Help! Daytime Running Lights 08 Hybrid

[johnjan]

I have been told that to comply with the Canadian Federal Inspection for my 08 Camry Hybrid that I imported from the US, the DRL (Daytime Running Lights) need to be ON all the time when the engine is on. The car does have DRL but there is the option of turning it off on the 'lights knob'. Canadian Tire is asking for $275 to straighten this issue.

How can this be done? Any tips are welcome. I remember that on my 08 Sienna that did not have DRL in the first place, it was just a question of inserting a fuse into an empty slot in the fuse box.

[johnjan]

Here is what I mean:
The first image you can see the DRL off mode on the light knob. In this position, the daytime running lights turn OFF. The Canadian Law does not allow that.
The second image you can see the Auto mode on the light knob. In this position, the DRL is always ON (and also the headlights if it is daytime).
In Canada, the DRL Off switch should be deactivated somehow. How, I do not know except by paying 300 $$.

[humanoid]

Have you checked the fuses in the fuse box or kick panel? The previous owner may have pulled out the fuse.

[ukrkoz]

not quite sure what you mean, but let me guess:
set it to AUTO position. in auto position, only DRL comes up when you start the car.
regular headlights DO NOT come up. they do ONLY when lighting is below a specific threshold, like in tunnels, or dark areas, etc. of course, when you drive in dusk and darkness. they will stay on for some time, when you turn the power off, then turn off completely. 20 seconds or something. i turn engine off, flip switch to drl off/headlights come off/flip back to AUTO. i like them come back automatically next time i start the engine.

did this help? pretty positive, you are confusing DRLs with headlights.

[johnjan]

I like the DRLs and so does Canada as a law. The DRL off switch is what the law does not allow in Canada. Is there any way that the DRL stays on even in the 'DRL off' mode?

[ukrkoz]

ok. hate to sound corny, but what exactly is wrong with keeping that switch in AUTO position? your DRLs will stay on all the time; cops will have no interest in you, as they are ON; where is the problem?

if Canadian government decided to make some cash off legally obliging owners to physically disable that DRL off switch position, I'd ask THE LAW first. not dude at "We Take Your $$ For BS work" electrical shop.

now, if you, as end user, have itchy fingers that keep - accidentally or on purpose - turning DRL to off, just put it into AUTO and TAPE IT OVER, so it does not move; set it and forget it.

if LAW wants to you to disable that switch, they WILL get you one way or the other anyway.

[razol]

Unfortunately to make the car legal for Canada, you cannot have a switch that would permit you to turn off the DRLs. In many cars, you were able to add a fuse to make the DRLs function, not so in this car. The solutions that Canada tire is pitching to you is to replace the stalk with one that does not have the OFF option, effectively forcing the setting to the auto position.

There is another way to go about this, just short the pin. Instructions for doing this can be found on this thread:

how to disable "DRL OFF" feature to meet canada regulation?

[ukrkoz]

yes. looking at my TCH manual right now. Switch stem is different for Canada. that it is.

hmmmm... so, basically, it's either keeping it in AUTO position all the time and hoping that cops won't notice, or succumbing to the Big Brother and replacing switch with Canadian issue one. oy vey.

Personally, I'd have 2 things done:

1. call Toyota direct and find out, what do they suggest to compensate for inconvenience. One never knows.
2. talk to a dealer.

Does not look like much of a hassle to DIY if worse comes to worse.

[johnjan]

Hi Razol,
Unfortunately, none of the links in that DIY work anymore.

Any tips are welcome.

[johnjan]

Now Canadian Tire says they cannot do it. Talked to Toyota Dealer and they are confused too.

My goodness....!

[AML]

I'd just scrape off the lettering for the DRL OFF on the stalk.

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by AML

I'd just scrape off the lettering for the DRL OFF on the stalk.

YES!! you took this out of my mouth. was driving back home, sight glued to those letters. set it to AUTO, scrape DRL OFF off the switch, just make sure it's not obvious, and be happy. KISS! keep it simple..

[johnjan]

RIV in Canada has been specific about their rules. Every Canadian Tire that I have called so far ask 'Are there DRLs on your car?' to which when I say 'Yes', they ask if they can be turned off by a switch. Seems like 2 years back this was permitted but no longer.

If Toyota were a very smart company, they would have provided some leeway in user programming to the end customer. i.e. a user is able to configure his car from miles to kilometers, from DRL ON always to OFF or vice versa,etc.

I called some Toyota Dealers in the Toronto area and most of them feign ignorance about the possibility of reprogramming by connecting to a computer which some US Toyota Dealers confirmed is possible.

Still fingers are crossed.

[johnjan]

Finally I have the DRL OFF switch deactivated by a Ron from Active Automotive in Mississauga. Got his contact from Toyotanation. Took him 10 minutes and charged me $80.
And I got my vehicle registered today. Am greatly relieved now!

[Pipemajor]

Your first post highlighted the issue with your US model having the option to switch the DRL mode off. Canadian vehicles have to have DRLs operational all the time.

Personally, I prefer to leave ours in the AUTO position and be done with it. I like DRLs and wouldn't buy a car without them. Honda finally adopted them in US models.

Frankly, I wish the USA would adopt the metric system and be done with the dual scales but I live in a nation of idiots (witness Sarah Palin and the like).