San-AnT

I wrote hamsar and asked them about applications for DRLs on the acura TSX (high beams @60% reduction), and here is the response:

[I]Unfortunately we do not have any information on this application. In
order to advise you the compatible DRL for the Acura TSX 04-06, we will
require a wiring diagram showing the head lamps back to the dashboard.
I can then forward this to one of our engineers for review.

Please send the diagram to my email address or fax to my attention at
905 332-9020.


Marcela Uribe
Bilingual Customer Service
Hamsar Diversco
Tel 1800-567-5483
Fax 905-332-9020[/I

can someone with the diagram help me out? I do a lot of highway driving and would like to have DRLs on my car without having to turn on full HIDs.

HoRRo

If the CDN model uses a DRL module, you might be able to buy one from Honda/Acura dealer. I remember the one for the Accord is about $150CDN.

Edit:

Found this thread, full DIY:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136827

San-AnT

too much rewiring for CDN drl - it uses a light sensor and stuff. the one im looking at reduces light by 60% and is for high beams only. it shuts off @ lights on or with parking break, turns on and off with ignition. there is also one for HID and fogs, or just fogs, but i want the high beam lights @ 40%.

anyone have the wiring diagrams for high beams?

curls

I didn't think the CDN TSX has light sensors for the DRL's. I was alway sunder the impression that when I turn the car on, the DRL's are not on, until I put the parking brake down (then the DRL's go on -- 40-50% of high-beam power).

They only go off when low-beams are turned on, or car is turned off.

I don't see a need for a light sensor -- where did you hear/read that?

Dan Martin

There isn't any light sensor involved.

San-Ant, I think the DRLs can be turned on by any honda/acura dealer with a Honda Diagnostics System computer (HDS). As far as I know, there isn't any special hardware needed, it's just an option that needs to be enabled in the car's software.

moda_way

There is a relay, fuse and a few other things that would need to be done to the best of my knowledge.

Zoopa

I understand most others cars, like my Impala need the relay module. However, I do know that my Impala has sensors in the rearview mirror, front-facing and rear-facing, to adjust the dimming on the mirror, and possibly even for the DRLs.

The back-facing sensor looks for light coming into the cabin from cars behind you, and dims the rearview mirror accordingly. The TSX already has this sensor, because we have auto-dimming mirrors.

However, I know there also is a forward facing sensor in the Impala's mirror. I cant remember if this is used by the DRLs, but I can't think of any other reason to put one in that location.

But I think it is cheaper for Acura simply to not install the relay for U.S. cars. After you drive a car with DRLs, it's kind of like a passive safety feature that you miss having. I wish the Acura had it too.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Those sensors are solely for dimming the mirrors. The front facing sensor provides one reading and the rear sensor provides a separate reading. The front facing sensor is the baseine reading to establish the current level of ambient light. The rear sensor detects the appearance of light coming from the rear (such as headlights of a car behind you). The two readings are compared and if the rear sensor detects substantially more light than the front one, if knows to dim the mirrors.

These sensors have absolutely zero to do with DRLs. DRLs are designed to be on when the car is in motion during the day (so headlights off, parking brake off).

moda_way

Acura does have it, it just isn't a law here.

I could argue the point of DRLs, but I'll leave it at saying, "Useless".

Neat feature, but useless when everyone else on the road has them too.

curls

EXACTLY.

And I really don't see why the US has been so slow to even think of adopting the DRL as standard equipment. It is a LOT safer having DRL's on the road (although took years for 90+% of cars to actually have them once the law was passed). Passing in low-light conditions, you know with good certainty if there are cars oncoming, whereas without DRL's, you are forced to try to look for slight color changes or whatnot, and the obviousness of a car in the oncoming lane is greatly diminished.

curls

I assume you meant "Neat feature, but useless unless everyone else on the road has them too.

??

