Exporting to Canada

[skipidak]

Hi guys,

Let me start with that - I am Canadian and I alwys wanted to have one of these small beasts which unfortunately have never been for sale in Canada. Finally decided I will import one from down the States. After some research and few phone calls here and there (RIA/etc) I decided to make the plunge. So I just brought my new 2000 VX to Canada . The customs part/payments/duties/etc is all done. Now I have to do the harder part - to get it Registered here. I've been at Canadian Tire (one of the RIA approved 'modifiers') and pretty much I was told all I need is to have DRL enabled. I really don't like the idea to have Canadian Tire guys to poke in my car, I'd rather do it myself. Is there an easy way to enable the DRL on the car (doesn't matter headlights or the fogs)? I've seen several cars in the States for sale with DRL in description, I know some states require DRL (mine unfortunately has no DRL), I am thinking there might be an easy way to do it without much cutting and splicing.
Any advice will be much appreciated!!!

cheers!

[kodiak]

I believe you can buy day time running lamp kits at any auto store in Canada.

[skipidak]

I believe you can buy day time running lamp kits at any auto store in Canada.

Thanks for the advise Kodiak,

I actually decided to have a look on the relay panel and immediately realized it is a very easy mod to do - all that was necessary was to ensure headlights relay gets power wherever ignition is on (to ensure headlights work only when ignition is on) and make ground permanent (to bypass headlight switch off position). In just about 10 minutes I had perfectly working up-to-code DRL-s on the car - only headlights are on when headlight switch on off position - no marker lights/taillights or instrument panel lights. I am happy Waiting for "form 1" to arrive in mail and go get it certified.

[Kenny]

Welcome, eh.
:grinr:

[mrtew]

Thanks for the advise Kodiak,

I actually decided to have a look on the relay panel and immediately realized it is a very easy mod to do - all that was necessary was to ensure headlights relay gets power wherever ignition is on (to ensure headlights work only when ignition is on) and make ground permanent (to bypass headlight switch off position). In just about 10 minutes I had perfectly working up-to-code DRL-s on the car - only headlights are on when headlight switch on off position - no marker lights/taillights or instrument panel lights. I am happy Waiting for "form 1" to arrive in mail and go get it certified.

WOW I wish I'd known that before I got Canadian Tire to splice their freaky box into my electrical system! I ended up with the opposite situation though.... when I turn my key on every single light turns on except the headlights! Could you post pictures or a description of how you actually did it or both in case I decide to go that route when my box breaks.

[Kenny]

WOW I wish I'd known that before I got Canadian Tire to splice their freaky box into my electrical system! I ended up with the opposite situation though.... when I turn my key on every single light turns on except the headlights! Could you post pictures or a description of how you actually did it or both in case I decide to go that route when my box breaks.

Ya, the dealer that did my DRL did a complicated relay system that I had to disable as the HLights came on with the key turn, then off during cranking, then back on after it starts. It killed my HID bulbs in no time with the on/off/on at every start. So now I just wire my fog lights as DRL (this is fine since GMC trucks and some vans use low output lights next to the main headlights as DRL.) All you have to do is add a relay with fused constant power and the green/red ignition wire to trigger the relay.

If you tie into the headlights, you have to splice in so the steering column switch can still go Hi-Lo.

Also I found that with the headlights wired to come on with the ignition wire, it was a nuisance at the drive-in movies. I had to pull the HL fuse or blind everyone with HIDs.

[Ldub]

it was a nuisance at the drive-in movies. I had to pull the HL fuse or blind everyone with HIDs.

WTH??? You guys still have drive in movies up there??? TOO COOL!..

[stangri]

Just got a Form 2 from RIV (instead of e-mailing you the PDF like they did before, they just now send you back the case number and the link where you can download the Form 2 if you have case number and last 6 digits of the VIN), it explicitly states that VXes equipped with the lift kit are INADMISSIBLE to Canada and the phone number to contact RIV for details (1-888-848-8240).

Did a MikeMol's hack for DRL, heading to Canadian Tire (and AirCare) tomorrow. My only concern is the loud aftermarket muffler.

PS. It was my first time importing a car bought from the private party and despite the signed bill of sale and the title (both with the price indicated), I was grilled at the border for not having printed a craigslist ad and the price being less than what the dealers want.

[stangri]

MikeMol's hack worked well for my local Canadian Tire and to my big surprise I didn't have to do AirCare (emissions) since it's not required for the first 2 years of the car registration (even if the car is old).

The inspector couldn't care less about missing metric markings on the speedo and missing bi-lingual airbag stickers -- did both federal and provincial inspections without any problems.

[Cobrajet]

The inspector couldn't care less about missing metric markings on the speedo and missing bi-lingual airbag stickers -- did both federal and provincial inspections without any problems.

Congratulations! You're the first to use this phrase correctly in YEARS!! Most people say/write "I could care less...", which is completely opposite of the intended meaning. My father used to say that, and my mother would usually correct him! Maybe it's a Canadian thing, eh?

[mrtew]

As a new Canadian I use it even more correctly! I say, "I could care less, but not much". Everyone could care less no matter how little they care! To get back to the subject, my poor VX has been sitting in the Canadian garage all summer with a dead battery and flat tires and it's just pathetic. I bought it a new battery and pumped up the Coopers last weekend and it's getting ready to go fight the icy roads for the next 7 months!!! The poor Camaro only gets about 5 months to play in the great white north!

[stangri]

Cobrajet -- thank you, given that english is not my first language any praise on my language skill is very flattering.

BTW, I should have posted this initially -- when I spoke to the Canadian Tire folk doing both federal and provincial inspections I asked them if there were *any* regulations for the power output or the size of the DRL and they said no. So if anyone is giving you hard time with the fog lights as DRL -- ask them for the specific regulations and post here please.

[Dmitrikr]

What I did was - foglight as drl and written numbers on cluster that's it.(but no lift & original tires)