[mwh986]

OK, after spending hours searching through the archives of "Driving Lights" I'm still no better off. Except I know what does not work.

I added driving lights with a relay wanting the DL's to operate with the low beams (on my Suburban it was a quick splice to the low beam head light wire, simple). Not with a FJ, the DRL function triggers the relay to on so day or night I have DL's on.

I disabled the diode between the battery and the bumper, no DRL, but DL's still on.

Rewired the relay trigger to the fusebox using a spade terminal now DL's flash with the alarm arm/disarm and will shorten the life of the DL's.

How can it be so complicated when all I want is to turn on my headlights and have the DL's also turn on? I'm usually very handy with this stuff, but am I turning into my Uncle Tom who was pissed off when Detriot went to computer controlled systems and he could no longer trouble shoot his own car (well, that was a 57 Chevy that he loved to work on.)

Mark
08 FJC
San Antonio, Texas

 

[LarryStew]

I think the issue is that the Toyota FJ headlight circuit is negative side switched. +12 volts are always fed to the headlight. You'll need to switch your relay using the ground side of the circuit.

 

[FJ4RWS]

When you say "I disabled the diode between the battery and the bumper" did you unplug the silver box by the headlight? If so that isn't a diode, it's a resister used to dim the headlights when in DRL mode. If you want to have your DLs come ON with the headlights you need to connect your DL relay to the headlight ON circuit. The DRL relay (engine compartment next to fuse box) is used to switch the headlights from 'dim' to normal when you turn on the headlights. if you tap into that control signal you can get your lights to work the way you want. Look in the Technical Articles under "Turn the DRLs OFF", SwissArmy did a very detailed write up with pictures. His intent was to disable the DRL circuit but the pictures and description should let you see where you need to connect your relay so it operates when the DRL relay is in headlight ON mode.

 

[FJ4RWS]

Terminal 2 - GR (green with red tracer) is the headlight ON signal from the computer. This is a ground connection. You can connect + side of your relay to terminal 1 and its operation will parallel that of the DRL relay. Read "Relays and their Use" in the Technical Articles. If you do this mod you are connecting to the computer system of your vehicle and protecting that system is far more important than making the Driving Lights automatic. I doubt that there would be any problem but diodes are cheap protection for a very expensive part that could disable the vehicle.

 

[SwiCago]

Look at this thread. Another forum member had a very similar problem. I explained
in detail how the FJs light system worked and also posted the FULL Schematic for DRL only FJs(not partial mixed shematic like above).
I don't feel like re-explaining the logic behind the FJs light system again, so please read the whole thread and you'll probably see what needs to be done.
DRLs fire up Aux lights

 

[easelman]

Check the flux capacitor

 

[mwh986]

AHHHHHHHHHHHH Diode......Resitor.......Fluxcapacitor........What's the big difference anyway! Just kidding Y'all.

Sorry while trying to turn on my DL's I apparently shut down my cerebral cortex function. It is indeed the resistor I disconnected, not a diode.

I appreciate the quick responses and will re-evaluate the drawing for the answer.

Thanks,

Mark
08 FJC
San Antonio