Day Time Running Lights

[BOBBY]

i have a 2004 g35 coupe my insurance company has informed me that if the car has drls i would get a 10% discount on my insurance has any one tried to convert the lights to drls or is the car so equiped

[Q451990]

I'd think the Canadian version would have them. Might check with Joe at http://www.everythinginfiniti.com (call him at 1-888-216-5328) and see if he can pull a part number for the module. Otherwise you'll need to rig up something that will put about 8 volts on the high beams any time the engine is running, then drops out of the circuit when the headlights are off. Probably a couple of good latching relays and resistors...

Heath

[maxnix]

Bobby, where are you located and which insurance company? Just curious.

[BOBBY]

i am located in new york and my insurance company is geico

[VimyJ]

Well that should settle it for the anti DRL folks. The actuaries at a major insurance co. have determined that DRL are an effective safety device and not some sort of communist plot to take over the country.

[driverdriver]

All Canadian cars and trucks sold in Canada have had DRL's as standard equipment since the 1990 model year (Most Western European countries have the same law passed in 1988-I believe). Its the law up here and its statistcally proven to have reduced collisions.

It is common for the automakers sell Canadian spec cars in the border states from border cities when their is a surplus of a model and make on the Canadian side and greater demand in a border State. These cars are always equipped with all the safety enhancements mandated by Canadian law and not available on U.S. spec models.

If your car isn't equipped with a DRL kit, you can pick one up at any Canadian border Nissan/Infiniti dealer, I even believe some dealers ship kits to U.S. buyers. To find a Canadian Infiniti dealer go to http://www.infiniti.ca

[VimyJ]

I put a call out to Todd at Scottsdale Infiniti. He said that they used to seel an aftermarket DRL package but hadn't for years. I et him know about the Canadian Infintis that came OEM equipped. He said he was gong to put out some feelers. I'm going to check my service manual right now to see what's up.

[VimyJ]

Page EL-39 of the J30 service manual shows a schematic "for Canada" that shows a "Daytime Light Relay" and a "Daytime Light Control Unit". They are out there. Let's see what Scottsdale can dig up.

Hmmm.... Maybe I'll check out Carlos' site for his parts lists.

[VimyJ]

Checked out Carlos great site and the above mentioned parts are listed. Looks like there are 2 versions for 93-95 relay unit but the control unit remains the same for all years. However, when it comes to part numbers it simply says "N.A." Carlos parts pages must be US specific.

[BOBBY]

what is carlos web address

[driverdriver]

http://www.fuzzycats.com/j30.htm

[Q45Viper]

"Well that should settle it for the anti DRL folks. The actuaries at a major insurance co. have determined that DRL are an effective safety device and not some sort of communist plot to take over the country."

Yeah, these same guys (Geico) also saw fit to entirely fund the development of the current generation of police laser units and they supply most of them free to police departments. They also fund the majority of lobbying efforts to keep speed limits unreasonably low. Lower limits, more laser guns = more tickets = higher rates = more profits. Discounting DRLS when the majority of new cars don't have them is just another way to jack up the price for the majority. Believe me, nothing these guys do has anything to do with safety, only profits...Sorry, rant over.

[VimyJ]

Yeah, these same guys (Geico) also saw fit to entirely fund the development of the current generation of police laser units and they supply most of them free to police departments. They also fund the majority of lobbying efforts to keep speed limits unreasonably low. Lower limits, more laser guns = more tickets = higher rates = more profits. Discounting DRLS when the majority of new cars don't have them is just another way to jack up the price for the majority. Believe me, nothing these guys do has anything to do with safety, only profits...Sorry, rant over.

The insurance co.s don't want to part with their premiums. As much as I want speed limits loosened, lower vehicle speeds decrease insurance claims because there are fewer and less severe accidents. Therefore, safety is indeed enhanced.

Aircraft have been using landing lights during daylight for years because it does increase visibility to other aircraft and ground personnel. BTW, most new cars come with OEM DRL.

Higher safety/accident avoidance = higher profits for insurance co.s.

[maxnix]

As much as I want speed limits loosened, lower vehicle speeds decrease insurance claims because there are fewer and less severe accidents. Therefore, safety is indeed enhanced.

Not nearly as effective as stricter licensing laws based on actual driving ability.

My theory is that all (especially Seattle) drivers should be made to drive on the German autobahn for two years before thay are allowed to drive in US. The survivors would certainly learn safety etiquette like rechts fahren, but the Germans would probably start denying US citizens visas in no time.

