DRL with light sensor on standard headlights of Lancer X

The daytime running lights mode is the quite useful option, which was primary activated on Mitsubishi Lancer X cars in European countries.

 

Now, this option is actual for Russia, where the amendment was recently adopted, which obligates the drivers to ride with switched-on low beams or special DRL in the daytime. 

 

That is why in given article we will activate DRL, examine which DRL modes exist in ETACS unit and install the light sensor for this option fully automated operation on standard reflex headlights or fog headlights on Mitsubishi Lancer X.

 

 

For easy reference, this instruction is represented in 2 versions: text and video at the end.

 

Note that the DRL option is available only on standard reflex headlights of Lancer X, this is not possible to implement on standard bi-xenon headlights. But during DRL activating there are 2 independent mode in ETACS unit, which can be used to implement DRL on fog headlights or on external daytime running lights.

 

 

Before activating, I advise you to read the article where discussed in detail how to activate the hidden functions and options on Mitsubishi Lancer X.

 

For activating the DRL mode, it is necessary:

1. J2534 compatible adapter. Bought here: Аliexpress

   Реклама. ООО "АЛИБАБА.КОМ (РУ)", ИНН 7703380158

2. MMCodingWriter software for downloading and code writing.

3. MUT Coding Mitsubishi software for code editing.

4. Laptop.

Since 2021, the MUT Coding Mitsubishi program has become paid, or you can buy it from the developer, or use the built-in editor in the MMCoding Writer program.

Always do backup copies for original Variant and Custom codings!!!!!!!!!!

 

Find and activate the DRL functions in Variant coding:

 

Next find the point DRL type - - > (choosing the DRL type) and choose 1 from 6 modes:

 

In this mode, after engine starting, the marker lights and low beam switch-on, even in that case, if the light switch is in switch-off position.

 

If switch-on the marker lights, the low beam switches-off, and the marker lights remain switching-on.

And if switch-on the low beam, than it switch-on again.

 

This mode is similar with Normal DRL mode, but here the hand brake is involved in the algorithm.

 

If the handbrake is up when starting the engine, the low beam headlights and marker lights will not automatically switch-on.

 

And if the hand brake is down, than accordingly the low beam and marker lights switch-on.

 

In this dimming mode, after engine starting, if the light switch is in switch-on position, the low beam will gleam with dimming, at the same time the marker lights will not operate.

 

When marker lights switching-on, the marker lights switch-on, but the low beam will continue to gleam in the dimming mode.

 

And if the low beam switch-on, the headlights will operate in a routine mode at full capacity. But...

For this mode operation, it is necessary to install more powerful relay of low beam 8627A001  (field transistor) in the underhood space).

Install relay in that place. If you leave the old relay, then when mode switching-on, the old relay will crackle, that is, it will not cope with the load and will fail in the near future. Leave the low beam old relay, we will need it further.

 

It is similar with previous Dimming DRL mode (it is also necessary to install more powerful low beam relay 8627A001). But here operates the hand brake.

 

I.e. when starting the engine, if the hand brake is up, the headlights does not switch-on. If the hand brake is down, the dimming mode on the headlights switches-on.

 

In this mode, you can use non-standard daytime running lights or fog headlights in the DRL mode.

 

This is similar with previous Independent DRL mode, but here the hand brake is involved in the algorithm.

 

For fog headlights switching-on in the DRL mode, it is necessary to activate the independent mode Independent DRL or Independent DRL with P in the ETACS unit.

 

Next, there are 2 connection diagrams depending on whether you have pins for DRL relay connection or not.

 

There is a fuse panel the underhood space, open it and look, whether there are pins in the seating position for DRL relay. If there are pins, then connect it according with the following scheme:

 

It is necessary to connect the connector from DRL relay to fog headlights relay. Take thicker wire for connector, as it is power. I have the 2.5 square wire.

 

In the place, where the DRL relay will be set, the relay itself will be absent. You can seat here the low beam relay, which we have changed earlier for more powerful.

 

If you do not have pins for DRL relay (this is my case), then use the most simple connection way.

 

On ETACS unit, it is necessary to add the wire in pin 10 in the с-312 connector (this pin is responsible for DRL operation) and now connect this wire with wire of pin 4 (Pin 4 is just responsible for fog headlights operation).

 

Here, the standard wire is necessary for connection, as it is not power, but control. I took the wire from donor wiring with female pin.

I connected all with the help of cut terminal and bought here Aliexspress.

And now, when engine starting, instead the low beam, the fog headlights will switch-on.

 

That is not necessary to install the light sensor, the DRL mode operate well without light sensor, the only thing is when it dark, you will need to switch-on marker lights and low beam manually.

 

But I want that all operate maximally automated, without my intervention, that is why I will also install the light sensor 7825A019 and understeering switch with auto mode 8614A061.

 

If someone also want to install the light sensor, then you can watch the instruction video above or in the article Installation of light and illumination sensor.

 

When activating the light sensor, I chose the Low threshold (analog) (can change) mode, in which the marker lights switch-on firstly, and then the low beam.

 

And now when I start the car In the day time, the low beam switches-on automatically in the dimming mode, the marker lights do not gleam in this case. When it is getting dark, the marker lights will switch-on, the low beam continues to gleam in the dimming mode.

And when it is getting too dark, the low beam starts to gleam in the full capacity.

 

 

You also can watch the final work for all option in the video above.