DRL's out on 02 Beetle

[nuke]

Was driving my wife's 02 TDI Beetle and discovered the day time running lights are out. Headlights work normally and I can hear the relay click when the hand brake is released.

I took a look in the fusebox, but the label is MISSING!

So I have two questions: Any thoughts on troubleshooting the daytime running lights and second, can anyone send me a photo of the fuse card?

 

[jasonTDI]

why bother. it's better they are out. You have to replace the switch to fix the issue usually.

 

[flyingmikey]

exactly, why bother, day time running lights are just your low beams minus park lights .. saves on bulb replacement, and if you have ever changed one, youd be forgetting about your running lights !!!

If safety is a concerm just turn your lights on

Cheers ... Mike

 

[compu_85]

Great! Another DRL Debate!

Perhaps the relay has failed?

-Jason

 

[Joe_Meehan]

Note: DRL are run on reduced voltage to extend the lamp life.

Sorry I really can't make much of a suggestion. I suppose it is likely the switch or the relay, both of which are very easy to replace, but not cheap.

You may want to do what I did. I replace my switch with the Euro version so I can run fog lamps without DRL's and still have the "parking" lights.

 

[cp]

Note: DRL are run on reduced voltage to extend the lamp life.

Then I'd hate to think about how long they'd last at full voltage because they're not exactly what I'd call a long-life item now.

 

[compu_85]

2 years is a long time IMO... that's how long mine have been lasting...

-Jason

 

[nuke]

Ok.

Anyone got a fuse label? It would be nice to have one in there, someday.

 

[Joe_Meehan]

2 years is a long time IMO... that's how long mine have been lasting...

-Jason

My 2002 NB still has the original lamps (one turn signal replaced) at over four years and 50,000 miles.

Note: Miles would be a better indication than years.

 

[Dick_Larimore]

DRL Circuit

J89 is the "Daytime Running Lights Changeover Relay". It should be marked as "173" and is located above the 13 position relay panel under the dash on the driver side. This relay is energized when the brake lever switch is closed and the energized relay opens a set of "normally closed" contacts to prevent power from getting to the low beam headlamps. If the brake warning light on the instrument panel remains "ON" after the brake lever is released, the DRL's will not light. If the brake warning light on the dash light is OFF, the relay should be OFF (de-energized). The power to the normally closed contacts of the relay comes from an ignition switch feed thru the headlight switch (ignition switch ON and the headlight switch OFF).

Possible causes include the brake switch (contacts always closed), ignition switch (no power to headlight switch--but not likely), defective headlight switch (no power to contacts in the J89 DRL relay), and a bad connection internal to the J89 DRL changeover relay. Fuses to the headlamps and to the J89 relay can't be the problem if your headlamps work when you turn them ON since headlamp current goes thru the same fuses.

 

[TylerSales]

Ive got 98k and 5 years on my original bulbs all around. 01 NB

 

[Datamater]

No Reduced Voltage on B4 DRLs

I must emphatically disagree RE: "Note: DRL are run on reduced voltage to extend the lamp life", at least regarding some cars...

NOT on my '97 B4! Those things ran at 100% brightness day and night. I checked my Bentley book, and there is no resistor on the DRL current track. If there was I wouldn't mind them so much, but because of this I disabled my DRLs ASAP.

 

[Dick_Larimore]

DRL Circuit Resistance

The DRL circuit resistance is in the wire to the headlamps. There is no separate resistor.

 

[Thadude]

coming from a fire department stand point I can tell you DRL's do save lives, however I cannot tell you what to do, just that you may be in violation of your state or provncial laws.

you don't seem to realize how much extra time they give to the wandering eye driver oncoming to you.. Especially if you have a grey or light colored car. Just because they don't benefit you, doesn't mean they don't benefit someone else. And personally i'd rather allow a little extra space in the budget to replace light bulbs every year or two than have someone inadvertantly collide with me because they were too busy daydreaming to squint and see me.

 

[nuke]

Thanks, I can hear the relay click with the brake handle.

Must be the switch.

Anyone got a label for the fuse box, as mine seems to be missing from the factory. I've never had cause to open the fuse box on my wife's car until now and well, it's useless without a diagram.

 

[Datamater]

RE: "The DRL circuit resistance is in the wire to the headlamps. There is no separate resistor" - Thanks for clarifying. Is that why the yellow wire is such a small gauge, to reduce current to the bulbs? That seems rather crude. Or is there some kind of in-line resistor? Regardless, the system didn't work. My lights were at 100% brightness. Plus, until I replaced the plastic lights with E-codes, the constantly-on bulbs caused UV hazing directly in front of the low beams.

DRLs aren't mandatory around here, but we DO have a fair number of yahoos who drive around in near-darkness sporting only their DRLs, figuring that's all they need. If it weren't for the DRLs they'd probably turn on the rest of the lights. Personally I'm not anti-DRLs (I've left them connected on other cars that correctly reduce the current), but with all the hours I drive, something that leads to premature bulb failure can hardly be a "safety" feature.

Again, this is only on my '97 B4. I don't know about other B4s - maybe someone else with one can weigh in.

 

[quartersaw]

Ive got 98k and 5 years on my original bulbs all around. 01 NB

.....My '79 VW Bus still has the original sealed beams.....Replacements were about two bucks a piece.No worry about breaking a headlight lens for $200.00 a pop.....

 

[Dick_Larimore]

Series Resistance Wire

VW refers to the DRL wiring as "series resistance wire". Yes, this stuff is small gauge wire and the resistance is distributed over the length of the wire (and so is the heat). This method may be crude, but it is also simple. Toyota has several cars that use a pulse width modulate voltage applied to the headlamps with a duty cycle of 70%. This requires a special module. It is more complicated, but you don't have to run an extra wire to the headlamps, it does not disipate heat in the wire so a little energy is saved, and the DRL headlamp brightness is probably less that a VW.

 

[compu_85]

DL, this is how the new VWs do it... you can actually adjust the brightness of the DRLs with vag-com!

-J