Otherwise I don't even think the safety thing can be used as an argument against them - they've been proven safety-enhancers for years now.

curls

Edit to above post:

Safety studies: http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/DRLs/studies.htm


And from http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/drl.html

4. How effective are DRLs? Nearly all published reports indicate DRLs reduce multiple-vehicle daytime crashes. Evidence about DRL effects on crashes comes from studies conducted in Scandinavia, Canada, and the United States. A study examining the effect of Norway's DRL law from 1980 to 1990 found a 10 percent decline in daytime multiple-vehicle crashes.1 A Danish study reported a 7 percent reduction in DRL-relevant crashes in the first 15 months after DRL use was required and a 37 percent decline in left-turn crashes.2 In a second study covering 2 years and 9 months of Denmark's law, there was a 6 percent reduction in daytime multiple-vehicle crashes and a 34 percent reduction in left-turn crashes.3 A 1994 Transport Canada study comparing 1990 model year vehicles with DRLs to 1989 vehicles without them found that DRLs reduced relevant daytime multiple-vehicle crashes by 11 percent.4

In the United States, a 1985 Institute study determined that commercial fleet passenger vehicles modified to operate with DRLs were involved in 7 percent fewer daytime multiple-vehicle crashes than similar vehicles without DRLs.5 A small-scale fleet study conducted in the 1960s found an 18 percent lower daytime multiple-vehicle crash rate for DRL-equipped vehicles.6 Multiple-vehicle daytime crashes account for about half of all police-reported crashes in the United States. A 2002 Institute study reported a 3 percent decline in daytime multiple-vehicle crash risk in nine US states concurrent with the introduction of DRLs.7 Federal researchers, using data collected nationwide, concluded that there was a 5 percent decline in daytime, two-vehicle, opposite-direction crashes and a 12 percent decline in fatal crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists.8

JTso

iTrader: (2)

I have the images for both the USA and Canada models. However, they are too large to post so you will need to right-click the links below and download them.

Canada

USA

San-AnT

i know that in my old car, the sensor on the dash would switch the car from DRL to full nighttime lights (full low beam, parking, etc.) depending on the light output.


but back to my original qeusiton: can somebody scan the wiring diagrams for the high beams? or does anybody know where i can get one?

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

That's only if you have auto-on headlights, which the TSX does not. That sensor isn't on the rearview mirror though...

Dan Martin

See the post above you...

HaPPy jU1cE

what is DRL?

Dan Martin

I can't figure out a few things from the schematic:

1) What does the Relay Control Module look like?
2) The only difference between the two shchematics is the CDN-spec cars have a DRL relay and a couple extra fuses. What tells the relay to activate? Maybe this is where the reprogramming of the computer comes in with the HDS module.

Dan Martin

Daytime Running Lights

They just run your highbeams at 35w instead of the normal 55w.

moda_way

Concurrent introduction is not a cause and effect... it is at best, loosely related. Let's also not forget the number of drivers on the road these days that have implemented DRLs... if there was that strong of a correlation, I'd expect to see better numbers.

The story sounds good for DRLs, but statistics can be used to tell any story you want them to.

San-AnT

doh! thanks guys. im sending them off (both). we'll see what they say.

San-AnT

99% of all statistics are wrong

JTso

iTrader: (2)

I think you might be out of luck due to the way how MICU works... However, there might be a way to over-ride the control signal via another circuit. Perhaps KPTechnologies can come up with another control module.

Note: Large pics. Right-click and download the images.

DRL

MICU

San-AnT

thanks again, JTso . i'll forward the info. i'll try and find the schematics for the modules they use.

San-AnT

I ordered the hamsar 45035 module ( http://www.hamsar.com/drlkits.htm#1 ) today. According to the engineer over at hamsar, everything should wire in easily. I'll keep everyone updated when this gets installed. thanks again JTso for the scans.

BTW, i have Nokya Hyper yellow h1's on my car - part of the reason i want the drls on my high beams.

San-AnT

kit on backorder. should be here by next week.

derrick

I'm bringing this out from the dead. Reason being: purchased a 2007 black / black TSX from the States and will be importing it to Canada next week. I have 45 days (from time of entry) to get DRLs to work on the car such that I comply with Canadian laws.

Anyone get this project to work? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Zoopa

Thanks for brining this back out from the dead. I would like to install DRLS too, my previous car had them and it is one less thing to turn on (after okaying the Navi), safety is not a concern.

Is there a distributor for the Canadian parts mentioned earlier in this thread?

San-AnT

yes. P.U.M.A. is the US distributor.

see: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...001#post649001