first of all I want to say many thanks to driverdriver for his information about the Infiniti dealership. driverdriver I found the dealership in Scarborough, thank you for the info that helped me found it.
I've got the DRL module from them, no the question, has anyone had experience installing that thing into the car ? Or may be someone have the manual that shows the harness connection, or any instructions. Thanks a lot in advance. I will be searching the Inet at the same time. When I do it I will post the info here.
Installing DRL module
Re: Installing DRL module (elan)
Alright guys, In have completed this project - installed the freaking DRL. Took some time but I figured out how the headlight system works on both US and Canadian models. So if anyone needs help with headlights operation I will try to do all my best.
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elwesso
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Re: Installing DRL module (elan)
if you wanted ot write an article on how to do that, that would be superb.
Re: Installing DRL module (elwesso)
i'd appreciate that too....
Re: Installing DRL module (elwesso)
I will sure do guys , as soon as I pass the Federal Canadian Inspection . I'm too superstitious. Let the guys from the center evaluate it first
Modified by elan at 5:15 PM 10/23/2006
Modified by elan at 5:15 PM 10/23/2006
Re: Installing DRL module (elan)
Alright guys,
I have finally passed the federal Canadian inspection with my DRL installed. . I guess I'm just lucky and the guys forgot to look under the hood.
I think this is quite rare mod but I hope someone will benefit from it.
Anyways. I will try to put some of my observations first then later I will put the diagram.
Disclaimer: If you do any modifications you are doing it on your own risk
and thoroughly responsible for the mod. I'm not a car mechanic or electrician though I have degree in electronics and micro-controllers. I was doing for fun and on my own risk.
Alright.
First I have approached the Infiniti dealership in Scarborough, ON and spoke to a guy responsible for parts. I got the DRL module for them which I paid approx C$250 for. He told me that it's not a funny situation and the US J30 has different harness, so I either have to purchase the Canadian harness or just pay for the man hours and install additional harness and the rest. I figured out that Canadian tire can install some DRL for C$125 but I'm not a kind of person who is looking for easy ways to go and I decided that I will not pay any cent more and it's time for my education to pay me back .
1. st step. documentation. if you do this thing find the FSM for J30 97. I had the FSM for year 94 and it has little info about how DRL suppose to work and besides it has small misprint. It is stated that only the high-beam lights dim when DRL is on. In fact both high and low beams dim. This is fixed in 97 FSM.
2. Principles of the operation. DRL turns on when the parking break is released, engine is running and the light switch is located in the OFF or new second position. Whenever the low beam or high beam lights suppose to be on the DRL is turned off. This includes the high-beam "blinking" when you pull the switch back. The DRL is achieved by connecting both high beam and low beams lights in series. So 2 high beams are connected in series to the + and 2 low beams are connected to the +. This way they only dim not blinding the incoming traffic.
3. My modification limitation. I have limited modifications to the engine compartment harness. So I did not wire everything and my DRL mod is not the same as the original Canadian option. The limitations are. They are basically not that important so I did not bother. - The mod does not react to the parking break. So whether its pressed or released the DRL is ON when the engine is running. This never caused any inconvenience for me. This limitation allowed me not to wire a couple of wires, not bother about 2 diods and 1 relay. which is a great tradeoff - The cluster high beam light is ON when the DRL is on. Implementing this would require running a wire under the dash to the cluster which is a lot of extra work.
4. Parts and tools required. DRL module. 2 connectors for DRL module and 4 connectors for Headlight Module (these are needed to make a tap some wires coming to the headlight module, In fact I could not find some of them on the junkyord and just hard wired them inside the headlight module, which is not that good as having the tapped connector). Then we need wires, approx 15 meters, crimping tool with connectors to crimp the wires. Volt/Ohm meter to check.
5. Steps to do.
5.1. The DRL module is installed on the drivers side. I just put it next to the Air filter box.
5.2. Disconnect the Left LOW and HIGH beam from the ground, connect them to a separate wire (let's call it G). Run the wire to the DRL module.
5.3. Make wire taps on the + side of the Right High and Low beams and connect 2 separate wires (RH, RL) to those taps. Run the wires to the DRL module.
5.4. Make a tap from the harness coming from the L teminal of the alternator. This connector is located on the front side of the fuse box. Between the fuse box and the battery. The terminal is marked on the diagram in the FSM. Run the wire (let's cll it AL) to the DRL module 5.5. We need to tap 2 pair of wires coming to headlight control unit (HCU) (in each pair one wire is going to the + and the other to the lighting switch) Run the wires to the DRL.5.6. We need to cut the wire coming from the lighting switch to the HIGH BEAM control relays in the HCU these 2 wires should be run to the DRL as well.
5.5 and 5.6 are best accomplished by making an extension cord for both connectors in HCU and cutting one wire (for 5.6) in the cord. Otherwise it is very hard to make those taps as the HCU is installed in the place hard to access. I was limited by time and didnot have the connectors so I just opened the HCU and made all ran all the wires from the inside the HCU. The is the last option as it will require more work in case the HCU goes bad and needs to be replaced. The connectors (both male and female) can be found on a junk yard and can be taken from any Nissan of the close year at least.
to be continued...
Modified by elan at 2:44 PM 12/3/2006
I have finally passed the federal Canadian inspection with my DRL installed. . I guess I'm just lucky and the guys forgot to look under the hood.
I think this is quite rare mod but I hope someone will benefit from it.
