DRL Module & Ball Joint Replacement

[TheJackal]

As if those 2 things go together...

I've been reading a lot of information about Daytime Running Lights. I've seen a bit about there being a harness behind the driver's headlight with a jumper cap on it for vehicles that don't have the DRL option installed. I'd much rather have the Daytime Running Lights feature than to be turning on the headlights all the time. Not only does that use up the dash lights unnecessarily but I'm sure the day will come that I forget to shut the headlights off. I looked all around the harnesses going to the front driver's headlight but never found any harness that fits the description. Would anyone happen to know if there is an alternate location I can look for this harness at? I was going to order the DRL module but I want to find where it connects first as this is an electrical part that can't be returned, as I have to buy it from the dealer. According to the owner's manual the fuse for the DRL is also the fuse for the foglights. I can see the harnesses for the fog lights, which is cool because I plan to add those (but much later as it will cost me about $200).

While I was rolling around under there I noticed that the lower ball joints on the two front wheels need to be replaced. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to accomplish this? It seems straightforward enough but I can imagine being halfway through the process and having to deal with gorilla-fisted bolts and who knows what else. Anyone care to share their experience with this? I also plan to change the upper ones while I have the damn thing apart.

Oh, and BTW this is a '99 Explorer XL

 

[kfkodiak]

Here's a shot of the DRL module on my '98.

This is in the driver's side wheel well, looking forward, just behind the front bumper. When I added the module, the connector was attached to the front of the body cross member, with the shorting cap facing down (the wires for the connector were facing up) The two connectors to the right of the module in the picture are for the fog lamp and outside temp. sensor harnesses. (if you don't have fogs, only the temp. sensor connector will be present) The DRL module connector should be close to those. Try feeling along the front of the cross member if you can't see it, as the connector may be near the top where it it's not easy to see. The connector itself is roughly the size of a 9v battery.

Here's another thread with similar info: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137809

Hope this helps answer your question.

 

[TheJackal]

Thanks for the pic. I remember seeing it before but even after I couldn't find the plug. My configuration looks slightly different than that. I'll take (yet another) look, but it seems that the wiring in my Ex is special (http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195961) and so it may not have all of the wiring for some options.

 

[kfkodiak]

You may be right about that.

This picture is another '99 xls with the front bumper removed.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1421103&postcount=225

If you look straight up from the left edge of the grinder wheel, the DRL connector should be where that random group of holes is punched in the body crossmember. Since there's nothing there, maybe xls models weren't pre-wired for DRLs after all. (or the wiring was removed, though that is unlikely)

 

[TheJackal]

Total bummer. When I called the dealer to get a price on the module he said I'd need the kit instead, so it looks like mine doesn't have the plug.

So, any protips for the ball joints? I've seen a couple of threads but I'd like to hear exactly how difficult it was for those of you who have done it.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I did a step by step write up for lower ball joints- its cake with the press made for the job.

 

[reserved50]

umm if you dont have the harness you can always buy aftermarket add on DRL kits

 

[TheJackal]

Yeah, I know about the aftermarket kits... but this would have been a lot easier if it did have it. Here's what it looks like behind my bumper, a little different:

I've read about changing the ball joints in the Haynes manual and it seems that you can't change just the ball joints on a 2WD, but you have to change the entire control arm. This is going to cost a fortune...

 

[reserved50]

maybe dig deeper, sometimes they always dont put the harnesses where they should be, but on my Cnd model it was there, or if someone knows where the harness starts off from trace it down from there