Automatic Headlights
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
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Automatic Headlights
I know a lot of states are changing the law so that drivers are required to turn on their headlights when their wipers are on. I keep forgetting, and because its light out, i've left my lights on twice now (big battery, haven't been stranded yet... knock on wood). has anyone done any sort of modification to the switches to make the headlights come on automatically when the wipers are on? i was thinking maybe some sort of relay to turn the lights on connected to the wiper switch. anybody else try this? I'm gonna fiddle around with it some unless someone else has some experience on the issue.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
I'm sure it can be done, but would have to look at wiper wiring schematic. If the wiper system uses different wires to trigger low speed, high speed, and intermittent (if equipped) it might be challenging to wire a relay. You would have to use some type of diodes to eliminate feedback through the different triggers. It would be easier if you've already done the headlight relay conversion.
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Elder User
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I'm sure it can be done, but would have to look at wiper wiring schematic. If the wiper system uses different wires to trigger low speed, high speed, and intermittent (if equipped) it might be challenging to wire a relay. You would have to use some type of diodes to eliminate feedback through the different triggers. It would be easier if you've already done the headlight relay conversion.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2009
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From: Bay Area, Unfortunately
It should not be too bad - if you piggy backed a wire off the low, high, intermittent wires with a diode in each, only to use them as a signal wire, then ran them to a common terminal or had them merge together, and then ran that wire along with the wire from the headlight switch to the headlight relay, it should turn the headlights on (although probably not the instrument lights or tail lights) with the wipers.
If you are going ahead to do that wiring, then I am assuming, like stated in the above post, you have done the headlight mod.
Now, with that said, I have been thinking of this myself, but not this in depth. It has more or less been a "that would be a cool thing to do". Now that I know what to do, and that it will actually relatively be easy to do, I probably will not do it for the fact I do not like wiring. That simple. Otherwise I would really like to see this done.
If you are going ahead to do that wiring, then I am assuming, like stated in the above post, you have done the headlight mod.
Now, with that said, I have been thinking of this myself, but not this in depth. It has more or less been a "that would be a cool thing to do". Now that I know what to do, and that it will actually relatively be easy to do, I probably will not do it for the fact I do not like wiring. That simple. Otherwise I would really like to see this done.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
Exactly what I had in mind. I have done the headlight mod, so adding a second trigger wire to the low beam relay is a piece of cake. If I had some diodes handy I'd already be working on it.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
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Thats why my headlight relay hasn't been finished yet. the harness is built, soldered, shrink wrapped and ready to go, i just haven't found a place i like to put the new fuse box and relays, and i want it to look nice. doing the wiring myself makes life easier because i know HOW everything works. apparantely i wasn't the only one thinking of this mod...
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
I thought about that earlier in the thread. To do that right you would really need to add light sensor to turn on the rest of the lights at dark. I'm basically an idiot that would easily forget to do that on my own, so I'd be driving around at night with no tailights. The real solution is to add a newer automatic headlight system. The challenge is to find an automatic headlight system that will work with our dash design.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: patricia ab canada
I thought about that earlier in the thread. To do that right you would really need to add light sensor to turn on the rest of the lights at dark. I'm basically an idiot that would easily forget to do that on my own, so I'd be driving around at night with no tailights. The real solution is to add a newer automatic headlight system. The challenge is to find an automatic headlight system that will work with our dash design.