94 Accord high beam and DRL problems

My Accord's DRL system (daylight running lights) does not activate when
disengaging the parking brake (as it should). At the same time, the
right high beam does not work either, even though the bulb is ok. I've
been having this problem for some time, but only intermitently, under
seemingly random conditions. However, recently it's happening most of
the time.

From a previous post I've gathered that the DRL and the right high beam
are on the same circuit, and most likely I have a burnt relay. My
question is, does anyone know which relay in particular is most likely
to be burnt and where I can find it?

I'm assuming it's on the right side electric circuit (fairly obvious
), but other than that I'm at a loss. I have the maintenance manual for
the car, but I could not find that info in there last time I read it.
I'll look again tomorrow, but I hope someone with the same problem
solved it before.

Email me at cr0c0 at softhome dot net if you have any info, but I'd
rather you reply to the newsgroup. That way it can help other people too.

Thanks,

Cosmin

 

I have the same problem for a 97 Accord.This is what I found and hope it
helps.Subject: Defective LightingMy automobile is an 1997 Honda Accord LX,
with 87,000 Km. on the odometer. Recently I have experienced an annoying
intermittent lighting problem. When the car is first started, I have an
illuminated daytime running light (DRL) indicator lamp,and a dimly lit high
beam indicator lamp. When the parking brake is released these lamps are
extinguished. According to the manual, this is normal. Lately, however, upon
release of the parking brake these lamps extinguish for about one second and
then light again. coincident with this, is a failure to light the right high
beam. I recently lifted the hood to examine the wiring insulation and
connections at the lamp assemblies during a failure. manipulation of the
wiring at the lamp sockets had no effect on the failure. When I dropped the
hood to close up, the condition cleared. The dealer had a look at it and
changed the high beam lamp in question. They feel it is the Daytime running
light control unit. The accord manual I have has some pretty good circuit
diagrams of the lighting system, but in the entire book I can find no
mention of the location of the control unit. I would like to check this a
little further. Can you tell me where to find this unit, and can you tell me
if it's possible to find some detailed data on the control unit. Thank you.
My name and address are as follows.Module MadnessYou have entered the module
zone, where many technicians get challenged! I believe you have already had
the correct diagnosis of a malfunctioning (DRL) Daytime Running Light module
(these are common to fail or malfunction), what you want to know is how can
you find where it is located and whether or not you can possibly repair
it.The location of the module is to the left side of the dash near the
centre console (very close to the gas pedal area), there is a cluster of 3
components: Shifter Interlock module, PGM-FI Main Relay and Daytime Running
Light module (if you have a manual transmission then there will also be a
starter cut relay as well), the DRL should have a 14 pin connector.There is
not any published information for repair of the module, once the diagnosis
of a failed module the factory procedure is to replace the module, if you
have a background in electronics it is possible to repair it using
components from a place like Radio Shack, I will attach a copy of the
circuit wiring diagram and you can make the decision as to whether repairing
or replacementCraig Subject: Defective LightingMy automobile is an 1997
Honda Accord LX, with 87,000 Km. on the odometer. Recently I have
experienced an annoying intermittent lighting problem. When the car is first
started, I have an illuminated daytime running light (DRL) indicator
lamp,and a dimly lit high beam indicator lamp. When the parking brake is
released these lamps are extinguished. According to the manual, this is
normal. Lately, however, upon release of the parking brake these lamps
extinguish for about one second and then light again. coincident with this,
is a failure to light the right high beam. I recently lifted the hood to
examine the wiring insulation and connections at the lamp assemblies during
a failure. manipulation of the wiring at the lamp sockets had no effect on
the failure. When I dropped the hood to close up, the condition cleared. The
dealer had a look at it and changed the high beam lamp in question. They
feel it is the Daytime running light control unit. The accord manual I have
has some pretty good circuit diagrams of the lighting system, but in the
entire book I can find no mention of the location of the control unit. I
would like to check this a little further. Can you tell me where to find
this unit, and can you tell me if it's possible to find some detailed data
on the control unit. Thank you. My name and address are as follows.You have
entered the module zone, where many technicians get challenged! I believe
you have (these are common to fail or malfunction), what you want to know is
how can you find where it is The location of the module is to the left side
of the dash near the centre console (very close to the gas pedal area),
there is a cluster of 3 components: Shifter Interlock module, PGM-FI Main
Relay and Daytime Running Light module (if you have a manual transmission
then there will also be a starter cut relay as well), the DRL should have a
14 pin connector.There is not any published information for repair of the
module, once the diagnosis of a failed module the factory procedure is to
replace the module, if you have a background in electronics it

 

Hi.

Hi, and sorry for my English.

I have exactly the same problem on an Accord 98 ex v6.
When I drive for a long time, sometimes, drl starts working, but less and
less often. Then the right highbeam also start working. But then, if I use
beam for 5 minutes, then drl comes back to its "bad mood mode".

I have been told at Honda dealer that the relay was burnt.

