Help... driving lights conflicting with daytime running lights!!!

[spotted dogs]

Anyone out there have any ideas...I wired in some driving lights to operate with the high beam, (come on when I push high beams on) and an on/off toggle switch. The problem is the daytime running lights. When the driving lights rocker switch is on, and the headlights are "off" with only the daytime runners on, the drivers are powered up and the relay is buzzing. So it appears the daytime runners are operating off the high beam wire (with reduced power); I must have tied into the hot lead for both the high beam and daytime runners. Does this make sense? I have to make sure the rocker switch is off for daytime driving (not a big deal...but not as convenient as leaving the rocker on, and the lights being fired up by the high beam activation). There are only two wires that go into the headlight...green and b/w striped adn I tied into the green. Any help would be awesome!!!
thanks,
peter

 

[Bill Kemp]

I think your stuck with it. The DRL , as you found out, are the high beams at reduced power. No way around it if you want/have to keep the DRL.
I had the same problem on my Cad. and just pulled out the DRL relay. It didnt effect anything else except shutting off the DRL.
Not too many choices....

 

[spotted dogs]

different relay...

An idea... do you think it is possible to use a relay that only kicks on when the hibeams are engaged (they have to have a higher wattage draw (right word?) than the lower draw dtr's? So when the dtrs come on they cannot power up the driving lights. Does this make sense? Anyway I emailed Hella with the issue..I doubt I am the only one (as you have pointed out) with the issue..maybe they have a solution.
thanks for the quick response!
peter

 

[Bill Kemp]

Ya, I think your on the right track. If you can find the relay you can power the switch from that. It may be a relay that opens the ground connection rather than the hot connection. Start with a helper turning on & off the high beams while you are under the hood listening for the relay to pinpoint it.

 

[Howard]

Just take the feed to the relay from higher up the chain. In other words before the DRL unit so that the relay only comes on with full high beam. You might have to come off the multi switch on the column.