THere is a relay box under the hood on the driver's side. The relay is probably bad.

THe other fuses are inside the kick panel. WHen you sit on the driver's seat, in front of your left knee.

 

The repair manual I have has electric diagrams showing 2 relays for the daytime running lights. Would you know where they would be found?

Not the relay box but which relay it is.

 

The repair manual I have has electric diagrams showing 2 relays for the daytime running lights. Would you know where they would be found?

Not the relay box but which relay it is.

Open up the relay box and look inside the cover. They usually label them there.

 

there is two fuses you should check (both on driver side strut tower fuse box)
- 10A H-LP LH-H
- 10A H-LP RH-H

does you high beams work both on constant and flash?
Does your dome light work (check the fuse) yes that is one of the power sources.


lucky us Canadians we have this over complex DRL system with 5 relays and 4 different sources of power. :x

 

Yep, headlights work on low and hi beam, dome light works too.
I took out the fuses associated with the DRL and they are fine too.

I took another look at the relays on the drivers side strut tower this morning but can't figure out which relay it is. Even the sticker on the bottom of the relay/fuse box does not have a DRL relay so I guess it is a mix of things.

I was looking at the Haynes manual and it doesn't show the relay I need, nor does the original manual.

There is a relay I can't figure out listed as SL, don't know if it is that one. All the other relay acronyms I can figure out but unless one relay runs more than one function I just need to know which relay it is.

Simple fix really but frustrating.

 

Relay locations

-Main DRL relay is on pass side just under the vent closest to the pass door (I would guess you have to get it from under the dash?)

-DRL relay No.3 is in the passenger side right kick panel

-DRL relay No.4 is in the passenger side right kick panel

-DIM relay is in the engine compartment left (beside the air box in front of the strut tower fuse/relay box)

- H-LP relay is in the engine compartment left (on the driverside strut tower fuse/relay box).

Does your High Beam indicator light work?

 

Thanks CalgaryRav.... but in trying to find the relay on the passenger side I realized something. My Rav was imported from the US!! So it isn't a Canadian Rav.

I still haven't found the relay. Do any of our US Ravers know which relay controls the daytime running lights?
The relay box inside the engine compartment on the drivers side strut tower has relays listed but none are DRLs. Is it a relay that also controls other functions?

My regular headlights still work, the high beams work and I still have the High Beam indicator on the dash still works too. Everything BUT the daytime lights.

 

Do you need them? :lol:

My car does not have DRL's so I'm sorry I couldn't help anymore.

 

If your Rav came from south of the boarder it will not have factory DRL. When they come into Canada they have a aftermarket module fitted to meet our safety standards.

The module is around 25-50 Cnd you can get them @ Canadian tire or any of the other local parts stores. Most of the units I have seen are a small black box (the size of a smoke pack but double its thickness) it uses a wire pick-up that is wrapped around one of the ignition wires, + wire, - wire, and wires that tap into the head light harness.

 

Do you need them? :lol:

Once you have you importation paper work done and importation stickers legally yes. In Alberta you can get away without having the DRL working, I don't know about in BC though...

 

Went looking for the the DRL today. Can't find it. Looked in the ignition wires, followed the wires from the headlights into the OEM harness. It doesn't look like an aftermarket DRL was installed.

Now the car originally came from Alaska and with their winter nights, they may have had DRL installed anyway.

Any hoo... I'm out of ideas. Unless someone knows which relay is the DRL I'll be running (somewhat illegally in BC) without daytime lights.

In the course of researching DRLs though, I do wonder now if it would be good to install some of those newer LED DRLs like you see on the new Audis.

 

OK, took some photos of the relay boxes.

/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=10199

/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=10198

Notice how in the second relay box the DIM relay is missing!!!
Anyone know which one I should just replace to get the daytime running lights back??

 

The wire harness for the DIM relay looks like it is missing as well (there is no place for the relay to plug into)... factory DRL was only for Canada spec ravs, all the USA wiring diagrams I have found do not have any sort of DRL.

