Adding Daytime Running Lights to 97 Avalon

[bobcrane]

We basically leave our headlight switch in the "on" position for our 1997 Avalon. When the car is shut off and the door is opened the lights go out. Kind of a poor man's DRL.

The only problem is all the displays inside the car are dimmed and sometimes unreadable in direct sunlight.

I've thought since the lamps on the outside of the headlights have a clear lens that their may be a way to have those lamps, the lower ambers, and the tail lamps lit up at all time. Then let the photosensor kick on full headlights at the appropriate time.

Has anyone done this and is there an easy way to do it?

Bob

[sloopercat]

Why not just turn up the dimmer?

I would think a retrofit to DRL would be tough enough, without the sensor activation mod. On my 99 with DRL and auto lights it turns on the head and tail lights with a sensor, but other than that only the DRL's. I think the only solution for you is to leave the lights on the first notch, replace the ambers and switch the headlights on when needed. Or put another socket in the headlights, like the city lights on the EU cars.

Of course anyhting can be done with enough money and engineering and time.

[bobcrane]

Got the dimmer at the max. They auto dim with the headlights on and it is too low for daytime driving.