Fog Lights/DRL Upgrade

As promised, here are pictures of the fog lights and Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) installed in my Prius:


This is with the car on, DRLs are on.


This is with the headlights on, DRLs automatically go off


This is with the Fog lights on.

I have the DRLs set up so that when you use the turn signals, the DRLs go off and the blinker blinks. After the turn signal goes off the DRLs go back on. These pictures are with the stock bulb, I will be swapping these with some Amber LED Bulbs so that they run cooler. They should arrive tomorrow. I haven't tried the fog lights yet, will tomorrow morning on my way to work...

 

Thanks! The DRL kit was from Web Electric Products, the instruction are posted on their web site. I had a local shop do the install of the DRLs and Fog Lights. I'm a chicken when it comes to tearing apart a new car, especially when it comes to electronics!

 

LOL! It is addictive! Of course you have me looking at the lower door trim pieces!

 

That is an interesting set up! I will be adding amber LEDs when they arrive. I found out the fog lights can be on with just the parking lights, which also turns off the DRLs. So, with one right above the other I can almost simulate the same effect, i.e. fogs on for white light and turn signals flash amber. Anyway, this is done and works fine, so no turning back now...

 

Okay, LEDs are in but the jury is still out! Not sure I like them... First, they blink twice as fast as the standard bulbs, and the installer said the resistors didn't help. May have to invest in a special relay to slow them down, if I keep them... Second, they are not nearly as bright as I expected them to be. They are 60 LED amber bulbs, but during the day they aren't nearly as visible as the stock bulbs were. After all, DRLs are supposed to make you visible to the other idiots on the road, the brighter the better! Also, if the DRLs are weak, so are the turn signals... These were bulbs from the installer, I may do more research and see if I can find some brighter LEDs and swap them out...

According to the Owner's Manual the stock bulbs are 21 Watt, I was afraid they would get too hot being on all the time and cause the turn signal housing or lens to warp or melt from the heat. Anyone have any idea if this is a real concern? What lights act as DRLs on the Canadian Model 2010 Prius? Is it the Turn Signal lights? Does it use the same WY21W Bulb as the US Model? Just wondering if I'm worrying about nothing...

 

Oops, sorry...

 

Thanks! I think I'll try the relay and see if that works... Also, I noticed that the bulbs used (I don't have a link because they came from a local shop) appear to be 7443s not 7440s, they have the two contacts on both sides of the bulb. My understanding is the 7443s are like a double filament incandescent turn signal bulb, where the light normally is one and when the turn signal is applied the second filament blinks making it appear brighter when blink is on.

This makes me wonder if on a 7443 LED if maybe not all LED are lit when plugged into a 7440 socket. I haven't gone to look, but if all LEDs are not on, this could be the reason it doesn't appear as bright as I expected it to be. Do you know if the second lead (opposite the lead that would make contact on the 7440 socket) can be bent over to the same side as the 7440 contact, or can I take a small gauge wire and tie the two contacts together so all LEDs light at the same time?

 

If I take a small strand of copper wire and bridge to two positives together and do the same on the two ground contacts, do you think the LED Bulb will be brighter?

I checked it and all the LEDs are lit. Not sure if LEDs are all or nothing or if they can have two intensity settings...

This is what the bulbs I have look like, but they are amber:



Thank you for your help!