Hi there. As the post count would suggest, I'm fairly new here.

I've been working on this problem for a while. My car is a 2004 USDM RX-8 from Jersey that was imported to Canada about a year ago. I bought the car as it seemed sound and the carfax checked out.

Overall I'm really happy with it. My only real gripe is thus: The DRLs run on the low-beams (instead of the factory-intended high-beams at a lower intensity).

The passenger side projector low-beam is dim. I asked my local-to-me dealer to give me a hand diagnosing the "weak" low-beam and a tech said he'd seen that before where hackjob DRLs were wired into the car to meet the Canadian MoT rules for imported USDM cars.

My quick diagnosis this week tells me this much:

- the issue is somewhere between the under-hood fuseblock and the headlight assembly itself. I can pull the passenger side 15A fuse for the low-beam and it will completely cease functioning (as it should). My DRL fuse position is empty and the wiring for the DRL module is missing from that section of the fusebox (as it should be really for a USDM car).

Where does the wiring go from the fusebox to the passenger side headlight assembly? How hard is it to get to the headlight assembly itself? I know the dealer is supposed to service / replace the Xenon projectors but I need to know if there's some sort of DRL module that could be "vampiring" the amperage going to the Xenon headlight itself. The dealer figures that's what's causing the dimness.

Do Xenon headlights "blow" or do they just run dim when they're toast? This is my first car with Xenon projectors.

Thanks in advance fellas, it's appreciated. I'll check back for replies later, but work on the car will have to wait till mid next week when I'm home in North Bay with my plethora of tools and testers.

 

I would remove the module...and get everything working properly...and then re-install if you feel you must.

The modules tend to be a quagmire of difficult to diagnose problems

It really was only needed to pass the inspection. If youare worried...turn on your lights manually

 

That's the thing, I'm having quite a bit of difficulty in finding the module. That's why I was wondering what path the 12V+ feeds take in getting to the headlight assembly, so I could know where to direct my search under the hood. I can't seem to ID the DRL "module" itself nor can I find where it was stashed. The driver's side low-beam seems fine and the combined beam pattern is still plenty brighter than the headlights on my winter beater (2007 Ford Focus ZX5).

Also, I was going to haul out the intake box and such entirely as well - all the more reason to tell the G/F I'm getting a new intake!

 

Have you looked underneath the fuse panel under the hood on the right? It pulls out easily and reveals the wiring harness. Theres plenty of space for someone to splice all sorts of stuff in under there and you wouldn't see anything with a cursory inspection. I went under there to mod my fog lights from decorations to working fog lights.

 

Socket7 - that's a wicked idea! How do I pull it out exactly?

 

It should be near the fuse box...or near the headlights...I would guess it's triggering the relays in the fuse box...so look for power taps there. Hopefully they haven't fubarred your ballast for the HID's.

 

I'll add a bit more info as I just realized I left it out.

The DRLs come on at the ACC position of the ignition switch, but they don't turn off when the parking brake is applied.

The low-beams / "headlights" are constantly on and turning the headlight switch to low-beams "on" does absolutely nothing for beam brightness or anything for either side of the car.

 

sounds like the module is wired to the ign wire...and they are triggering the relay for the low beam lights. If you can't find the module under the hood...look under the drivers side dash and see if they put it there

 

Where's the actual relay module for the low-beams? I know the fuses are in the big block under the hood...

 

It's the big relay in the underhood fuse panel......kinda in the middle...labelled HEAD

 

Perfect, I'll be looking at stuff again today - weather permitting!

Thanks again everyone, I'll update as I go.