I agree with Q45Viper about Geico. God forbid a customer ever has to make a claim from them. They are overpriced and under serve their clients.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[Q451990]

I agree with Q45Viper about Geico. God forbid a customer ever has to make a claim from them. They are overpriced and under serve their clients.

No doubt! After seeing 100+ cute geco commercials I actually went to their web site to price insurance - my premiums on one Q and the Truck would be about $400 more annually vs. the same coverage with Farm Bureau.

Heath

[Q45Viper]

"The insurance co.s don't want to part with their premiums. As much as I want speed limits loosened, lower vehicle speeds decrease insurance claims because there are fewer and less severe accidents. Therefore, safety is indeed enhanced"

Actually there is absolutely NO evidence that lower speeds lead to fewer and less severe accidents. Indeed all the research has led to the opposite conclusion. Accidents happen when cars are running at different speeds, and research has absolutely proven that 90% of the drivers are going to run at the speed that seems most reasonable for the road. So on a highway designed for 80mph as most of our highways are, most drivers are running WAY over the 55 to 65 limits allowed, therby leading to accidents due to the disparity between the speeds of groups of cars. We have all seen this in real life when grandpa hogs the left lane and everyone goes nuts going around. THIS is what is dangerous. And any highway traffic engineer will tell you that raising the speed limits to what people are realistically driving is the safest thing to do. There have been front page articles in our region with the transportation department talking up the idea of raising the limits from 55 to 65 or 70 on rts 50, 32 and 100 in the Baltimore Washington area. All the engineering comments are as above that the higher levels are SAFER due to the above reasoning. The only reason the insurance companies will not go along and continue to lobby against this is the lower the limits are, more tickets will be written, leading to higher premiums and more profits.

[VimyJ]

I agree with everything you said regarding relative speed. I have a car that can handle the autobahn and certainly a Q would love that system.

Here in IL we had a law passed that took effect Jan. 1 saying that you must keep right except to pass. It ain't working. Fred mentioned some time that Germany has strict regulations about the condition of autos that are even allowed to be licenced. I know that the UK has similar regs. With my rust spot on the rocker panel (infamous rust spot on the J30), I doubt my car would pass muster despite being in excellent mechanical condition such are the strictness of the rules.

Are insurance co.s overseen by federal regulatory organizations? I don't know. However, I believe the rationale behind increased premiums for ticketed drivers is increased risk because they deem drivers who break the law to be "unsafe" as they will ignore laws and rules of the road. I have haven'tbeen in an accident in 17 years but my J has helped me get a couple of tickets. So far my rates are still down but the effers did get me to pay more attention to my speed. Damn it!

[Q45Viper]

"However, I believe the rationale behind increased premiums for ticketed drivers is increased risk because they deem drivers who break the law to be "unsafe" as they will ignore laws and rules of the road. I have haven'tbeen in an accident in 17 years but my J has helped me get a couple of tickets. So far my rates are still down but the effers did get me to pay more attention to my speed. Damn it!"

That is their rationale, and it is completely incorrect, are you more unsafe because you have a couple of speeding tickets in a car that would be comfortable on the autoban? Of course not. And don't assume that you are NOT paying higher rates because of those tickets. Have you been offered a good driver discount by your company lately? Call and ask. If those tickets are in the last 5 years it won't be offered. And if you switched companies there would really be an increase. The whole system reeks of excess profits. All these guys need is a mask and a gun to realistically reflect their motives.

[maxnix]

Here in IL we had a law passed that took effect Jan. 1 saying that you must keep right except to pass. It ain't working.

Same law in most states including WA. This is even posted along I5 in Tacoma, but you would be surprised how illiterate drivers become when they're passing envelope is 6 miles long.

Urban TX is pretty bad as drivers are from everywhere else ()like Seattle), but on rural highways, most pull to the shoulder to let you pass. I always wave a thank you.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[VimyJ]

"Have you been offered a good driver discount by your company lately?"

So far so good (knock wood). I have All State and we do have 2 cars and the house insured with them so perhaps they don't want to rock the boat seeing as how we never make any claims. (knock wood again.)

[BOBBY]

has any one come up with the information on how to install the drls in the g35 if it can be done

[driverdriver]

Your best bet would be to contact the service department of a Canadian Nissan/Infiniti dealer.

use http://www.infiniti.ca to figure out the closest dealer to your state.