Seeking Canadian Help For Daytime Running Lights

[Harleyduo]

There are dozens (if not hundreds) of Americans trying to come up with a way to have daytime running lights on our vehicles. Pleas to Daimler and Smart USA have just returned a simple " The U.S. version does not have DRL's and there is currently no plans for an upgrade for this current year" response. Our tech guys don't seem to have a clue as to how to modify anything to get that function to work like it does in Canada.I'm trying to see if anybody has a close connection with a Canadian Tech that might know how to achieve such a feature by computer toggling. I've even written to the Smart Dealership in Windsor but go absolutely no response at all. Those of us who live close to the border would certainly be willing to drive across to Canada to pay to have it done, IF IT CAN BE DONE.Currently, we have the lights come on automatically if there is not enough 'brightness' to indicate daytime, and they go off automatically when we shut off our engines, but if the sun is shining, you have no running lights unless you manually turn on the headlights and then you have to remember to turn them off, which is hard to get into the habit if you normally use the auto-on/off feature.It seems that if they make the same car with DRL's for Canada, that we should be able to somehow achieve that same feature in the USA.Can anybody please HELP??????

[ARTZ]

This is what it says in the 450 manual to turn on/off the DRL feature. But, you probably don't have the "module" that controls this, but it is worth a try.

Daytime driving lights

*

If your car is equipped with daytime driving lights

, the low beam and parking lights come on automatically when you drive off.

>Note!

When the daytime driving lights are activated, the high beam lights can only be turned on when the light control lever is in stage

2 (low beam lights).

Switching off daytime driving lights

>

Switch off the ignition.

>

Operate the headlight flashers.

>

At the same time press the button for unlocking the car on the car key.

> A signal sounds by way of confirmation that the daytime driving lights are switched off.

Switching on daytime driving lights

>

Switch off the ignition.

>

Operate the headlight flashers.

>

At the same time, press the button for locking the car on the car key.

> A signal sounds by way of confirmation that the daytime driving lights are switched on.

[Speedie]

Piece of electrical tape over the headlight sensor?It is either a module or a TAN code they fire into the computer - I would hazard to guess it is a TAN code - which means you had better check with Fast Eddy - 'cause a Canadian dealership probably won't fire it in for you.Cheers,Cameron

[FlyingTigerDevelopment]

It seems Canadian 451 and US 451 have very different specs. We don't get auto lights and wipers even as an option or retrofit. I wish I can have it on mine.In the case of DRL. It can be turn on with the STAR with SCN code not TAN code. SCN is a online coding to head office. They will first search the car's VIN for region of approval. Then input this feature to the international VIN system that this option is being installed. It will probably be blocked at any one of this level. VIN not for Canada spec. it is a no no.Secondly, many Canadian Smart dealers has not been train to use this SCN feature on Smart. Up to this day, I had try to retrofit a set of fogs and they still can't turn it on. They know it is suppose to and should be able to. Arrrh... I can see it with my machine. But no access.

[Guest ChineseRider]

ok.. with so much being said above, just let me clear something up.. there is still no way to disable DRL for the Canadian 451s??

[Nextourer]

ironic eh?Not all DRLs turn off when you engage the parking brake. I know GM cars do that but Toyota ones do not.

[Guest kwaldron]

Since DRL is full brightness in the 2008 CDN model, if you don't have the option why not just get in the habit of turning on the lights every time you get in the car? It will remind you if you don't turn them off when leaving.

[passionateaboutRUBY]

What kw said. My last car was too old to have DRL; I simply got into the habit.Some of us have changed wiring in our 450's to use the fixture located lower in the grille as DRL (uses 1157-type bulb) because the full-bright headlights were burning out too fast. I don't think the 451 has a fixture there; you could add them (or add one in the middle, that would look funky). We also added a resistor to lower the voltage bcs the 1157's were burning out too fast. Maybe there's a new LED type available with enough brightness to enhance your safety but won't draw much power? Ours come on with the engine running; that will be the tricky part. There must be an after-market module that can detect ignition on and power up the light, without messing your warranty. Good luck!