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DRLs and automatic lights

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by 4md, Jul 10, 2017.

  1. 4md

    4md Member

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    Where I live the Daytime running lights are required and I decided to make automatic ones. I don't like turning or pressing switches, or to be pulled over because I moved the car 100 feet and didn't turn the headlights on for this distance...
    So, the idea was that the DRLs to be permanently on and when I turn on the headlights (more accurate option in my opinion is parking lights), the DRLs to be turned off.

    When I was searching for schematics (wiring diagrams), I saw that pin 19 on the headlight stalk is for automatic headlights. I don't have them, but it appeared that the wiring is there, so I took the multimeter and checked the connections. YEY! I only need a new stalk, when pin 19 (white wire) is grounded, the automatic headlights are on. Checked at local scrap yards and ebay, but hey... $100 for a headlights switch, I said f*** it, I'll make my own for $1.

    The parts that I used for DRLs and automatic lights are:
    1. 2x rellays: 15 amp 12v
    2. 2x fuses: 15 amp and 7.5 amp (less is better)
    3. 2x Switches
    4. Wires (proper section... Or thickness of the wires)

    Short description for the DRLs:
    I have two (approximately) 3-watt LED bulbs in the fog lights. The Chinese advertised them as 7.5 watts each, but at 12.5v they use 0.55 amps :D
    The idea is to get 12v from +12v feed on READY mode and power the foglights directly through 10-15 amp fuse. Such wire is the thick green wire on the bottom connector of the module - it's fourth pin - right side, bottom to top (see the first photo). Then connect this through a closed pins of the relay to the thinner green wire at the same connector (3rd pin - right side, third top to bottom) - it's the feed for the fog lights.
    I wanted this "short" to be disconnected when the parking lights is turned on, so the relay must break the circuit and I connected one of the pins to the ground and other to the brown wire at the same connector (parking lights) - it's the first pin at the top-right.

    That's great, but if you want to turn the DRLs off for some reason? So, the wire that you connected to the thick green wire must go through another relay, this time opened. This relay will close on READY and it's driver wires will go through a switch :) Don't forget to put the fuses. 10-15 amps one - to the feed to the foglights and the 7.5 (or lower) - power to the relays.

    DRLs are done, next: auto headlights:
    Make a connection wire between ground and white wire on the small right connector from the module. It's the third wire from bottom to top at the right side of the connector. Put a switch between this connection - you want the automatic headlights to be turned off sometimes, right?

    Aaand we're ready! The most important thing in this is to insulate every connection VERY well! Every connection between wires is soldered, for the connection between wires and fuses and wires and relays I used cable shoes to make things easier if someday something fails and needs a replacement. Here is the result of that wiring:
    0:07 - Ready, DRLs
    0:16 - Parking lights, manual
    0:18 - low beam, manual
    0:20 - everything is at "off", automatic is activated
    0:31 - put something on top of the sensor to block the sunlight
    0:37 - headlights, parking lights, plate, etc is on automatically (will set the responsiveness with Techstream)
    0:43 - removed the "shadow"
    0:48 - DRLs


    Photos are showing some of the steps and the placement of the switches. I used a dual switch with two push-switches (don't know how they're called in English, sorry) and put it in the empty hole on the plastic cover above the pedals. The hole was a little tight, and the plastic was little thick, but I cut it with a knife.

    If someone is interested in this mod I can make a wiring diagram if it would be easier.
     

    Attached Files:

    Submancm, m.wynn, 4est and 1 other person like this.
  2. pauerbach

    pauerbach Member

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    Nice work. This is exactly the way the 2012+ models are wired.
     
  3. CoastRider

    CoastRider Active Member

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    Great job. I wish I had your mechanical skill.
     
  4. 4md

    4md Member

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    Thank you! I made a simple wiring diagram, maybe it will be useful to someone.
     

    Attached Files:

    m.wynn, MMtec and Michael Mann like this.
  5. MMtec

    MMtec Junior Member

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    Really nice work. At this days I was thinking to do the same. The led you have on fog gives gives good power (lumens) ? And the light is projected like halogen ?
     
  6. MMtec

    MMtec Junior Member

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    Another question 4md: the fog light on the dashboard turn on when the fog are in "drl mode"?
     
