Anytime-Fog Lights, plus DRL delete for Canadian 250's

[Baby-Yoda]

Good Day!

I have to admit that it appears I'm a bit of a control-freak when it comes to vehicles. I like to camp and dabble in bit of night-photography etc, and not having control over the lights is really crampin' my style.

In Canada we do not have an OFF position for the lights, AUTO only.

Would like to have the option to:

1) Disable the DRL's.
2) Run the fog lights anytime - just on their own, with headlights, and with high-beams on.

Yes, I know it's technically illegal to not have DRL's in Canada, but humour me if you would.

(I want to assure everyone here that I take driving incredibly seriously - and would never operate regularly without them, except of course in very limited low-light conditions in the middle of nowhere where the lack of DRL's does not have a direct impact on peoples safety).

So basically I'd love the stalk positions to be:

Position 0
OFF

Position 1
DRL's

Position 2
Headlights

All the while having fog lights ON as my little heart desires.

Maybe I'm dreaming - but I welcome your input.

Thank you!

 

[Bad1975]

Good Day!

I have to admit that it appears I'm a bit of a control-freak when it comes to vehicles. I like to camp and dabble in bit of night-photography etc, and not having control over the lights is really crampin' my style.

In Canada we do not have an OFF position for the lights, AUTO only.

Would like to have the option to:

1) Disable the DRL's.
2) Run the fog lights anytime - just on their own, with headlights, and with high-beams on.

Yes, I know it's technically illegal to not have DRL's in Canada, but humour me if you would.

(I want to assure everyone here that I take driving incredibly seriously - and would never operate regularly without them, except of course in very limited low-light conditions in the middle of nowhere where the lack of DRL's does not have a direct impact on peoples safety).

So basically I'd love the stalk positions to be:

Position 0
OFF

Position 1
DRL's

Position 2
Headlights

All the while having fog lights ON as my little heart desires.

Maybe I'm dreaming - but I welcome your input.

Thank you!

I already tried to do the anytime fog lights, it's not possible like it was in the past on other Toyota vehicles. The Fog light switch and color change switch have the following runout below and all the lights minus the trailer connection are controlled via the CAN Bus and or pulse width modulated DC.
From the stalk and switch to the steering control ECU (in steering column) > Multiplex Communication system (CXPI) Power integration module (Below the glove box), this houses the relays (likely ICs vs. Traditional relay) and for the Headlights through to the BCM > Semi-Conductor Power Integration ECU (Passenger side fuse box in engine bay) > Fog lights direct and the Headlight ECUs.

As far as the DRLs are concerned it may be possible to control those with a traditional relay and switch but would require headlight disassembly. The only wiring from the Semi Conductor PI ECU is 12VDC, ground and (CXPI communication). all other lights, parking, DRL are controlled internally by the ECU via the CXPI communication to the ECU and internal wiring within the headlight assembly to turn them off and on. There is a signal coming into the Semi-Conductor PI ECU from the BCM called HRLY (guessing headlight relay) but that would likely kill the headlights and parking lights and may or may not control the DRLs.

As far as the fog lights they are directly controlled by CXPI, I didn't check if that is 12V modulated pulse width DC (doubt it as a regular multimeter read 12VDC on the wires. You can tap into them and turn them on all the time but the switch stalk has no effect. On with ignition off after a long delay after the other lights turn off when powering down.

I can post the schematics on this from TIS if your interested but short of a CAN bus/CXPI hack I don't see it working via the OEM switches like in Toyotas of the past.

I even went end to end on the fog lights, disconnecting at the Steering ECU and Semi-Conductor PI ECU and running direct and they wouldn't turn on via the switch like that.

 

[Baby-Yoda]

I already tried to do the anytime fog lights, it's not possible like it was in the past on other Toyota vehicles. The Fog light switch and color change switch have the following runout below and all the lights minus the trailer connection are controlled via the CAN Bus and or pulse width modulated DC.
From the stalk and switch to the steering control ECU (in steering column) > Multiplex Communication system (CXPI) Power integration module (Below the glove box), this houses the relays (likely ICs vs. Traditional relay) and for the Headlights through to the BCM > Semi-Conductor Power Integration ECU (Passenger side fuse box in engine bay) > Fog lights direct and the Headlight ECUs.

