Technical Installing DRLs

[windmill84]

I'm trying to install DRLs on my mk2b punto.

I have them all wired up as it says in the instructions (connect positive to + battery, negative to a ground in the car and the yellow wire to the positive of the headlights/sidelights)

now i've done all this, but the DRLs are on constantly without the ignition turned on. I'm guessing that I havent connected the yellow wire to the correct positive wire on the headlights...

however, the DRLs did turn off when the headlights were turned on (which is supposed to happen)

does anyone have any ideas??

Here is the wiring kit i bought if thats any help:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270929531...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_2591wt_1396

 

[david295]

The red wire is to go to ignition wire that is live when ignition on

 

[AndyRKett]

It even says in the picture used on eBay the the red positive wire is to be connected to the Positive + "after the ignition switch" and you say you've connected this to the positive on the battery !?

Rectify this and they will work as they should

 

[windmill84]

right, so which wire is that then?

if you read the main description of the product it says to connect the red wire to the positive of the battery...

slightly contradictive dont you think?

which wire should i connect the red one to then once the ignition has been turned on?

 

[AndyRKett]

quite right!

however common sense should tell you if you connect Pos to Pos and Neg to Neg your going to have an unswitched circuit with the lights permanently on as long as there is power in the battery.

should be an easy to find nice big switched live somewhere in the engine bay fusebox have you got a multimeter? can get one from maplin for £7

 

[windmill84]

That's very true! I think my common sense evaded me yesterday! I really should have thought about that shouldn't I lol.

Unfortunately I don't have a multimeter, might be able to get my hands on one though. You wouldn't happen to know which would be a switched live though perchance?!

Time for round 2 today!

 

[windmill84]

Still having no luck with this. It should be easy!

How do you take the plug off the back of the cigarette lighter? Does it just pull off? Or twist? Or what? I've tried everything but it won't budge.

 

[colinf1]

flat head screwdriver between plug and cigar lighter with ignition off. then turn the screwdriver and it will open up

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Wire it as directed, +ve to a CONSTANT live, and -ve to a constant -ve. Then the other wire to the side lights.

The unit is designed to sence the car running, IE charge from the alternator, and then turns the DRLs on when the engine is running and off when it stops running or if the engine is running and the light are switched on as per DRL regs.

 

[windmill84]

Thanks Colin, I'll give that a try later.

MEP, I had it wired like that first of all, but the were on constantly even if the engine was on or off.

I think I'm just going to end up running a wire to the cigarette lighter and do it that way.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Sounds like a faulty unit then

Have you connected it and started the engine for a few min and then turned it off and waited a few min? Do the go off with a feed to the wire that goes to the lights?

Have you contacted the seller?

 

[windmill84]

I didnt try starting it and leaving it then turning it off for a few minutes. do you think they might have been on from some of the residule charge then?

I'm sure they turned off when I turned the lights on. the thing is that there are 3 wires that go to the headlight bulb, 2 of which are on the same connector, so I assumed that they were the live (as you cant have a positive and negative on the same connector right?) and connected the yellow wire to one of those.

I contacted the seller about where the main negative connected to (either negative battery or ground), but had no response. so I doubt I'll get one about this.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I'd try it again myself. I've a similar control unit for my DRLs on the Stilo and mk3 Panda and they both work well.

I'd connect the +Ve and -ve directly to the battery and not even bother with connecting the 3rd wire to the headlights for the test.

Once connected start the engine for a minute and then turn it off. The DRLs should then go off within about 5-10 sec of the engine being turned off

 

[windmill84]

ok thanks Mr Panda

I'll give that a go later tonight. Off to maplins now for some more connectors, running low after i keep cutting them off!

 

[windmill84]

Right so that still didnt work! wired it to the battery again, engine on for a while, engine off, left it for a few minutes and they were still on (obviously!).

Guess I don't have the lead set that "knows when the engine is on"! Time to buy one of those instead methinks...

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I've checked the ebay page again and thats what these should do.

Email the seller and say they're faulty and you want them to change them rather than buying some more

 

[windmill84]

I'm not so sure to be honest, I checked the box that they came in and it said to wire the red wire to an ignition switched live. I doubt the seller would accept them now either as i had to cut the connectors off.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Ah yes, I've just checked the listing yet again, and what I can now gather (must stop speed reading ) is that its only a unit to turn them off with the headlights on, its not a completly auto switching unit

 

[colinf1]

surely if you run a test wire from the cigar lighter, to the wire requiring the ignition switched + it will work as required?

 

[windmill84]

Never mind, I should read more thoroughly what I'm buying in the first place!

yeah Colin you're right it will work like that, but I'm lazy and dont want the hassle of trying to find somewhere in the firewall to route the cable through. plus i dont want to put the extra load on the lighter cable along with the HU.