Anyways. I will try to put some of my observations first then later I will put the diagram.
Disclaimer: If you do any modifications you are doing it on your own risk
and thoroughly responsible for the mod. I'm not a car mechanic or electrician though I have degree in electronics and micro-controllers. I was doing for fun and on my own risk.
Alright.
First I have approached the Infiniti dealership in Scarborough, ON and spoke to a guy responsible for parts. I got the DRL module for them which I paid approx C$250 for. He told me that it's not a funny situation and the US J30 has different harness, so I either have to purchase the Canadian harness or just pay for the man hours and install additional harness and the rest. I figured out that Canadian tire can install some DRL for C$125 but I'm not a kind of person who is looking for easy ways to go and I decided that I will not pay any cent more and it's time for my education to pay me back .
1. st step. documentation. if you do this thing find the FSM for J30 97. I had the FSM for year 94 and it has little info about how DRL suppose to work and besides it has small misprint. It is stated that only the high-beam lights dim when DRL is on. In fact both high and low beams dim. This is fixed in 97 FSM.
2. Principles of the operation. DRL turns on when the parking break is released, engine is running and the light switch is located in the OFF or new second position. Whenever the low beam or high beam lights suppose to be on the DRL is turned off. This includes the high-beam "blinking" when you pull the switch back. The DRL is achieved by connecting both high beam and low beams lights in series. So 2 high beams are connected in series to the + and 2 low beams are connected to the +. This way they only dim not blinding the incoming traffic.
3. My modification limitation. I have limited modifications to the engine compartment harness. So I did not wire everything and my DRL mod is not the same as the original Canadian option. The limitations are. They are basically not that important so I did not bother. - The mod does not react to the parking break. So whether its pressed or released the DRL is ON when the engine is running. This never caused any inconvenience for me. This limitation allowed me not to wire a couple of wires, not bother about 2 diods and 1 relay. which is a great tradeoff - The cluster high beam light is ON when the DRL is on. Implementing this would require running a wire under the dash to the cluster which is a lot of extra work.
4. Parts and tools required. DRL module. 2 connectors for DRL module and 4 connectors for Headlight Module (these are needed to make a tap some wires coming to the headlight module, In fact I could not find some of them on the junkyord and just hard wired them inside the headlight module, which is not that good as having the tapped connector). Then we need wires, approx 15 meters, crimping tool with connectors to crimp the wires. Volt/Ohm meter to check.
5. Steps to do.
5.1. The DRL module is installed on the drivers side. I just put it next to the Air filter box.
5.2. Disconnect the Left LOW and HIGH beam from the ground, connect them to a separate wire (let's call it G). Run the wire to the DRL module.
5.3. Make wire taps on the + side of the Right High and Low beams and connect 2 separate wires (RH, RL) to those taps. Run the wires to the DRL module.
5.4. Make a tap from the harness coming from the L teminal of the alternator. This connector is located on the front side of the fuse box. Between the fuse box and the battery. The terminal is marked on the diagram in the FSM. Run the wire (let's cll it AL) to the DRL module 5.5. We need to tap 2 pair of wires coming to headlight control unit (HCU) (in each pair one wire is going to the + and the other to the lighting switch) Run the wires to the DRL.5.6. We need to cut the wire coming from the lighting switch to the HIGH BEAM control relays in the HCU these 2 wires should be run to the DRL as well.
5.5 and 5.6 are best accomplished by making an extension cord for both connectors in HCU and cutting one wire (for 5.6) in the cord. Otherwise it is very hard to make those taps as the HCU is installed in the place hard to access. I was limited by time and didnot have the connectors so I just opened the HCU and made all ran all the wires from the inside the HCU. The is the last option as it will require more work in case the HCU goes bad and needs to be replaced. The connectors (both male and female) can be found on a junk yard and can be taken from any Nissan of the close year at least.
to be continued...
Modified by elan at 2:44 PM 12/3/2006
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driverdriver
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Re: (driverdriver)
Ok driverdriver, I will be updating it little by little, and will shape up at the end, check the grammar , etc.
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driverdriver
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Re: (elan)
No prob.elan wrote:Ok driverdriver, I will be updating it little by little, and will shape up at the end, check the grammar , etc.
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littlewillie
- Posts: 179
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Re: (driverdriver)
Modified by littlewillie at 7:06 PM 12/24/2007
Re: (littlewillie)
Willie,
the main idea behind the DRL (daytime-running lights) is that some front lights (either headlights or turn lights) should turn on automatically when the car is running on the road. This suppose to increase the visibility of the vehicle and reduce number of accidents. DRL on with the parking break engaged (it supposed to be off when the car starts with the parking break engaged) is not a big deal and hardly make much difference. This is why I did not connect it.
You can actually see a lot if cars running with their headlights on during the day even in the states. Those are cars equipped with DRLs.
Modified by elan at 10:56 PM 11/22/2006
the main idea behind the DRL (daytime-running lights) is that some front lights (either headlights or turn lights) should turn on automatically when the car is running on the road. This suppose to increase the visibility of the vehicle and reduce number of accidents. DRL on with the parking break engaged (it supposed to be off when the car starts with the parking break engaged) is not a big deal and hardly make much difference. This is why I did not connect it.
You can actually see a lot if cars running with their headlights on during the day even in the states. Those are cars equipped with DRLs.
Modified by elan at 10:56 PM 11/22/2006