As far as the DRLs are concerned it may be possible to control those with a traditional relay and switch but would require headlight disassembly. The only wiring from the Semi Conductor PI ECU is 12VDC, ground and (CXPI communication). all other lights, parking, DRL are controlled internally by the ECU via the CXPI communication to the ECU and internal wiring within the headlight assembly to turn them off and on. There is a signal coming into the Semi-Conductor PI ECU from the BCM called HRLY (guessing headlight relay) but that would likely kill the headlights and parking lights and may or may not control the DRLs.

As far as the fog lights they are directly controlled by CXPI, I didn't check if that is 12V modulated pulse width DC (doubt it as a regular multimeter read 12VDC on the wires. You can tap into them and turn them on all the time but the switch stalk has no effect. On with ignition off after a long delay after the other lights turn off when powering down.

I can post the schematics on this from TIS if your interested but short of a CAN bus/CXPI hack I don't see it working via the OEM switches like in Toyotas of the past.

I even went end to end on the fog lights, disconnecting at the Steering ECU and Semi-Conductor PI ECU and running direct and they wouldn't turn on via the switch like that.

Wow.

More than I bargained for - both in volume and complexity. Thank you for taking the time to explain it so well!

Really too bad that it is this complicated...damn. I'll probably keep researching, but my understanding of such issues is limited at best, and extends little beyond relays, a quick splice and some soldering

If you do figure it out eventually, would you be able to update again here?

In the meantime I'll put up with it...or sell it and buy an old 80, hehe!

Thanks again.

 

[Alex2255]

There's a couple of Turn Signal Lever Headlight Dimmer Switch with the DRL off option copy's on ebay, I wonder if they are just plug and play!

 

[Baby-Yoda]

There's a couple of Turn Signal Lever Headlight Dimmer Switch with the DRL off option copy's on ebay, I wonder if they are just plug and play!

Oh interesting...I'm curious as well. Whomever gets frustrated first and tries it out let us know

 

[type17volkswagen]

Good Day!

I have to admit that it appears I'm a bit of a control-freak when it comes to vehicles. I like to camp and dabble in bit of night-photography etc, and not having control over the lights is really crampin' my style.

In Canada we do not have an OFF position for the lights, AUTO only.

Would like to have the option to:

1) Disable the DRL's.
2) Run the fog lights anytime - just on their own, with headlights, and with high-beams on.

Yes, I know it's technically illegal to not have DRL's in Canada, but humour me if you would.

(I want to assure everyone here that I take driving incredibly seriously - and would never operate regularly without them, except of course in very limited low-light conditions in the middle of nowhere where the lack of DRL's does not have a direct impact on peoples safety).

So basically I'd love the stalk positions to be:

Position 0
OFF

Position 1
DRL's

Position 2
Headlights

All the while having fog lights ON as my little heart desires.

Maybe I'm dreaming - but I welcome your input.

Thank you!

I’m in the US and went the other direction. I wanted no chance that we could drive without at least DRLs on. I don’t like the US stalk/switch has the DRL-off position. I replaced the factory US stalk with one from the UK (RAV4 used off eBay). The UK does not have an off position. A side bonus is that at night, in the park position, the DRLs are dimmed when parked, and full brightness when you drive. Of most interest to the OP, you can run the fog lights without headlights, though the running (park) lights will be on

I replaced the stalk on my 24 Crown, 24 Tacoma, and 25 LandCruiser with the UK stalk. They all function the same.

 

[snipereagle8]

In Canada we do not have an OFF position for the lights, AUTO only.

WTF, this is retarded and tyrannical.

 

[MJE]

WTF, this is retarded and tyrannical.

Welcome to Canada!
I’m going to suspect this is because of the number of people that drive at night with lights off here, presumably usually inadvertently. When drivers have light out the front & dashboards are always lit unlike cars in the olden days when DRL were first implemented, you’ll regularly see people with no lights on the rear.

 

[Alex2255]

Oh interesting...I'm curious as well. Whomever gets frustrated first and tries it out let us know

I ordered one! I'll keep you posted!

 

[NoMe cruiser]

This may change when Canada becomes the 51st state. You would have to purchase again after you guys join the union. I do a lot of heater hunting and can’t have my lights on. One of my 4Runners had the marker lights always on, I mentioned to the dealer that I didn’t like that and he disabled that feature eh.