Any electronics experts in the house?

[ben-man]

Hi all,
I've had the vx for a few weeks now and the Canadian gov't has told me I have until July 2 to get the thing ready to pass their imported vehicles inspection.
Main thing I have to worry about is daytime running lights. I posted a question here a few weeks back about how to do it and (thanks for all the input everyone) decided to go with something called a "visi-light automatic headlight system" from a company up here called Hamsar.

Anyway, did the install today and wired up the lights and power supply - everything seems fine.
But - you knew it was coming - I have one last connection that I can't get to work.
The final connection involves wrapping a wire around one of the spark plug wires several times, i guess to detect when voltage is running through it while the motor is running.
This tells the control unit to switch the headlights on automatically.
My problem is, with the weird (read non-traditional) plug wires, I don't think the wire-wrapping technique is working - headlights won't turn on by themselves, but they do turn on when i run a jumper from the + terminal on the battery to the wire that's coiled around the plug wire.
The install instructions suggest that if the coiled technique doesn't work, try

"connecting the wire to an oil pressure switch or any other high point 12 volt signal when the ignition is in run position"...

Huh?

So, searched cd manual and can't find any mention of an oil pressure switch accept for the a/c unit.
My question is this: Does anybody know of a 12v power source in the engine compartment, preferably passenger side, that I can scab off of to run this gizmo that only kicks in when the ignition is in the run position, not accessory or start?
(whew, that was a lotta work - mental note: learn how to type)

Thanks in advance all,
Ben

[89Vette]

By 12v high point source, they just mean a positive 12V. They are saying ANY 12v source you can splice into will trigger the relay if it's a switchable power supply like the radio.

If you have a 12V probe or volt-ohm meter, just look for a connector that turns on/off when the key turns on. If this system is worth a crap, you'll only be pulling a small amount of juice to trigger a relay (meaning you won't need to increase the fuse on that circuit).

[Gussie2000]

You can try running the last wire to the cigarrete lighter since this one runs 12v as soon the car's ignition is in "on" position.

[psychos2]

Get an oil pressure sender that works as a switch and install near the oil filter and wire to that.they are normally used to turn on electric fuel pumps . shawn

[Kenny]

Helpful wire list. You want the ACC wire in the large harness to the driver's side of the Brake fluid reservoir.

I used a vampire clip to tap into it. It's fairly easy since you can use the back of the wire connector where the wires are exposed to search out the 12V source with a tester.

My offer is still open for you to drop buy and we"ll find it and finish the wiring.


| ITEM | WIRE COLOR |POL| WIRE LOCATION |
| 12V|white & white/black |+ |ignition harness |
| STARTER|blk/wht or wht/blu |+ |ignition harness |
| IGNITION|blk/yel or blk/red |+ |ignition harness |
| SECOND IGNITION|blk/red or blk/yel |+ |ignition harness |
| ACCESSORY|blue |+ |ignition harness |
| POWER LOCK|red/white |- |drivers door harness or *1 |
| POWER UNLOCK|red/black |- |drivers door harness or *1 |
| LOCK MOTOR|lt. green | |drivers door harness |
| UNLOCK MOTOR|lt. green/black | |drivers door harness |
| DISARM DEFEAT|lt. green/black | |passengers door harness |
| PARKING LIGHTS +|green/red | |drivers kick panel |
| PARKING LIGHTS -|yellow or grn/yel | |headlight switch |
| HEADLIGHTS|red or red/blu |- |headlight switch |
| DOOR TRIGGER|red/green |- |passenger kick panel *2 |
| DOME SUPERVISION|use door trigger | | |
| FCTRY ALARM ARM| | | |
|FCTRY ALRM DISARM|lt. green/red |- |drivers door lock switch |
| DISARM NO UNLOCK| | | |
| TACHOMETER|black/red | |PCM *3 |
| SPEED SENSE|lt. green/white | |PCM *3 |
| BRAKE WIRE|red |+ |brake switch |
| HORN TRIGGER|green or orn/blk |- |steering column |
| WIPERS|blu/yel & blu/wht |+ |wiper switch |
| LF WINDOW UP/DN|blu/red - brn/wht |A |drivers window switch |
| RF WINDOW UP/DN|blu/red - brn/wht |A |passenger window switch |
| RADIO 12V|red/white |+ |radio |
| RADIO GROUND|black |- |radio |
| RADIO SWITCH|red/blue |+ |radio |
| RADIO ILLUMINATE|green/red |+ |radio |
| LF SPEAKER|blue - yellow | |radio or speaker |
| RF SPEAKER|green - gray | |radio or speaker |
| LR SPEAKER|red - white | |radio or speaker |
| RR SPEAKER|blue - white | |radio or speaker|

[ben-man]

Hey, thanks Kenny.
I sent you a PM. Give a call if you can.
Ben

[pbkid]

ben, i was going to suggest that you found a 'swiched' wire within the fuse compartment. that would be easy to tap onto.