Rep Power: 0

Hello,
I have a Canadian 91 civic hatchback with a 1.5
My running lights have not been working for some time and I see they
often have the same solder problems as the main relay does.
I went out to get it but I don't see anything that looks like what is depicted in various videos.
Is it the relay that's attached to a bracket welded on the steering column?
Small black box, similar in size to the main relay with about 6-8 red
wires in a white connector?
Thanks

 
Rep Power: 517

DRL "relay", my info says "behind dash, right of steering column"
Wire colors should be

white
red/yellow
black/yellow
green/red
green/red
white/red
black

Don't forget there's a resistor out in the engine compartment, right front corner

 
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with you here on 2 threads..
well I read today that the Canadian civics didn't use that thing and it was incorporated into the switch... didn't know about the resistor, do you have more info. i need to be able to upload photos.. then i could show this unit quickly. Timing belt first!

 
Rep Power: 517

Yes.......but I cannot hotlink or share factory info due to copyright stuff and lawyers and all that. Factory info for cars that old is really scarce on their tech website too.


For pics I use a pic hosting site and insert the link here, click this icon () and paste the link in the popup box.

 
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Ok, I found a place to host some pictures of the relay in question...
http://postimg.org/gallery/1z4yfrk6k/8da65fd2/
It's attached to a bracket welded on the steering column and the wires look
to be routed up to the steering wheel. I did check the light switch test diagrams in the Haynes manual and there was no mention of any DRL involvement. I checked under dash fuse and it's ok.
however, also tested for voltage with the fuse removed and found none in any key position, or light switch position or with the engine running...
No sign of the grey box relay up there, I wonder if this is a Canadian version of the same thing?
Thanks

 
Rep Power: 517

Meh, I hate dealing with non factory diagrams. Even the factory diagrams leave a lot to be desired, aftermarket info is usually the same if not worse.


Your car is canadian, yes? The wire colors I mentioned came right off the Honda website wire diagrams for cars equipped from the factory with DRL. (US cars were not equipped with DRL)

Oh? There's a lot of fuses involved.

Engine compartment box, fuse 33 (50A)
Dash box, fuses 4,5,10,11, 16,

Look on the passengers side of the steering column? (Right is the passengers side)


I just found this description elsewhere for the same car/diagram:
Daytime Running Lights Relay
Behind center of dash, right of ashtray
Alas, no image to go with it.
-----



This yellowed block is G201, a ground junction.


The resistor for the DRLs should have 3 wires:
white/red,
red//green,
red/blue
No image provided in my info though, so I really don't know where to look other than look for the wire colors and the resistor is probably on a heat sink.



Black cube with a bunch of red wires kinda reminds me of a lights/door/key warning buzzer or beeper.


Wire colors certainly don't match what I posted previously.


I'm in the US, I have probably never actually seen the DRL controller in a car that old, and probably never will.

 
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Ok thanks for that, it could be a buzzer and that will be easy to check.
The relay I was hoping to find is like what's shown being repaired here.
I definitely haven't see this box up to the right of my steering but I haven't got in behind the center console yet.
Re the fuse, My under the dash box panel directory shows 1 > 10A fuse marked:
Daytime Running Lights. I think it was the fourth over from the left side of the panel,
bottom row. I'll keep looking for those wires and try to dig a bit deeper in the middle of the car. I would have expected the fuse to have power prior to getting to a relay but
I'm not sure about that. In any case, There's no power at the DRL fuse.
Thanks

 
Rep Power: 517

It just reminded me of that, I can't tell what it really is from here.

That looks like a couple I've seen before. I've had to do the resolder repairs to these because there is no way for us to obtain Canadian DRL units through Honda.

Dug into some more stuff and see your DRL unit should NOT look like the one on the video. Yours should look like this one (bracket may be longer):






Fusebox labeling is not what most people think, there are far more circuits attached to most fuses than any small legend can describe.

Check the rest that I mentioned.


Headlight fuses do not have power applied until the lights are turned on.



A good wiring diagram should show all these answers if one can read it. (Spaghetti dinner?)

 
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Ok Thanks,
I'll keep looking...
I tested the DRL fuse under all key and headlight conditions including with the engine running. No power there.
I'll let you know if I locate it...
Thanks again.

 
Rep Power: 517

IDK which fuse would be labeled as being for the drls....


Fuse #16, (10 amp), dash fusebox is supposed to be HOT IN RUN
Fuses #4,5,10,11 are for the headlights high and low beams.



Fuses 15 16 18 all share the same power source

Fuses 1-12 are the bottom row, numbered left to right.
Fuses 13-18 are the next row up.

 
Rep Power: 307

I searched the ARRC site and found nothing for headlights at all. Checked all in that generation.

 
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Well, They are working now!

I located the DRL relay on my 1991 Honda civic hatchback, Canadian.

It was just behind the glove compartment, left side.

http://postimg.org/my.php?gallery=os3e7koc

It's easy to get too after removing the 2 screws for the glove compartment door. It was obvious by a discoloration where a solder problem was and
re doing it fixed the problem. My car did have a dedicated running light fuse
under the dash... #16 @ 10A

Repaired the blower fan resistor while I was in there and now have 4 speeds
for awhile anyway. Probably order a new one too.

Thanks for your help!

 
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I am having drl issues....no drl or high beams. Checked everything but CANNOT find the actual drl relay!!!!!!
Help me people 08 Civic.
Please.....there is nothing under the dash that resembles the grey box that seems to be the one most posted..
At the point where I am about to throw matches at it till it goes away.

 
Rep Power: 517

On 8th gens (2006) and newer, the DRL function is controlled within the underdash fusebox (MICU).

Is the "DRL" warning light lit up on the gauge cluster?
Check the high beam bulbs, check the fuses, check the headlight switch.


HTH

 
Rep Power: 148

Don't you just love post 7 when a do-it-yourselfer takes a few cents worth of solder and fixes a $200 relay that obviously had factory defect cold joint soldiers..priceless.

 
Rep Power: 517

Been doing it for decades, on far more than just Hondas. More products than just cars too.


And the joints aren't really defective or cold IMO, they adhered well and lasted quite a long time before failing. The solder joints break at the relay pins because the relay pins actually move whenever the relay clicks, eventually this fatigues the joint and it cracks.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the quick reply.
The under dash fuse box has 3 relays; at the top there is a left and right one which appear to be the same and a blue one in the middle...fuel pump relay I think.
Can you possible identify the relay?
Thanks so much!!!

 
Rep Power: 307

^^^ Are you seeing the relay box behind the glove box ???

The 8th gen headlight relays are internal to (soldered to board permanent) the under-dash fuse box.

Check fuse #18 (20A) and #12 & #13 (10A) in under dash box.

 
Rep Power: 517

The DRL are controlled by the MICU inside the fusebox under the drivers side of the dash.
There are no external accessible relays for the high beam lights or DRLs.

IIRC the DRLs are operated by the MICU supplying a modulated voltage averaging approximately 8v per light, instead of using relays.