Got my headlight harness in today from rjm :D :D

LCAM-01XA

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Posts
5,932
Reaction score
12
Location
my very own hell
Hmm, maybe the DRL module is acting up. Or maybe it's just voltage; have you tried it with the engine running?
Not necessarily acting up, it may very well be working quite properly:

Gdhillon, unplug the RJM harness from the factory harness, release the parking brake, turn ignition on, and stick a voltmeter first on the red and then on the green wire of the factory headlight connectors. If you get nothing on red wire, and 5V or something like that on the lite green wire, then your DRLs are essentially high beams on half power, and their lower-than-battery voltage may not be providing enough power to the pull coil inside the relay to allow it to do its thing. It also means that because of the relays your DRLs now are full-on high beams, which can get you in trouble w/ the law.
 

madpogue

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Posts
1,707
Reaction score
169
Location
Madison, WI USA
^^^^ That makes sense; the new relays are "downstream" of the DRL goodies. But someone above posted that this harness has a history of working properly with DRL-equipped trucks, which begs the question - how?
 

79jasper

Chickenhawk
Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Posts
17,367
Reaction score
1,931
Location
Collinsville, Oklahoma
^^^^ That makes sense; the new relays are "downstream" of the DRL goodies. But someone above posted that this harness has a history of working properly with DRL-equipped trucks, which begs the question - how?

I think that was me.
I thought only newer vehicles used half power high beams for the drl's? (I know gm started in the early to mid ninety's) :dunno

Reading on the psd forums, I hadn't seen anyone have any problems. But those people may have disabled the drl's. I know I usually do, as I just drive with the parking lamps on.
But I know that's not an option for everyone. Especially the one's up north.

I'll do some re-research to see if I can find anything.
 

riotwarrior

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Posts
14,782
Reaction score
492
Location
Cawston BC. Canada
What does the manufacturer of the relay kit have to say about this? Do they have a work around?

Again, I plan on doing this but I'll likely find the feed wire for the DRL and install a seperate bulb in the headlight housing for drl only! Thus negating any issue. That bridge will be crossed when I AM DAMN WELL READY! I know it's not a difficult mod to do!
 

LCAM-01XA

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Posts
5,932
Reaction score
12
Location
my very own hell
I dunno if the OBS DRLs are highs on half power, or lows on half power, or something else - why I suggested measuring the voltages at the factory headlight connectors. I do know GM does some of their highs on half power in a weird manner, they run them in series when used as DRLs to drop the voltage in half. Looking at the wiring diagram for a brick Ford, OTOH, shows the DRL module connected to the lows, highs, and the high beams indicator on the dash - now the only reason I can think of why the dash indicator shoudln't be connected directly to the highs as it's done on older trucks is if at some point the high beams are lit up but not used as true high beams. And putting that together w/ what controls the dash indicator (the DRL module) it suggests to me that the module uses high beams as DRLs, but likely on reduced power. And seeing how the Ford headlights are always connected in paralled (DRLs or no DRLs), it leaves that the power reduction is done inside the DRL module itself.

Al, I made my own DRLs - I got 70-amp relays feeding full power to both the lows and the highs (not at the same time), my DRLs are my low beams w/ relay triggered by key-on power. I had to add a 3rd relay (typical 30-amp) to kill trigger signal to the low beams relay when the highs come on, but that was a very easy mod. Overall I'm very happy w/ how it turned out, I was even able to completely take the main lights switch out of headlights operation and thus vacate a spot on its connector that allows me to run dash lights only w/o the clearance markers (but when running lights are on so is the dash illumination).
 

gdhillon

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2010
Posts
1,193
Reaction score
0
Location
PG...Canada
The manufacture is tyco, I ll pull them tomorrow and see their layout and also do that test.

I did email rjm but they havent gotten back to me, thanks for all the input guys i appreciate it a lot

Eric, Ill put up comparision pics (one light with relay one stock) after i get this mess sorted out
 

gdhillon

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2010
Posts
1,193
Reaction score
0
Location
PG...Canada
Drove the truck last night....I can tell my lights are brighter now bc theres.an actual difference between my los and his : D
 

gdhillon

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2010
Posts
1,193
Reaction score
0
Location
PG...Canada
Not quite, im working nights right now so ill have to check out the way the contacts are tomorrow......I just wanted to post that they did make.a difference
 

'94IDITurbo7.3

HAMMER DOWN!
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Posts
5,353
Reaction score
3
Location
Fowlerville Michigan
so is the performance of this relay harness worth the $70 that the harness costs? Just for the new light would you buy it again/do a DIY harness or would you be looking towards a different light system?
 

gdhillon

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2010
Posts
1,193
Reaction score
0
Location
PG...Canada
Id do it again in a heartbeat...but id prob just copy the harness and do it up myself.

The highbeams are actualy hibeams now :D
 

LCAM-01XA

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Posts
5,932
Reaction score
12
Location
my very own hell
so is the performance of this relay harness worth the $70 that the harness costs? Just for the new light would you buy it again/do a DIY harness or would you be looking towards a different light system?
After adding up the cost of two relays, the sockets for them, the length of wires, the headlight connectors, and the insulation, I don't think one will save up much if they go DIY. Unless of course they already have most parts and materials just laying around, or they want additional features (like DRLs on a non-DRL truck) - then the saving could justify the time and work involved.

Out of pure curiosity, what different lighting system compares in price? E-code housings with H4s?
 

madpogue

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Posts
1,707
Reaction score
169
Location
Madison, WI USA
LMC sells the Putco harness, which is mediocre at best. I have one in my '85 with a set of Hella knock-off H4s. No fuse, cheaper relay, cheaper wiring. Engine off, the harness is only 0.5V higher than the straight-through wiring. Haven't checked it engine-on yet. It's useful in that I'm at least no longer running the full headlight current through the dash switch, but I doubt it's making the lights noticeably brighter (haven't had it on the road for a side-by-side yet).
 

gdhillon

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2010
Posts
1,193
Reaction score
0
Location
PG...Canada
Ok new problem. Today I went to drive the truck to my aunts at around seven, it was dark so i pulled the headlight switch (and no there wasnt any 'crazy' clicking) now heres the problem If i pull the switch to the first position I get parking lights and headlights (yellow lights not sure if there called parking lights) then when i pull the switch once more i just get the yellow lights but no headlights iirc when the switch is pulled my headlights should always be on? Also, my passenger headlight bulb is burnt out....but thats not a big problem. So now im really quite confused with whats going on with my headlights. Ill have to pull a relay tmo and check out the way the contacts are (i keep forgetting to do this)
 

Forum statistics

Threads
92,933
Posts
1,155,169
Members
26,436
Latest member
Studebaker62

Members online

Top