DRL's (again)

Hi...

Hope I can ask another question without causing dissension again...

Vehicle is 94 LHS, in every respect like new with the exception of
no drl's. Mr Stern suggested a nice replacement, but I procrastinated
like us old folks do, and they're still not fixed.

However, next door neighbor brought home 4 modules from Bucks (junk
yard) yesterday. Free. Remove them yourself, you get what you get.

Plugged each of them into my car, tried them. Nothing from any of
them. Tried moving the car; still nothing.

Plugged each into one of my neighbor's cars - 91 or 92 smaller Dodge.
Two of the four dead as a doornail, one lit up his high beams
immediately, the other lit up as soon as the car moved.

Don't know if they're supposed to be movement sensitive or not?
And if so, does the module respond to the car speed sensor, or is the
module itself motion sensitive?

Checked, and found a fuse for drl's in the engine compartment fuse box;
it's good, and there's 12v on it.

Is there any other common fault that anyone could suggest?
Perhaps I should mention that there's a 3rd party remote starter
installed, if that's at all relevant.

Thanks for any and all suggestions, and take care.

Ken

 

Some are, some aren't. What years/models did he pull the modules from?
There are several variations that look/fit/plug in the same way, but
aren't interchangeable.

None of the modules is motion-sensitive, no.

Dead high-beam filaments in both of your headlamp bulbs...?

Oog. Those always cause "fun" (not!) electrical problems.

 

Hi Daniel...

Thanks for your reply; much appreciated.

The headlights are fine... well, they work, anyway

Just for the heck of it, I plugged all four of those freebie
drl modules into my neighbors wife's 93 Spirit - all four worked
fine. Confusing business, this is

Watched another neighbor shuffling cars this evening... one is
a brand spanking new Dodge (government) truck. It was turning
on and off its drl's when it went into/out of gear.

So, I just may have one shot left. Mine was at the dealer's
last week for two recalls... the driver seat sticking, and more
important, the gearshift moves without a key, AND it starts in
any gear. They fixed the seat, but ordered parts for the shift
problem. Called today, parts are in, and appointment is for
Tuesday morning.

A real long shot, but maybe...

And one more, if I may. This remote starter has no identification
on it; just four buttons. If I were to put up a pic of the remote,
is it possible that any of you could identify it so I could try to
get a manual?

Thanks, and take care.

Ken

 

Yep, I am fairly certain your '94 doesn't activate the DRLs unless the
car's in gear. If your car starts in any gear, it's possible the fix for
that problem will also bring the DRLs back online. Lucky you, then you'll
have cruddy DRLs *and* cruddy headlights!

 

Hi Daniel...

Just an update... Winnipeg Dodge Chrysler finished the recall today...
the shifter one. They replaced a push rod and a shifter assy according
to the N/C invoice.

Feels a bit safer now, at least you need the key to shift it out of
park.. BUT it still starts in any gear!! And the drl's don't come
on.

Beginning to suspect that maybe the start in any gear part may be
related to the remote starter, but if anyone has any other ideas,
I'd be grateful to hear them. And I'd still appreciate it if
anyone knowledgable in these remote starters would look at a
pic of this one and let me know who the maker is?

On the other hand, picked it up after dark, decided to take a little
highway trip on the trans canada highway and have dinner. First highway
trip, first after dark trip. Fantastic ride, smooth comfortable, quiet.
On cruise at 90 kph (54 mph) the instanteous mpg readout showed 32 miles
per US gallon, which is unbelievable. Enjoyed it

Take care,

Ken

 

Me, I would've left it be. I *despise* faux-safety "nanny" features like
this, and I've driven a great many vehicles with no such shift interlocks
in perfect safety for many, many years and miles and kilometres. But I
think I remember your saying you've primarily owned GM cars, which helps
explain why you felt naked without a shift interlock! ;-)

www.webelectricproducts.com is a single click away ;-)

Fully believable on this end...

 

Having installed several remote starters, I can't see how a half
competent installer could cause the neutral start interlock to be
bypassed by the installation of a remote starter - but then there are
a lot of TOTALLY incompetent installers around who , I suppose, could
screw up an installation badly enough to surprise anyone.

Only other likely cause is a defective or bypassed switch (bypassed
why??)

 

Hi...

Finally got to the bottom of this - the starter relay (in the engine
compartment fuse box) has been bypassed.

Nothing I do to the shifter in the car will make the ground side
(going to the transmission) be grounded.

Now I have to find the actual switch. Anyone know where that
switch is physically located?

Thanks, and take care.

Ken