Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

DRL(Daytime Running Light) mod for 1991 Trans Am?

Old Feb 27, 2004 | 09:31 AM
  #1  
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
DRL(Daytime Running Light) mod for 1991 Trans Am?

I'd like to make a DRL mod for my new TA, I know this system comes standard in canadian export models, but I dunno what I need to do or if I need to replace anything, anyone here know what todo?

As it works now the foglights will not work when the headlights are down or when fullbeam is on.
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Old Feb 27, 2004 | 10:56 AM
  #2  
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From: Bloomingdale,IL
Car: 91 RS
Engine: 305 Tbi (L03)
Transmission: 700r4
Just wire the headlight relay to the ignition instead of the switch on the dash.
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Old Feb 27, 2004 | 02:29 PM
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Originally posted by dankhound
Just wire the headlight relay to the ignition instead of the switch on the dash.
Being a total smeghead in the realms of automotive mechanics and electronics I have no idea how to go about this.
I was rather hoping that I could wire it so that the lights went on when I pressed the foglight button, irregardless of wheter the flip-top lights are up or not.
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Old Feb 27, 2004 | 04:33 PM
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From: Germany
Car: GTA 89
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: TH700
@ His divine shadow

I've spoken with Heiner and he told me it's quite easy to make the DRL work again...

On the drivers side between the brake master cylinder and motor you will find a large cable harness. Inside of this harness you will find a yellow cable connected to a black one...you may have to search a little bit...

Disconnect the yellow cable from the black one...and search for the other end of the yellow cable which is in the harness.

Connect both yellow cables. Thats it!

Good luck!
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Old Feb 28, 2004 | 08:05 AM
  #5  
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Thanks, I'll check it out, though I must check the legality of it as well.
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Old Feb 28, 2004 | 11:29 AM
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From: Howard Beach, NYC
Car: 1990 TA
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: 4L60
Originally posted by His Divine Shad
I was rather hoping that I could wire it so that the lights went on when I pressed the foglight button, irregardless of wheter the flip-top lights are up or not.
On a 91 you don't need the headlights on, IIRC.

I have the fog light switch on all the time, and when I get in, just hit the P. headlights stay down, "parking" lights on, fog lamps on.
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Old Feb 29, 2004 | 01:28 AM
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The DRL option probably isn't wired up in your car, as in the fuse block isn't wired for it. (all of them had at least the switch and relay wiring for driving lights but not the DRL's) I believe the DRL's were just the driving lights on those cars.
I have the wiring diagrams for the 91 Firebirds & T/A's and it shows the DRL option. If you want I can E mail them to you.
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Old Feb 29, 2004 | 06:05 AM
  #8  
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Originally posted by Goumba T
On a 91 you don't need the headlights on, IIRC.

I have the fog light switch on all the time, and when I get in, just hit the P. headlights stay down, "parking" lights on, fog lamps on.
I don't have it like that, the foglights won't even come on unless the flip-tops are up.
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Old Feb 29, 2004 | 06:06 AM
  #9  
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Originally posted by Morley
The DRL option probably isn't wired up in your car, as in the fuse block isn't wired for it. (all of them had at least the switch and relay wiring for driving lights but not the DRL's) I believe the DRL's were just the driving lights on those cars.
I have the wiring diagrams for the 91 Firebirds & T/A's and it shows the DRL option. If you want I can E mail them to you.
Sure, that'd be great, send it to: H D S @ His divine shadow . com

Remove all the spaces from the address.
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Old Feb 29, 2004 | 12:40 PM
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Originally posted by His Divine Shad
I don't have it like that, the foglights won't even come on unless the flip-tops are up.
They are wired up wrong then
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Old Mar 1, 2004 | 07:41 AM
  #11  
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Originally posted by Morley
They are wired up wrong then
Also, the P button brings up the flip-tops on my car.
And thats not wiring, it's simply how the button is.

Last edited by HisDivineShadow; Mar 1, 2004 at 09:41 AM.
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Old Mar 1, 2004 | 11:42 AM
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Originally posted by His Divine Shad
Also, the P button brings up the flip-tops on my car.
And thats not wiring, it's simply how the button is.
It isn't supposed to work that way, unless that was a requirement for european sale.

Schematics are on the way.
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Old Mar 1, 2004 | 12:14 PM
  #13  
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Originally posted by Morley
It isn't supposed to work that way, unless that was a requirement for european sale.
I should get some pics of the interior to show you the button, but the front parking lights seem to be inside the flip-tops as well.