As I posted on this newsgroup about it, a guy answered me that the relay was
just above the break pedal on Odyssey, and that it should be near on Accord.
But I never found it. Let me (us) know if you do.

I can also tell you that I changed the timing belt recently. It has been
letting the DRL works much more often for the first 300 miles i made after
the timing belt change. More over, It also works more often under the rain
(better electronic contact ?).

As it is intermitent, i t should be a problem of an electronic component
(probably a condenser). If so, it would cost us $0.20 to replace

Alain.
(ompub at hotmail dot com)

 

Other than the formatting, your post is exactly what I was looking for.
I'll look into it tomorrow morning.

Thanks,

Cosmin

 

-----------------------------

The formatting is much better here:

# www.owenautomotive.ca/97%20Accord%20lights.pdf

'Curly'
------------------------------------

 

Further to this thread, we have two Canadian (Japanese built) Odysseys,
'95 & '97. Both have odd problems with the DRL, but I noticed that the
'97 had the 'low beam cut relay' replaced, before we bought it.

The symptom on the '97: Sometimes the right high beam plays dead, when
needed during night driving. DRLs always work correctly during daytime
driving.

The '95 is the real 'sick puppy'. 80% of the time when started, the left
headlight comes on full strength, rather than both coming on at half
strength. Flashing the high beam or flipping the headlights off, then on
will usually fix the problem, but unless you're parked up against a
building, you don't remember to do it. The '95 came from Quebec, and has
had some other electrical issues related to corroded ground connections.

The circuit board inside the DRL relay seemed to have some of the same
soldering problems that are seen in Honda MAIN RELAYS.....

http://members.rogers.com/john-ings/MainRelay.HTM

The DRL relay on a (first generation) Odyssey has 14 wires going into
it, and is above the brake pedal, behind the speedo cluster. I
desoldered and resoldered the 'cooked' connections and inspected the
contacts inside the little black relays, and it seemed to work better
for a while. It has many descrete components in it, mostly heavy
transistors, capacitors, and the two relays. I expect a few caps are
wimpy, but maybe I should just bitethe bullet and buy a NEW relay.

'Curly'

-----------------------------

 

I had the same problem. I resoldered all the contacts in the relay and it
works properly now. I suggest you do the same.

 

As an update, I just called Honda Sisley (Toronto, ON) and they quoted
me CAD$145 (about US$110), which I can't justify right now. I'll pull
mine off the car and see if I can fix it myself, since I'm allright with
a soldering iron. The damn thing's not working anyways, so even if I
screw it up, I won't be worse off than before.

I'm getting worried with the electrical system in my car though. This is
the 3rd thing to fail (driver's side window switch, gas tank sensor and
a couple other intermitent problems). I cleaned up and fixed the switch,
haven't gotten around to look at the sensor yet. The body's in mint
condition (which says a lot for a 10 year old car in Toronto), engine's
mint and tranny runs well. But the electrics are dying out.

Realistically, I could sell this car for CAD$6000 easily. I could add
another CAD$2000 and buy an 96-97 Integra with less kms on it. But would
I be better off? Does the Integra have the same electrical problems as
my Accord?

Thanks for all the input so far guys, you've been a great help.

Cosmin

 

Final update. I just pulled the DRL control module off the car, opened
it up and indeed the board had developed hairline cracks on some of the
solder points. I just resoldered them, and now it's working like a charm.

I strongly recommend this fix to anybody that has this problem. If you
have minimal soldering skills it takes about 5-10mins. The contacts are
huge, there's plenty of room to work on it, in other words, it's a joke
to fix it. Even if you don't know how to do it, take the board to any TV
repair shop (or any other place that solders stuff), they won't be able
to charge more than $10-20, and you'll save at least CAD$130...

Just my 2cents (worth of tin)

Cosmin

 

But do you know precisly where it is located ? What does it look like ?

Tks.

alain.

 

Yes. It's inside the cabin, on the left side. If you'll get under the
steering wheel column, you'll see a space with a lot of wires going into
several boxes. The DRL module is high up close to the wall. It's a
pretty big (about 10x10x5cm or 4x4x2in, mabe a bit smaller) box, gray,
with a blue 14 pin connector (I didn't count them, but that's what it
said in a previous post). You'll only see the bottom of it, with the
connector pointing downwards. It's clipped onto a metal tab, push it
upwards ONLY to release it. It required NO force on my car, so don't
pull on it too hard.

To disassemble it is fairly easy, just take a flat head screwdriver and
gently pry it open. The bottom should snap out without breaking any
tabs. Once open, pull out the PCB from inside, and make sure you don't
bend any of the capacitors or resistences, they're on very tall legs.
There are also 2 black boxes (didn't bother to find out what they are),
and those are the ones most likely to need resoldering. The resistences
and capacitors are too light to rattle off.

Once done, put everything back the way it was, and enjoy. I know I am.

Cosmin

 

Have the same problem with my 94 Accord. Actually, my DRL system is dead
permanently, since I bought the car (15 months ago).
I'll try the same thing... thanks.

Robert