New to the RX8 world... I am in need of having daytime running lights... Does anyone have any advice on how i might temporarily have the parking lights (in the headlight assembly) automatically come on when the ignition is turned on?

Again, a temporary "hack" is all that would be necessary until I get an actual Daytime running light module installed. I am completely comfortable and capable of wiring mods,etc. but unfamiliar with this car as I just got it!

Its tough keeping it in the driveway without being able to drive until the lights are modified !

Any advice is appreciated!

 

You can't just turn the switch?

 

Seriously is it that hard to flip that pkg light switch?

 

..see they need to come on when the key is turned without flipping a switch. that is what the requirement is or obviously flipping the switch is going to put them on. It has to be inspected that when the ignition key is turned on, a set of lights come on, and when the ign key is turned off, they go off as well!

 

I'm unsure as to what wires are what back there, but you could take the plastic off the steering column and find the wire that's switched to the parking lights. Track down a 12v power that only fires with the ignition and splice it in to the wire you found coming from the stalk. You could put a small diode between the splice and the switch to avoid any back-flowing current doing odd things, but I don't know if it's needed.

I wish I could tell you more than that, but i've never done it on this car. I actually want to tie mine into the fog lights so they're my DRLs.

 

If the parking lights operate from a relay, you need to have the relay energized by the ignition being on.

There's a long DIY on how to get the fog lights to come on when only the ignition is on or when the parking lights are on. (Stock is that fogs only operate when the low beams are on.) You can probably interpolate between those to figure out what to do.

I have not done any of this rewiring myself, but the fog light mod is on my bucket list and I've pored over that thread. What you need to access should all be in the fuse panel under the hood.

Some of the posts have wiring diagrams. If you need more, there's a link to the shop manual about 3/4 of the way down the following page:

http://www.hi-impact.org/ryang/modify/modify.html

which is really a great page for RX-8 owners.

Ken

 

the way to do it will require a relay. foxxman do you know how a relay works?

basically, hook up the ignition wire to a relay that will turn on the parking lights.

just please test the wires before you hook them up. if you hook up the wrong wire, its will F-UP your car quick!

Look at this thread, i took a picture of where the 12v and ignition wire's are.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/rx8-wire-colors-locations-177199/

12 Volt (+) - 12ga. White/Red in driver’s door harness at driver’s kick panel or 12ga Orange just above kick panel

Ignition - 18ga. Black/Yellow at driver’s kick panel

Parking Lights (+) - 18ga. Red/Yellow left of steering column in large White connector

the parking light wire will show 12v when turned on.

Look at this thread, i took a picture of where the ignition wire is.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=177199

 

Why not just energize the TAIL relay using the same wire that energizes the ACC relay?
So when you turn the key the same wire that turns the ACC relay on also turns on the TAIL relay.

The TAIL relay not only turns on the front combination lights, but also the front and rear side markers, tail lights, and license plate light.
But it might be the easiest way.

 

^but y would you want all that on everytime you drive?

 

I'm just saying it'll be easier... that's all.
Pros: Easier to achieve what you want.
Cons: All the other lights stay on too (except the head lights).

 

Foxxman...where do you live at?

 

Wow.. thanks for all the ideas! I'm located about 3hrs north of Vancouver, BC Canada.

TKSNOBORDS: I certainly know how a relay works and that is kinda what i was thinkign about. Wouldn't be that tough - even just to do some temporary wiring to get it to pass the inspection! Thanks for the diagram and photos - that will be incredibly helpful!

I was just unsure if I can go direct to the light or how to do it, but I think I might attempt it with the help of your info!

 

When I hooked up my alarm, I'm not sure which wire I tapped for my parking lights. I'll look tomorrow. But I really like it, cuz it flashes the small lights in the clear part of the taillights...an LED maybe. it also flashes the little greenish/grey ones in the headlights, and the side markers.

I'll try n take a pic of the wire I tapped for my parking light tomorrow, and a short video of the lights flashing. But if you wanna find the exact wire that makes contact when you turn the parking light switch forward, look in the steering colum, it has to be there...prolly on the left hand side...

 

What kind of inspection is this? Why do they require all of your parking lights to be on all the time? I'm just curious.

 

so what i would theoretically want to do is:
When IGN is ON (+12) it will suck in the relay (relay coil one side IGN and the other side GND), which the two contacts that are brought together when IGN is on are the Parking Lights (+) to GND.

Sound about right?

I just need it to work for 15 minutes and I can take it all out and wait for the proper relay!

In your photo, is the an OBD2 connector?

 

i'm not sure if its the OBD2 connector.

and NO do not connect a ground to your 12v parking lights. it will at the least blow a fuse., if not something worse.

on the relay...when the relay is energized (connecting 12v to 85 and ground to 86) the relay connects 30 and 87 together.

since the ignition wire is so small (18ga), you'll need to connect a larger 12v source to 87 (this larger 12v wire is used to send power to the parking lights). or you could over work the small 18ga ignition wire and melt it from drawing too much power from it. the 18ga ignition wire is just used to make the relay turn on. the 18ga ignition wire i used is a true ignition, it remains on thru cranking (showing 12 volts)

most cars have a 12ga 12v, 12ga ignition, and a 12ga starter wire in the ignition harness...inside the steering column on the ignition cylinder

wow thats a lot of 12's in a row...

 

Where are these relay terminal numbers coming from (85, 86, 30, 87)?
I'm not following this.

 

just a sec...i'll post a pic of my relay

i'll have to do it tomorrow...i left my tools in my trunk...and my car isnt here.

but the relay numbers are different connection terminals on the relay

 

this is the kind of relay i'm talking about

i love google

 

OK... but then he would need to get that same relay (to follow your terminal number instructions) since another company/model number might have different markings.
Some say 'coil' and 'com' on them, others just have numbers starting at 1.
Not a big deal, just trying to clarify.

 

ok. do relays generally come with instructions when bought individually? we only use a couple different ones at work. i used these for actuators and flipping polarity ect...

 

That's fine... I'm just giving my point of view since I work for a company that makes relays and we use a ton of them in our plant.
I'm not here to start an argument with you bud, just want to make sure when he gets a relay, he isn't confused if the markings don't match what you suggest.
We're all here to help each other out.

 

oh i know. i have read a lot of your posts. i try to give help when i can. i'm still new to rotary's, and this place has been my knowledge base. when i said do relays come with instructions...i was really asking. because i have never bought a relay retail. i have always used the ones from my work. which come in a large bag.

 

My misunderstanding then... I took it as you were getting a little defensive and I didn't want you to think that way.
Relays can be difficult to understand for one who doesn't understand it.
Some relays have a stamping on them to visually show how the switch(s), some don't have any and you have to look near the terminals and they usually tell you which ones are for the coil.
Some only have a part number and you have to search online and hope to find a diagram from the manufacture (shouldn't be this way with newer relays).
But the markings/terminals are usually marked differently between different manufactures and part numbers.

They wouldn't happen to say 'Allen Bradly' on them, would they

 

i'm not sure. they are all black with very very few markings. but i can look tomorrow...