Originally posted by Morley
Schematics are on the way.
Got 'em, thanks!
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Old Mar 1, 2004 | 12:41 PM
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Originally posted by His Divine Shad
I should get some pics of the interior to show you the button, but the front parking lights seem to be inside the flip-tops as well.
Weird, The parking lights on the "U.S." version are in the front nose piece, inside the openings for the "grill".
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Old Mar 1, 2004 | 01:03 PM
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Originally posted by Morley
Weird, The parking lights on the "U.S." version are in the front nose piece, inside the openings for the "grill".
This is how it is on my car, seems like it's reversed:


reversed sounds alot better to me, this might take some rewiring, I want it like that.
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Old Mar 1, 2004 | 01:30 PM
  #16  
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
If anyone has a good interior photo that shows the light buttons in a '91/92 TA, could you give them to me? I'd like to compare differences.
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Old Mar 1, 2004 | 01:50 PM
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Car: 1990 TA
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: 4L60
Originally posted by His Divine Shad
This is how it is on my car, seems like it's reversed:

reversed sounds alot better to me, this might take some rewiring, I want it like that.
That is wierd. In the U.S. the parking lights are just the turn signals at low voltage, have nothing to do with the flip up lights. Like Morley said, may have been like that for European sale.
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Old Mar 1, 2004 | 03:19 PM
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Originally posted by Goumba T
That is wierd. In the U.S. the parking lights are just the turn signals at low voltage, have nothing to do with the flip up lights. Like Morley said, may have been like that for European sale.
Oh? So the fog light is in the right position then? that is the inner light down there?
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Old Mar 2, 2004 | 01:27 AM
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Originally posted by His Divine Shad
Oh? So the fog light is in the right position then? that is the inner light down there?
Yes, the fogs are the inners and the park/turn signals are the outers.

If no one else gets you a pic of the interior I'll take one of my 91 Formula this weekend and send it to you.
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Old Mar 2, 2004 | 01:32 AM
  #20  
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From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Originally posted by Morley
Yes, the fogs are the inners and the park/turn signals are the outers.
OK, I see... well they've moved the park lights then.
I think I'll make the foglights into parking lights and the parking lights inside the flip-tops into fog-lights... If it's legal...
I dunno if it's legal to have the turn signals as parking lights here.

Here's what the button looks, like, this is not from my car:
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...76_48_full.jpg

Pressing the black part opens the flip-tops and turns on the parking lights.

Last edited by HisDivineShadow; Mar 2, 2004 at 07:23 AM.
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Old Mar 2, 2004 | 11:39 AM
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Originally posted by His Divine Shad
Here's what the button looks, like, this is not from my car:
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...76_48_full.jpg

Pressing the black part opens the flip-tops and turns on the parking lights.
The picture is correct but, pressing on the RH part shouldn't raise the headlights, it should just turn on the parking lights. Sounds like that may have been a European requirement.
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Old Mar 2, 2004 | 01:46 PM
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Originally posted by Goumba T
the parking lights are just the turn signals at low voltage,
This is incorrect. The bulb has two filaments - a lower wattage one for the marker lights, and a higher one for the turn signal. Same as the rear marker/brake lights.
Willie designed a circuit to make the front marker lights operate as DRL's which could be adapted. I think it is in the tech articles.
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Old Mar 2, 2004 | 03:30 PM
  #23  
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Car: 1990 TA
Engine: LB9 305
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My mistake, poor choice of words, I guess.

I did that to my 88 V6. I found the instructions on the net (this is like 6 years ago) which basically used the turn signals at full intensity, and a relay that allowed them to flash for turn signals. I think that's how it worked. Its been a while.
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Old Mar 2, 2004 | 07:49 PM
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Car: 1988 IROC-Z
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http://www.webelectricproducts.com/products.htm
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Old Mar 4, 2004 | 05:02 AM
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Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Interesting yes, though I was rather hoping for the foglights to be used in this way, dunno though, got a reply from the FVA(Finnish Vehicle Administration) today and they said that "Daytime running lights must be installed within 500mm from the outer edge of the vehicle, 600mm from each other and 250mm above the ground (without mirrors) or placed according E-regulation 48 (placement distances are smaller)."

I haven't been able to measure the distance yet between the inner lights, but I think they might be too close together.

EDIT:
Did some measuring via pictures on the internet, seems to be in the 700mm range.
If that DRL thing there is legal, I'll get it, then I run with both those and the foglights on.

Last edited by HisDivineShadow; Mar 4, 2004 at 05:43 AM.
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