DayTime Running Lights (DRLs) for US imported Cars

[Bram]

Actually the US cars are prewired at the front of the car but I wasn't able to trace where the wires went and couldn't confirm if the wires terminated in the car.

Yes, the DRL/Fog light plugs are there in the Bumper ( they are Blue connectors), but they do not go into the cabin via the main wire harness, where you normally hook up the DRL module, like the Canadian Spec NSX....so if you plan on using these plugs you will need to cut the wiring harness to complete the circuit.

Bram

 

[bonhamsurf]

I actually used these on my wife's Mercedes. They worked perfect. Turn on when ignition is on, and turn off when ignition is off.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360394205189

 

[ENT]

What year NSX are you importing? If it's 15 years or older (based on the date of manufacture on the door jam) you will not need DRLs at all - the RIV inspection only applies to never vehicles.

i imported my '97 this past June and I fully expected to go through the RIV program but it was not required, a pleasant surprise indeed.

Cheers,
Ian

Can anyone from Ontario chime in if you've passed inspections with the DRL method in the first post? I'd rather not spend 200 bucks on some LED's that I'd take off after the inspection.

 

[warrenw]

What year NSX are you importing? If it's 15 years or older (based on the date of manufacture on the door jam) you will not need DRLs at all - the RIV inspection only applies to never vehicles.

i imported my '97 this past June and I fully expected to go through the RIV program but it was not required, a pleasant surprise indeed.

Cheers,
Ian

Out of province inspection typically needs DRLs as well.

 

[ENT]

Out of province inspection typically needs DRLs as well.

Ontario doesn't have an out of province inspection, aside from the RIV inspection.

Cheers,
Ian

 

[JW]

My understanding is that all cars made for or imported into Canada are to have DRL's. I've copied this from Wiki.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 (FMVSS 108) regulates all automotive lighting, signalling and reflective devices in the United States. Like all other Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, FMVSS 108 is administered by the United States Department of Transportation'sNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Canada's analogous regulation is called Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 (CMVSS 108), and is very similar to FMVSS 108. The primary differences are:

• CMVSS 108 requires daytime running lamps on all vehicles made since 1 January 1990, while FMVSS 108 permits but does not require DRLs
• CMVSS 108, through an adjunct called CMVSS 108.1, permits European headlamps, while FMVSS 108 prohibits them.

Both standards differ markedly from the UN (formerly "European") standards used in most other countries worldwide, not only in technical provisions, terminology, and requirements, but in format: each European standard deals with only one type of lighting device, while the single U.S. and Canadian standards regulate all lighting and reflective devices.

and also this, you will have to scroll down to the driving light section. Hope you don't wear out your scrolling wheel. lol

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/acts-regulations/regulations-crc-c1038-sch-iv-108.htm


91 NSX Red/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

 

[ENT]

My car only needed an Ontario Safety Standards Certificate and an eTest certificate. While the RIV inspection speficially mentions DRLs, the Ontario Safety Standards cert does not, although "prescribed lamps and reflectors" might be interpreted to include them.

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900611_e.htm#BK3

SCHEDULE 1
INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN
VEHICLES INSPECTED TO NSC STANDARD 11B AND MOTORCYCLES

LIGHTING

6. (1) Prescribed lamps and reflectors shall be inspected
and tested and,

(a) each circuit shall light the filaments of all lamps on
that circuit when the appropriate switch is in the “ON” position, and each
indicator lamp shall indicate correctly;

(b) the operation of any lighting circuit shall not interfere
with the operation of any other circuit;

(c) each lens and reflex reflector shall be correctly
installed and shall not be discoloured or missing in whole or in part;

(d) each lamp and reflector shall be securely mounted on the
vehicle and none shall be missing;

(e) the turn signal lamps and the flasher unit shall operate
properly;

(f) in the case of a bus or an accessible vehicle, all
interior lamps, including stepwell lamps, shall light when the appropriate
switch is in the “ON” position;

(g) in the case of an accessible vehicle, the lights provided
to illuminate the loading equipment and step nosings shall light when the
appropriate switch is in the “ON” position or when the doors are opened;

(h) no headlamp shall be coated or covered with a coloured
material except as permitted by section 4.1 of Regulation 596 of the Revised
Regulations of Ontario, 1990;

(i) no headlamp shall be modified by the attachment to the
lamp or to the vehicle or any device that reduces the effective area of the lens
or brightness of the light; and

(j) each headlamp shutter or retracting headlamp shall operate
over the full range of movement or shall be secured in the fully open
position.

(2) A headlamp alignment inspection shall be carried out
after front wheel alignment, rear axle tracking, beam switching and functioning
of lamps have been inspected and tested, and have met the prescribed standards,
and after any noticeably deflated tires have been properly inflated and, except
for a vehicle which has automatic levelling control, after any heavy loads
including large accumulations of mud, snow and ice have been removed and,

(a) in the case of headlamps inspected using mechanical aimers
set to zero for vertical aim, compensated for the floor slope and mounted on the
headlamps in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the mechanical
limits shall be,

(i) not higher than four units up nor lower than four units
down, and

(ii) not more than four units to the left nor more than
four units to the right,

as shown on the scales of the aimers;

(b) in the case of a dual beam headlamp inspected visually on
the lower beam,

(i) the top edge of the low beam high-intensity zone shall
be not more than 100 millimetres above nor more than 100 millimetres below the
horizontal centre-line of the lamp, and

(ii) the left edge of the low beam high-intensity zone
shall be not more than 100 millimetres to the left nor more than 100 millimetres
to the right of the vertical centre-line of the lamp,

as measured on a screen placed 8 metres in front of the lamp
or by means of a headlamp testing machine in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions; and

(c) in the case of a single beam headlamp inspected visually,
the centre of the high-intensity zone of the beam shall be,

(i) not more than 100 millimetres above nor more than 100
millimetres below the horizontal centre-line of the lamp, and

(ii) not more than 100 millimetres to the left nor more
than 100 millimetres to the right of the vertical centre-line of the lamp,

as measured on a screen placed 8 metres in front of the lamp,
or by means of a headlamp testing machine in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.

It may be worth noting that the same document makes specfic mention of a DRL type requirement for Motorcycles:

SCHEDULE 6
INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR MOTORCYCLES
EXCEPT MOTORCYCLES WITH TWO FRONT WHEELS
LIGHTING
(2) The headlamp, tail lamp and licence plate lamp on a
motorcycle manufactured on or after the 1st day of January, 1975 shall be
continuously illuminated when the engine is operating and each forward gear is
engaged.

Cheers,
Ian

 

[warrenw]

I have updated my DRL modification using the front park lamps. No more need to cut into the wiring harness. No diodes, just some Canadian Tire parts. Easier and the modification can be reversed back to OEM in minutes.
There was a need for this as people do not want to cut into their wiring harness.

I have built a live document so changes can be made and re-published when required.

Version 1:
http://www3.telus.net/warrenshan/Cars/NSX/DRLs/DRL_v01.pdf

 

[ENT]

Excellent write up.

 

[warrenw]

I actually used these on my wife's Mercedes. They worked perfect. Turn on when ignition is on, and turn off when ignition is off.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360394205189

this senses the alternator charge voltage and then powers the DRL lamps. Good simple design.

 

[Bram]

Great write-up Warren, now folks that import's a US Spec NSX, can use this easy mod to install DRL and pass the inspection.

Very nice....

Bram

 

[warrenw]

There seems to be some interest on DRL wiring on FB, so I have bumped this thread..