it seems like I'm invisible sometimes with the moron drivers around here, and I have 23 year old factory paint to protect!

In any case - with the new LEDs they don't pull much current and I think they look cool.

I installed the DRL1 module from http://www.webelectricproducts.com. I was very impressed with WebElectric's service. I put my order in on their web site on a Friday evening and got a confirmation email at about 9:00 that night. It shipped out on Saturday and I got it on Monday - as well as a follow up email and a "thank you" mint in the bag.

This module illuminates the turn signal (brighter) portion of the front signal/park lights any time it's getting 12VDC from the car. When the turn signal is activated, that light turns off and then starts flashing. After a second or two of the turn signal being switched off, that light turns back on steady at full brightness. The other light stays on during the signal. There's a synchronize wire that can be grounded if you want to kill both DRLs during a signal, but I opted to not use it. When the the park lights/head lights are turned on the DRL system deactivates and everything functions normally.

To make sure the installation was more complicated than necessary, I went to the pull-a-part and clipped off the harness to both front turn signal assemblies and to the windshield washer motor connection off of a '92. The washer gets switched 12V and is on a relatively robust circuit. I also snagged a plastic relay box that was mounted behind the right headlamp assembly that appeared to feed the auxiliary fan. This relay isn't located there on my Q, but there was a threaded hole in the same place, so I was able to use this box to hold the DRL module which adds some protection and makes it look OEM. I used the connectors to make up "T's" that plug in between the factory harnesses so that I didn't have to cut or crimp in to any of the existing wiring. Everything is soldered, sealed with heat-shrink tubing or liquid electrical tape, and then wrapped in electrical tape. My overkill added a good hour or two to the project vs. the supplied wire nuts and crimp on connectors.

The only thing I'd like to find is a place under the hood that provides ground only when either the engine is actually running, or when the transmission is in drive. Right now the DRLs are on any time the ignition switch is on, even just set to ACC. That's not a big deal since the LEDs only pull about 270ma, but it would still be nice for them to not be on except when the car is actually being driven.

I'll take some pictures and post them soon.

Heath

[db_autotek]

Excellent! I've been starting to think about this also. I was leaning toward DRL'ing the fog lamps, but I did DRL the turn signal lamps in my Miata with great success. If you remember the first generation Miata, the front lighting coices are pop-up headlamps, turn signal housing, or aftermarket fog lamps lol.

As for something that grounds only when engine on, I can't think of anything. I think the Q is grounded solid except for the door lamps and entry which use negative switches. But, there could be a couple other ways to go!

You could buy/design/build a microcontroller that reads a particular signal and switches on a relay when signal reaches a certain point. Such as, it monitors the rpm signal, you program it to activate its 12v output to the relay when the rpm's go above ~100, it send 12v to the relay, which sends 12v to your DRL's You could even program a gate, such that the DRL's would turn back off after say 5900 rpm so you can keep any extra energy when the pedal is to the metal. Just as an example... people build these controllers to turn off their AC system and anything extra when a certain range is sensed in acceleration or rpms. Controllers like this adjust the rear wing on Ferrarris and Bugattis according to speed and/or braking

Or, way easier lol, find something that's only really on when the engine is. I can think of a few things off the top of my head: the fuel pump circuit in the room, or either the injector, eng controller, or maybe tcs circuits at the engine fuse block. Since you've converted to LED's, I think it would be okay to tap into any of these circuits without any real drop. You'd have to pull up the engine fuse block and tap in underneath, but that's been done with the fog lamp switch mod with no problems.

Just some thoughts.