Daytime running lights (DRL)

[DanGG]

The SJB is the Smart Junction Box.

[Tony407]

Originally Posted by DanGG

Great! Where do you get them? How hard are they to install?

carbulbsdirect.com They're in Europe, but the shipping was surprisingly fast - and free I might add.

Install wasn't too bad, but I wouldn't call it easy. Time consuming is more like it. But only because I had to keep trimming the plastic in the grill until they fit "just right". And the bracket they are supposed to be mounted in wouldn't fit so I used 3M double sided tape on both the top and bottom of the housing so they wouldn't go anywhere. Wiring was easy, although I haven't hooked up the wire to switch them off when the lights come on yet, but I can't imagine it will be that hard.

The easiest place to have installed them would have been right below the blue Ford oval, spaced as far apart as possible. But I didn't like the way they looked there. But the install would have been about a quarter of the time.

Tony

[cobie56]

DRLs ARE available on foci and most other fords.. I had the dealer turn my on at delivery. Ford's owner's manual says they work at 'reduced light' but to me they seem full power.
anyone w/ another opinion?

[Josh321]

What do you mean "turn them on"? What did they do to activate them? Did your car have them listed as an option on the window sticker? They are listed as an option on the full options list, so I tried to order them, but I was told they were only available for fleet orders.

[cobie56]

I'm not sure why the dealer said they weren't avail. I had the dealer activate mine tho i'm not sure they did it correctly... The h'lights do go on but so do all the other lights, side marker, licence plate, tail lights, etc.
Is this normal??!! It doesn't seem right to me.
I live very close to canada and the canadian fords (all of them) have DRLs by law and ONLY the h'lights are on... no other lights.
Any opinions? thnx

[Josh321]

Originally Posted by cobie56

I'm not sure why the dealer said they weren't avail. I had the dealer activate mine tho i'm not sure they did it correctly... The h'lights do go on but so do all the other lights, side marker, licence plate, tail lights, etc.
Is this normal??!! It doesn't seem right to me.
I live very close to canada and the canadian fords (all of them) have DRLs by law and ONLY the h'lights are on... no other lights.
Any opinions? thnx

I asked for my dealer to "activate" them, and this was exactly the result. I later learned that all of the interior lights (switch backlights, essentially) are always lit, but my when my dealer supposedly turned on the DRL's, I had all exterior lights on at all times--and I couldn't turn the fog lights on or the headlights off (as long as the engine was running). NOT DRL's.

I later installed the Philips DRL's and have been very happy with them.

[cobie56]

the owner's manual (and other sources )say that the DRLs can be activated
which i had done but nowhere does it say all my lights are on all the time..which doesn't seem correct.
All my exterior lights are on , including the license plate light, when the car is running.
Whats really odd is that fords in canada where DRLs are mandatory and standard have ONLY the headlights on... no other lights.
As well, the manual says the lights are on at reduced power however when, in the dark, i switch from DRLs to reg. headlights i see no difference so i say the DRL headlights are on full power all the time.

To my thinking DRLs should be headlights only not the other lights...What's ur opinion or experience?

[fortresspainting]

I just purchased a US 2012 Focus and imported it to Canada. Federal law up here requires daytime running lights or you cannot register/insure the car.

I knew this beforehand, so I asked the dealer to look at the car and see if they could activate the DRL - they were unable to do so. No exact reason was given except that they contacted Ford and were told it was not possible.

I imported the car and took it to my dealer for the same reason - activate the DRLs: they initially claimed it was a setting in the car's computer and it would be no problem.

They tried for about an hour to figure it out - called Ford - and were told the software set-up was different on US cars and DRLs could not be activated.

Now, I am forced to go with an aftermarket option.

None too happy about this. Anyone out there have a similar experience. I am not convinced that they cannot be activated. This is primarily because I don't feel I've been given a reasonable explanation as to why they cannot turn them on.

[e350 coupe]

Originally Posted by fortresspainting

I just purchased a US 2012 Focus and imported it to Canada. Federal law up here requires daytime running lights or you cannot register/insure the car.

I knew this beforehand, so I asked the dealer to look at the car and see if they could activate the DRL - they were unable to do so. No exact reason was given except that they contacted Ford and were told it was not possible.

I imported the car and took it to my dealer for the same reason - activate the DRLs: they initially claimed it was a setting in the car's computer and it would be no problem.

They tried for about an hour to figure it out - called Ford - and were told the software set-up was different on US cars and DRLs could not be activated.

Now, I am forced to go with an aftermarket option.

None too happy about this. Anyone out there have a similar experience. I am not convinced that they cannot be activated. This is primarily because I don't feel I've been given a reasonable explanation as to why they cannot turn them on.

What dealer are you going to. It has been done by other forum members in the US. I would try a different dealer such as WhiteRock Ford.

If you got to the "DRL site" even they state the 2012 DRL is computer programable for on or off

http://www.lightsout.org/disable.html#Ford


Ford

2012+ models. It appears that DRLs are a configurable option on the vehicle's computer. A Ford dealer should be able to connect to the OBD port on the vehicle and disable the DRLs. The aftermarket may also have tuners that can connect to the computer with the ability to disable DRLs.

[RallyGuy66]

Have dealer hook up ids and activate modual. Some fords you can do this, not sure on focus. worth a try