Daytime Running Lights - A Question for Canadians

[keninvic]

I have just purchased a 2004 Dolphin in the USA and now have to have it inspected for DOT compliance. The daytime running lights are the ones under the headlights, they are activated upon releasing the parking brake. Is this good enough? or do I need to have the headlamps come on as well?

Thanks all.

[TW]

Check here: www.gc.ca

TW

[wildtoad]

I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in SC daytime running lights (DRL's) are not required. Many cars allow the DRL's to be turned off, my 2009 Chevy HHR included. A lot of the Chevy trucks and SUV's I see have parking light DRL's and most of them only have one still working. I had a 2001 VW BUg with full-time DRL's and it cost $50 everytime one when out as they had to remove the headlight assembly to replace the bulb. I suspect you will be just fine....

[TW]

it's the Law here in Canada

TW

[Richard S.]

I found information for the 05 Dolphin that states it has DRL sure your 04 is the same. My 07 SeaBreeze has DRL. I was told that NRV did this so it would be covered for export to Canada.

[Joe & Bonnie]

It's been the law in Canada since sometime in the 90's. To my knowledge, it is not required anywhere in the USA. Usually, daytime running lights (DRL) are headlights on at reduced brilliance. Sometimes, it's the turn signal portion of the parking lamp that's on. Varies by manufacturer. In interest of safety, GM installed DRLs in all it's models for years, and Ford offered it as an option in slected models. I never saw Chrysler advertise it or offer it as an option, although the '97 minivan we had was wired for it. All you had to do was changeout the turn signal relay. Don't know (or care) about foreign cars. Our coach is wired for it too, and I added the Hamsar relay to make it work.

[vermilye]

Not to steal the thread, but I have a related question - in the states that require headlights when using windshield wipers, do daytime running lights count or do you need to switch to headlights?

[smokeater75]

You would still have to have your headlights on because when your DRL are on you don't have any lights on at the rear of your vehicle. Just a guess. Smokeater75

[Edouard]

Hi Ken, We've been in contact, did not realize your driving lights below the headlights came on when you released the Foot activated Parking brake, mine driving lights did not, they require the rocker switch on the dash to be in the on position.
If yours activates that way, then I would go with that to the inspection center (Canadian Tire) it may well be acceptable.
Do they also come on if for instance ir the Foot activated Park Brake is released prior to starting the engine? If so, that to me would qualify.
My driving lights may also function the same way, but since I found that it required the dash Driving Light rocker to be in the On position, I assumed they were just driving lights, and that the headlights needed to represent the DRL function, ie: low beam coming on but in a lower power light.
If I were you I would go ahead and give it a try, on our Canadian Tire exam the young technition came out to the coach, wrote down the Vin# from the front compartment over the driver seat, went outside, asked that I start the engine, gave me a thumbs up on the DLR (low voltage low beam) coming on, then asked that I turn on the headlights, then High beam, that was it/ Passed! Edouard.

[keninvic]

[QUOTE=TW;723702]Check here: www.gc.ca

Here is the 'official' Canadian webpage on DRLs. DRL regs start at paragraph (44)

Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices (Standard 108) - Transport Canada

[Edouard]

Yes, we went through that before going through what we did to comply, but it appears you already comply, so, there you go.

[WilleyB]

DRL's are the law, however they do not have to be automatic,(DRL module equipped), here in NS all that is required is that headlights or front driving lights are turned on while driving on the roadways. There are still vehicles around which are not equipped with DRL modules.
Our Vanguard is not equipped with a DRL module. (it also registers in miles and MPH, guess it was meant for export)
I found a terminal on the light switch which does the function quite nicely.
Now! If you have to get an inspection because the vehicle is imported, they'll insist that your vehicle have a DRL module.
A DRL module does the following, with the Key ON, the parking brake released, the Vehicle in gear the front driving lights will turn on (not necessarily headlamps)
If the lights work like this you already have a DRL module

Cheers
Willey

[Edouard]

WilleyB. You apparently purchased your rig in Canada, as we did in 98, new cdn dealer, Ford chassis built in Mexico/USA, house built in USA, it had MPH & DRL's.
Your rig may have had the house built in Canada, but the Ford chassis was built in Mexico/USA.
Our present coach was built, House & Chassis USA, so it has MPH, has all DRL modules, etc. but it was not hooked up to function with Key On, Parkbrake Released and/or Vehicle in gear. So we had a heck of a time resolving the issue to get the low beam headlights to function correctly. Edouard.

[WilleyB]

Quote:

Your rig may have had the house built in Canada, but the Ford chassis was built in Mexico/USA.

Yep! that would be right, The chassis is a 2000 and the house was built by Peak Ind. in North Battleford Saskatchewan and sold to Canadream for rental. We bought it in 05 before DRL's became law. If there's a DRL module in this one I haven't found it, guess I don't really need it.
Cheers
Willey