They had to have installed a DRL module somewhere for it to be legal in Canada.
In the engine compartment is there any other relays mounted on the fender or firewall?

Looking at some of the newer DRL modules some of them look like regular relays with an ignition power source as its switching power.

(newer style)
http://alavigne.net/Motorsports/FeatureReports/S2000/DRL/index.jsp

(older style box)
http://www.grote.com/product.php?product_number=44060

 

Thanks CalgaryRav for the info. I had a better idea of what to look for. I posted some photos below of what I found.
I found something that looked like the relay and a fuse, but nothing that was the DRL itself.
/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=10221

and as you can see, the wire goes right to the headlight and nothing that looks like the aftermarket DRL.
/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=10222

I'm about to give it all up and install a set of smaller running lights on the bumper and use a switch on the dash to turn them on.

 

http://www.pbase.com/image/35092434.jpg

Basic Relay wiring check. (refer to first link)

Do You have 12v+ at the 30 terminal on the relay all the time?

Do you have a good ground on terminal 86?

**When the Key is on/ engine running is there 12v+ on terminal 85?
If you trace this wire back to its source you may find that they use a Scotchlok connector. These connectors are terrible and over time it stops conducting because they are not sealed and cause problems.
http://www.shop3m.com/3m-scotchlok-electrical-idc-567.html

If everything is good it would not hurt to connect the fused battery power source right to the wires that are coming out of the lights to make sure that they light up.

then on to testing the relay...

relays are very simple to test. (refer to first link)

85 to 86 there should be a high resistance (this is the coil side of the relay)


NO power to coil side (85 no 12v+ or 86 no ground)

there should be no continuity between 30 to 87
there should be continuity (with low resistance) between 30 to 87A (some relays don't have a 87A its not needed for you DRL setup, but if it is there you can test it)


With power to coil side ( 85 12v+ and 86 grounded)

there should be continuity (with low resistance) between 30 to 87
there should be no continuity between 30 to 87A

 

OK, had some time to go check this out again. I was beginning to feel rather stupid cause I couldn't find the DLR converter. But I think I realized something. I don't think there was a DLR ever installed! I think the headlights were simply plugged into the battery with a fuse and a relay.
I recall that when the DRLs were working, there was no dim setting. They were always just on when the car was running.
Look at the pics to see why I think so.

/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=10237

/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=10238

If there was something like a Hamsar DRL unit installed it must be near the battery or at least on the right side of the car. There is nothing spliced on the left headlight. The only wires going into the left headlight is the OEM wire harness.

Oh the fun of discovering what was done to a second hand car!!

So to prove this, I unplugged everything from the relay and started the car. Everything worked, lights, A/C, high beams, dome light... so that is my only explanation. Yes, it may be that black relay that is bad but I had another idea.

A relay costs about $17 to replace (at least that is the online price I saw). A set of Pilot Halogen daytime lights cost $20 at the local Princess Auto (love them!). Now that I know how the previous thing was set up I think I just might go install a new set of lights in the bumper!! Something like Bulldog5 installed.

 

What power source did they use to turn the relay on in your rav?

Before replacing the relay, I would check that it didn't become disconnected.

Princess Auto Rocks

 

The circuit was basically set like this;

Battery --- fuse ---- relay ----headlights

Don't know who did this, but there have been other little things I've found on my Rav that made me scratch my head a bit.

 

It is okay that the relay is only connected to one head light, both head lights are connected together in the harness.

When running does the red wire that goes to the connector by the rad have power at the relay?

 

OK! Just spent the better part of the day installing new running lights/ extra driving lights. Will post pics soon.

The new lights are listed as being HID halogens with white light and I find that after just a short testing I think they run rather hot!! Lucky they are at the front of the car and get a cool breeze when I'm driving.

I pretty much used the same set up that the lights had before - except now I have a switch on the dash! That red wire you were asking about? I even used that as part of the power source!

