Daytime Running Light mod

[jediknight36]

Originally Posted by rawlus®

if you have the hockey puck, just put a dot of black tape over the eye sensor and leave the lights set to auto.

Wouldnt that disable the auto wipers?

[rawlus®]

no. to my knowledge they do not use the same sensor.

[BigWarpGuy]

I have the Pure and it does not have a 'auto' setting for the lights.

[rawlus®]

correct, only those with the auto lamps/auto wipers have that option.

personally, i think DRL's are overrated.

but its a personal choice.

[getsmartusa]

$39 plus shipping and applicable tax. From their website:

P/N 480HD is a Heavy Duty - Weather tight unit that is equipped with a power reducer that makes the low-beam headlight operate at 75% of normal. This is the industry standard for DRL’s. Enhance your safety by making your vehicle more visible to oncoming traffic in daylight. This unit is similar to OEM products now available on some new cars. It automatically turns low-beam headlights on and off with your ignition thus eliminating the primary cause of dead batteries from lights left on. Keeps headlights off during engine starts. Will not affect normal light switch operation. Will not dim radio or clock display. Will not turn on your dashboard or tail lights. Statistics based on Canadian and European experience (where DRL’s are mandatory) shows a significant reduction of daytime collisions of around 30%. The experience is similar that of the Hertz rental fleet, military vehicles and buses. General Motors calculated that their vehicles avoided 35,000 collisions since their introduction of DRL’s in 1997. The statistics were based on comparing accident rates by similar vehicles made by Ford during the same period that were not equipped with DRL’s. Installation is a simple four wire connection with no wire cutting. This is the only DRL unit that works with virtually all types and makes of vehicles. The unit is completely sealed for moisture and corrosion resistance and is protected by a 20 amp fuse. Instructions and all needed installation supplies are included. This model works with all cars: foreign and domestic. Made in the USA.

Here"s the link: Automotive Electronic Accessories - Quality Accessories for Your Car

- David -

[Old smart]

Has anyone successfully installed a DRL kit (of any source) without hosing-up the smart's electronic logic??

My looking about has convinced me to settle on the AEA if it will actually work without having to pre-cross Dr. Z's palm with a brat.

[RVGRINGO]

If you want your lights on in the daytime, give it some serious thought and you might find a solution. You can also turn them off with the same switch; amazing!
Oh well, none of you remember 'crank to start' do you?

[jwight]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

If you want your lights on in the daytime, give it some serious thought and you might find a solution. You can also turn them off with the same switch; amazing!
Oh well, none of you remember 'crank to start' do you?

That magic switch is working fine in our smart and has helped avoid a couple "near hits" where folks almost pulled out in front of us.

[fmaxwell]

It's kind of a dilemma for me. As an automobile driver, I'd be safer, but as a motorcyclist, all of the DRLs are making our bikes stand out less to car drivers. I'll probably do without the DRLs, saving the bulbs and the gas needed to power them.

[getsmartusa]

The inane comments about using the headlight on-off switch are irrelevent !!
If you are fine using the headlight switch, then you have nothing to add or llearn from this thread.

DRL's only turn the headlights on (at reduced intensity). They do not turn on any of the rear lights, and most important to those who have in dash NAV/Entertainment systems, DRLs do not dim the display like turniing on the headlights. Some Nav units will go into night mode when the headlights are on (as opposed to DRL's). (Pleae don't hijack the thread with ways around this as they are varied by model all would require constant resetting of the in-dash units settings from night/day.)

Since I too like having my headlights on during the day, and the on/off operation to be automatic (especially the off), I am willing to spend $40 and a little time, so I have ordered two of the afore mentioned DRL kits for our smarts. What I expect after they are installed is, that anytime the engine is running the headlights only will be on at reduced intensity with no effect on anything else. I will keep the headlight switch in auto and would expect that when it gets dark all of the lights will come on to normal intensity and when it gets light it will revert back just to the reduced intensity headlights.

Please don't flame me, only expressing my opinion and plans...I will report the results as soon as I receive the kits.

- David -