  7. 4md

    4md Member

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    The dash does not have the fog lights indicator on when they're in DRL mode, but they can be turned on manually and then the indicator lights up.
    I'll attach an image of the bulbs for the fog lights I'm using, they're LED, but emit light in 5 directions, they have good light for DRLs, but it's very white to be useful in foggy conditions.
     

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    MMtec likes this.
  8. overexposure

    overexposure Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    My 3rd bottom wire is green not white ! I want to enable automatic headlights . Is there a way to test/measure its the same function? Its a Prius V ( european ) and I measure 9,5 volts between the green ( 3-rd bottom right ) and earth , thnx a lot
    IMG_2823.JPG
     
  9. 4md

    4md Member

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    Don't short it to ground if you're not sure it's for the auto headlights, you can really f*** smt up. Try to find electric diagrams for the Plus version...
    You can check and then test (measure) if this wire goes to the headlight stalk, that's for a start. If it doesn't - this is sure thing that this is not for the auto-on function.
     
  10. overexposure

    overexposure Junior Member

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    Thnx 4md , but how do you measure its going to the headlight stalk? I will look for the electric diagrams , any Idea where to look ? thnx again
     
  11. 4md

    4md Member

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    Remove the plastics around it and check if there's a wire with the same color, then take a multimeter and check if it's the same wire that goes from the module to the stalk.
     
  12. mvgalen

    mvgalen New Member

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    Antho_nyc likes this.
  13. Antho_nyc

    Antho_nyc New Member

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    Hi @mvgalen i was looking to do the same thing on my European 3rg gen Prius (plug-in) it seems that i have the same wiring but i didn't succeed. Do you have a picture of you installation ? Thanks.
     
  14. vlekov

    vlekov New Member

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    First time poster, long time lurker here. I've been struggling to find the information I need on implementing this mod to my 2010 Prius. It's a bog-standard european base model, but here's a twist: it has the facelifted bumper installed (that's how I bought it from the original owner) so it has the factory LED DRLs, but since it's a 2010 and it doesn't have the factory provisioning for in-bumper DRLs, they are wired in parallel with the parking/marker lights. So you get in the car, start it up and turn the headlights on with the stalk switch, like it's still 2007. I'd like to change that so the DRLs turn on as soon as you start the car up and turn off when the parking/marker lights turn on, as per factory specification. Also I'm not sure my car has the automatic headlights from factory - it has the sensor and it works (I've seen the dash and other lights dim automatically) but I'm not sure it can drive the headlights too (it's a base Prius after all and the stalk doesn't have the AUTO position). With my limited technical knowledge here's what I understand: I need to somehow provide power to the DRLs in the bumper through a relay which will be responsible for switching the DRLs on and off according to the parking/marker lights state. This would be easiest done via the main fuse box in the engine bay. Using a fuse tap in position 34 in the fuse box ("IGCT No.3" as per the user guide) I can have the 12V with "ignition on" or READY-mode. So far so good. Where do I get a signal from the parking/marker lights though? Except directly tapping their cable going to the headlight assembly what else can I use (preferably in the fuse box using fuse taps)? I really don't want to go the route of cutting and splicing the original wiring any more. I'd be grateful if someone can help. Also, what else do I need besides fuse taps, a relay and a bunch of wire? Wanted to contact the OP directly but in interest of keeping the forum alive and helpful I decided to ask here. Also, 4md seems pretty much gone from this forum.
    Cheers!
     
  15. vlekov

    vlekov New Member

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    10 days later... anyone?
     
  16. Maarten28

    Maarten28 Active Member

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    Maybe you can wire a relay that is on when no voltage applied and off when 12V is applied. You wire the input of the relay to the wire that goes to the parking lights to make it switch off and on.
     
  17. vlekov

    vlekov New Member

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    That's what I was thinking of doing and my question was where can I get a signal in the engine bay from the marker lights (except tapping into their own wiring) to drive the relay's coil. Anyway, I guess either no one knows or just doesn't want to help, not sure why.
     
  18. Maarten28

    Maarten28 Active Member

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    I think you'll have to tap it off the lights or maybe try to find out where the wire for the lights comes from and attach it there.
    I suppose nobody has done this so there is a lot of figuring this out to be done by yourself.
     
  19. Submancm

    Submancm New Member

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    hello can you tell the relays model

    thanks
     
  20. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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