Daytime running lights

[rikadoo]

my 2003 HR Endeavor 36 has a missing 30 amp relay in the electrical box outside below the driver. When I plug in a relay the high beams come on with key off and nothing on. I suspect that they may have been a factory "DRL" option, however all systems I have worked with have only come on once the ignition is in the run position. Without the relay, the headlights work as they should low and high beam, and im sure trying to find a factory diagram may perhaps be difficult. Im a firm believer in the DRL system mostly it gives oncoming traffic a heads up if the driver forgets to turn the lights on during inclement weather.
Does anyone have similar issue or missing relay, or does your rig have the DRL system? OH also when I insert the relay it doesn't "click" like its being commanded on its just shunting the bat pos lead to the headlight circuit, using a 5pin Bosch relay.

[153stars]

Might be a slight chance the relay has welded or failed closed. Is there another you can swap it for to test.
Also if it has a smart wheel early versions had issues with overheating issues on the headlight circuits.

[jacwjames]

That's probably why the relay was removed, so the lights would go out.

Do you have a chassis wiring diagram for you coach. I contacted Monaco and requested one for my coach.

I looked at mine and the DRL cirucit relay has 5 wires going to it.
Power from the Ignition
Ground
High Beam
Low Beam
and Park Brake.


Evidently the power is staying on even with the ignition switch off. I would start there and see if the power is going off when the ignition is off and eliminate this.

[Spdracr39]

Why not leave it like it is and just turn on your headlights when driving?

[l1v3fr33ord1]

rickadoo-

Some HR/Monaco coaches use a special Hamsar relay for the DRL circuit. Here's a link to a Google search of iRV2 posts on the topic.

May apply to your coach, or maybe not.

[rikadoo]

Originally Posted by 153stars

Might be a slight chance the relay has welded or failed closed. Is there another you can swap it for to test.
Also if it has a smart wheel early versions had issues with overheating issues on the headlight circuits.

In fact I did try another relay, then I tried a 4 terminal relay, the 4 terminal did nothing. Its almost as the connector has been wired incorrectly. I just need to verify each circuit to ensure it is what I think it is, a DRL system.

[rikadoo]

WOW! I am relatively new to IRV2 and the support from everyone is awesome! after reading everyones response I used the info received and found so much more than I thought I would. I recently bought this coach and have found signs of wire tampering. Kinda afraid I may have knocked over a can of worms, that may explain my headlight switch knob getting so hot when I am driving with the lights on. Thanks to all of you for your information.

[jacwjames]

There are a number of posts from people who have had to replace the light switch because of heat.

There is a work around, people actually install a relay close to the headlights and run a better source of power to the headlights and the relay is controlled with the switch. That may be the relay that is mentioned in the previous coach.

You might also check on LED bulbs as they would pull less power.

[Ljwt330]

Originally Posted by rikadoo

WOW! I am relatively new to IRV2 and the support from everyone is awesome! after reading everyones response I used the info received and found so much more than I thought I would. I recently bought this coach and have found signs of wire tampering. Kinda afraid I may have knocked over a can of worms, that may explain my headlight switch knob getting so hot when I am driving with the lights on. Thanks to all of you for your information.

Lots of possible explanations to this, but the only thing for certain is that something in the circuit is amiss.


First, your comment about your light switch likely indicates that the power to the headlights is running through that switch rather than through a relay. That tells me that there may have been an issue with the circuit and someone "wired around" the relay, removed it, and connected battery power for the headlights directly to the switch. If this is true, you need to immediately check the wiring to the switch and verify if it has been upgraded to carry the amperage for the headlights. I suspect it hasn't, because of he heating.


Second, placing a relay in the socket causes the high beams to come on with nothing else ON in the coach. That may simply be a result of an incorrect relay. There may always be a constant HOT terminal in a relay socket from the battery, especially if the vehicle's headlights can be turned on without ignition ON. The relay is supposed to switch that HOT to a device, like headlights, when a switch is moved in the coach and energizes a low draw magnetic coil within the relay, either by supplying power to the coil or a ground to the coil. It is this low amp magnetic coil circuit to which your headlight switch and/or high beam switch should be connected. It does not draw many amps and will not cause your switch to heat.


The above is general information, and you should rely on a wiring diagram for your particular coach. However, again, something is amiss with your circuit and odds are it needs a specific relay to function properly.

[RamiDav]

Coaches from our era were only required to have DRL lights in the rain so mine
come on with the wipers .
Yes it takes a special Hamsar relay which may not even be available now .
Look up Stern lighting for a work around on the hot switch .
I bought 2 of those LED strip lights approx. 12" at Walmart and stuck them below
the head lights . They are super bright and always on with the ignition .

Ray

[vito.a]

Monaco also built coaches for the Canadian market and they have daytime running lights. Many of these coaches were sold here in the US.