Daytime Running Lights

[03bird]

I understand that all Birds are made in the Wixom plant. The birds sold in Canada have Daytime R L . Has anyone had them added to their Bird? Does anyone KNOW just what parts are diferent in the Canadian Birds?
Thanks
Dick

[JRL]

Why would you want them they just draw attention to you (i.e.police)
JRL

[DavidA]

I wanted to wire the supplemental parking lights as DRL's but I still haven't figured out the wiring for them. I'll let you know if I get it done.

[TbirdTim]

I personally like DRL lamps and think that they are useful (especially in our Atlanta traffic) in helping other vehicles to see you on the road. I almost always travel with my regular headlights on (during the day) when I'm on the interstate. I want to do everything that I can to keep from having the Tbird involved in an accident.:nervous:

[03bird]

Why would I want them???????? Well the accident rate is about 17% less with them and my ins co gives a 10% discount for them. I will shortly have 7 registered vehicles. I will take all discounts I can get.
Dick

[FUN X 3]

TbirdTim-

I agree. I flip the switch completely over every time I drive the Bird so that all lights are on. Like you, I want to make sure people can see me coming to avoid an accident. My wife's VW Passat has DRL, and it's a nice feature (along w/ heated seats).

BTW JRL, the police have left me alone so far, even w/o the front license plate required in VA. The car looks much sharper w/o a plate on the front.

[03bird]

If you are realy worried about the police, you can buy an " active radar jammer" for about 350. Most of them will pay any tickets you get in the first year.

[rlstonejr]

I would also like the supplementals to be drl's:smokin:

[Joybird]

Well , I think they are an irritant to me. But, my main reason is that drl's are the ONLY safety advantage that motorcyclest have, againt the general driving public. (mandatory)
Put them on cars too and it negates any advantages we had.

[BotNew56]

David A.

I seem to recall that there is a additional short cable you can get to connect the "running lights" to the main wiring harness. Perhaps someone who has done this can speak to this topic.

John

[Mark501]

When the number of cars running daytime lamps "On" crosses over the 50 percent mark, then those cars that do not have lamps "On" will stand out more.

Mark501

[DavidA]

I'd sure like to know about that. I hadn't heard anything about it. Anyone know?

[TBird02]

I love the look of the Bird with lights on, even in the daytime. My main complaint is that here in Michigan they attract bugs to the lights (even in the daytime). I have to clean off the bugs every time we drive with headlights on, day or night. Some months are worse, but it is pretty much an all-summer problem.

However, I do recognize the safety issue, and do use them in daytime on especially dangerous stretches of road, and major travel weekends. I guess if a simple solution to convert to DRL's shows up, I may consider converting the car as long as no original wiring must be cut.

[03bird]

I now understand that everything is in place. You need to have a Ford service Tech use a scanner and turn them on. If anyone finds out just how, please let me know
Dick

[Lady 007]

Good question for Ford's rep 03 bird. I will post the question under that topic. I like the daytime lights and just assumed that they were on! Learn something new everyday! Don't worry Joy, just add more side lights! I make jerry honk at every intersection. He knows to honk as I dig my fingernails in his sides! We will have to have a motorcylce, t-bird group!

[NC2k2TBird]

Cindy,

I just noticed that you made Super moderator! Congratulations! :pbj:

[DrtiBird]

This is an old thread, but I didn't see where there was a solution to the DRLs for the 02s. In the past I have used black tape to cover the light sensor for the automatic headlight sensor then leave the switch in the auto position. That makes them come on with the ignition switch.

I have probably logged five hundred thousand or more miles with headlights on during the daytime. I too am a motorcycle enthusiast and just like having my vehicles well lit. Quite a few of those miles were logged in and around metro Atlanta.

[leisha]

I live in a border city just across the bridge from Port Huron Michigan.

It is possible to see cars coming from a great distance when the lights are on. Around here the Michigan cars don't have the lights and it seems they get into more accidents.
I have almost pulled out in front of them a few times.
daytime driving lights are the way to go.

The tape idea is a good one!
:canada:

[DavidA]

I wonder if the Canadian dealer can reprogram the module. Darn, I was just there for a week and could have gone into one to find out. Could leisha or Tbird eh mind finding out if a dealer there can get into the program and tell us how to get it reprogrammed here?

[Blue Heaven]

You beat me to it DavidA! I was going to ask the same question, be great if this was possible.

:lol:

[Red]

Ford has drl accessory kits for a lot of the new vehicles, cars and trucks. But not for Thunderbird or Lincoln LS. I have no idea what is involved but a good driveability or electrical technician may be able to figure it out by reviewing the wiring diagrams for the Thunderbird and another U.S. vehicle that has the option.

If you only wanted the spl's to be drl's, you could isolate the spl's and power a relay to close a circuit from battery to supplemental parking lights, while the key is in the run position only. That would make spl's daytime (all time) running lights. The spl's would have to be disconnected from the rest of the light circuits or it would try to power them on also.

[Tbird eh]

If this is the same as reprograming the tranny for the SST, you should be able to reprogram the lights with a Canadian vin#. I was told when they hook up your car to there machine it will show your vin # and ask if this is correct and you say no. then it will ask what is the correct vin. At this time you put in the info for a canadian bird and it will reprogram the new info into your car. Don`t know if this is how it works. all I ever used to set up my old cars was a timing light and a dwell meter.

[MintTbird]

if you do that it may change your temp gauge to C? that would be bad we wouldent want to get confused with that crazy canadian metric system.
(just kiddin canada i love you cuz you are 10 min from my house)

[Tyrod]

Originally posted by Joybird
Well , I think they are an irritant to me. But, my main reason is that drl's are the ONLY safety advantage that motorcyclest have, againt the general driving public. (mandatory)
Put them on cars too and it negates any advantages we had.

I hear ya brother. My Pontiac has DRLs. I prefer the method that the TBird uses.

[Tyrod]

Originally posted by Tbird eh
If this is the same as reprograming the tranny for the SST, you should be able to reprogram the lights with a Canadian vin#. I was told when they hook up your car to there machine it will show your vin # and ask if this is correct and you say no. then it will ask what is the correct vin. At this time you put in the info for a canadian bird and it will reprogram the new info into your car. Don`t know if this is how it works. all I ever used to set up my old cars was a timing light and a dwell meter.

This may be problematic too. Some states are reading OBDII data for their emissions testing. The ECU VIN would have to match the car VIN.

[leisha]

The black tape sounds better all the time!
:poke:
:canada:

[taflocks]

i just use a thimble sized lamp cover from a malibu light set mine was red and i painted the inside black. works great lights stay on all the time that the key is on.

[Proboxfan]

Congratulations, Tom, you've successfully converted your Thunderbird into a "Thunderbat", that lives in perpetual darkness! :biggrin:

Now if you can outfit it with a sonar system that will make it avoid contact with all other objects......

Just an idea I thought I'd bounce off you! :moreek: