Forgive me if I should have posted this in the mods section.

After searching these boards for quite some time on how to deacivate my automatic DRL on my Canadian 850 model, I finally found a post that explained exactly how to do it.
I plan to do this tommorow, and will post here my reply on how it goes. However once I've done this, does anyone know how to rig my fogs such that they can turn on with the light knob in the off position? From what I gather it will require messing with the light relay control or something of that matter. Anyone done this or heard anything about it?

Here is a copy and paste of the procedure, thanks to Tony Giverin from an earlier brickboard post.


DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS


I recently purchased a 1994 850 GLT. Great car, but one thing about it I didn't like were the daytime running lights which were on whenever the engine was running. Below I'll explain the modification I made to overcome the problem.


First, a personal comment. I am not suggesting for a minute that one drives without headlights on. Too many studies and statistics conclude that the chance of collision is reduced by increasing one's own visibility.


The other thing I wanted to know about was the legality of modifying daytime running lights in Ontario. I called Mr. Andy Soutar, vehicle inspection administrator at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's Carrier Safety and Enforcement Branch. He said the Canadian federal government introduced a law that made it mandatory for auto manufacturers to put daytime running lights on all new cars sold. This started with the 1990 model year. But Mr. Soutar said there is "no requirement under provincial law to use them -- yes, you can turn them off."


Mr. Soutar says he gets calls like mine regularly. He said something interesting. When the law was first introduced federally, the police were the first ones to ask about using daytime running lights, and if they could turn the lights off. When doing surveillance work, or undercover work, they wanted the engine running but no lights on!


If you want to ask further questions, you can call Mr. Soutar at (905) 704-2277.


In the United States, the law permits but does not require daytime running lights, so American 850s give their owners the choice of having daytime running lights or not, via a screw adjustment on the light switch. I wanted this choice in the event I want to turn my headlights off with the engine running.


Before I made the modification, the three positions on the light switch were:

(1) Headlights on, parking lights on, dash lights off, high beams do not work.

(2) Headlights on, parking lights on, dash lights on, high beams do not work.

(3) Headlights on, parking lights on, dash lights on, high beams work.


After the modification, the three positions on the light switch are:

(1) Headlights off, parking lights on, dash lights off, high beam flasher works

(2) Headlights off, parking lights on, dash lights on, high beam flasher works

(3) Headlights on, parking lights on, dash lights on, high beams work


Modification: The schematic on page 50 of Volvo Service Manual TP 3903202 clearly shows three types of light switches: (1) American (2) Canadian (3) European. The following instructions are based on this information. Tools needed: a small screwdriver, small wire cutters. Total time: 5 minutes.

>Carefully pry out the light switch using a small screwdriver, taking care not to scratch the surrounding dash plate.

>Disconnect the switch from the wiring harness (two clips).

>Put the switch aside.

>Look for the GN-R (green-red) wire leading into pin #5 of the harness.

>Cut the wire.

>Reconnect the harness to the light switch.

>Carefully push the light switch back into the dash plate.

>Done


Note this modification doesn't affect the "failed bulb" circuitry. Also note the modification may void the new vehicle warranty. Finally note the modification is for the headlights, not the parking lights. Those wishing to modify the parking lights as well must modify the light switch itself (difficult to do). This modification worked for

model /year ’94, however it is likely to work for all years ’93 - ’97 . To be sure, refer

to service manual mentioned and compare switch harness (should be the same) or contact

myself, and I will fax you the schematic and description of the harness.

Tip: leave the light switch in position #3, and your lights will always be on when driving, off with key removed.


By the way, I posted the explanation above on the 850 forum at www.brickboard.com.


Tony Giverin ’94 850GLT, ’82 240DL

tony_giverin@ontla.ola.org

416-287-1967