 

I'm confused... so US market Rav's didn't have DRLs? just the outer low beam and the inner high beam? I saw this a week or two back and went digging around under the hood and driver side kick panel (couldn't find any kick panel on the passenger side?) and I'm missing a DIM fuse, but there is a place for one to be plugged into?

 

I'm confused... so US market Rav's didn't have DRLs?

The US market Rav's don't have factory DRL or the wiring that is needed for running factory DRL. In Canada, the DRL just turns on the the high beams or low beams automatically as soon as the park brake is released, just dimmer (I think it is the high beams that is turned on).

couldn't find any kick panel on the passenger side?

What year is your rav? I think that the passenger side relay box is only on 98+ ravs not 100% sure though.

 

OK, so some pics of the light install,
First I set out the wiring harness to make sure there was enough wire for everything. As you can see, no problem. Plenty of wire everywhere.

Next was to string everything through to the right places. Trying not the have the wire touch
things that will run hot when the engine is on. Basically tuck everything behind the headlights.

The wires came out the front bumpers. **Had to cover the lic. plate cause the reflection makes the pics dark.

Since my Rav has no A/C it was easy to find the opening through the firewall.
Take out the rubber grommet and run the switch wire through the firewall to the
passenger side and over to the driver's foot well.

Run the wires through the dash and install a switch. The kit didn't come with a switch,
I had to go buy one I liked and then convert the kit to work with the new switch.

Mount the lights to the bumper. This was a lot harder than it sounds! Just reaching the bolts
under the bumper well enough to tighten them scratched up my arms and wrists.
I hope the thread locker I put on it didn't wash off.

Behind the bumper is the horn on the passenger side and piping for the rad cooling on the drivers side.
Cause of this, the lights were not fully recessed into the bumper and stick out a little bit.

Fully wired under the hood now. The power source was the original red wire used by the previous owner for his DRLs.
I was supposed to find a power source under the dash but I couldn't find the right wire from the many available.

Put the neg. terminal back on and flip the switch! It works!! I wish I could say that this happened the first time, more like the 5th.

And lastly on the dash, a more professional looking switch! I live in a condo so no workshop!
Believe it or not I fashioned the opening for this switch with my drill and needle nosed pliers. I wished I had a workshop.

Funny story afterwards though, I went out right after I finished to get groceries and use the new lights. After buying my food I got back in the Rav and turned the key. Nothing. Not even an engine trying to turn over. Just silence!! Lucky I carry my ratchet set in the car. I opened the hood and checked the neg. terminal. Oh, I forgot to tighten it back up. In tightening the bold, it broke in two! Check the pics again and see all the corrosion. Again, lucky I was a 2 min. walk from Canadian Tire. Walked over in the rain, bought a 65 cent bolt, back to the car to tighten it up and back on my way.

 

looks good! 8)

 

Apologies for the threadjack, VanRav! Great pics and well documented, much appreciated!

I'm confused... so US market Rav's didn't have DRLs?

The US market Rav's don't have factory DRL or the wiring that is needed for running factory DRL. In Canada, the DRL just turns on the the high beams or low beams automatically as soon as the park brake is released, just dimmer (I think it is the high beams that is turned on).

couldn't find any kick panel on the passenger side?

What year is your rav? I think that the passenger side relay box is only on 98+ ravs not 100% sure though.

It's not my Rav, but I've taken responsibility for it's well being. It is a salvage title and seems to be frankensteined together. Title says it's a 98, has 98 headlights, 98 bumper and corner lights (I believe) + cupholders but older front fenders with orange markers. I don't know too much about it as I don't drive it often nor was I there when it was purchased- if I had been there, I would have probably talked her out of buying it.

Here are pics of all the fuse panels I could find;

Excuse the passenger side pic if it looks odd, it's two pics stitched together.
Looking at these pics, the kick panel on the passenger door side may possibly be from an older Rav, will have to yank it off and investigate further next time I get my hands on the FrankenRav. Not sure why I care so much anyway, I disabled the DRLs on my personal car.