Adding 'stealthy' Daytime Running Lights - LED DRL

This topic is part of several that show you how to add LED headlights to the C3 2002, add hidden 'stealthy' daytime running lights (DRL) and these tie-up with fitting AO switchback LED indicators.

This one shows the stealthy DRL mod.

Why not just leave the light on all the time? This car had all LED front lights and burning the hours on the dipped headlight will mean more expensive lamps need replacing eventually, but the T10 re many times cheaper to replace, and many times more accessible to change

Assuming you have now fitted fully LED lamps in the C3 headlight cluster, the 'stealthy DRL' mod will change the side lights (W5W) to ultra bright LEDs that come on with the ignition.

The LED W5W used in the project are similar to those available here (eBay). You are looking for the brightest T10 W5W lamp that isn't any wider than a standard lamp.

This is the lamp in position.
I call it 'stealthy' because it uses the standard reflector and fitting in the headlight. There is nothing to stick on the outside or any holes to drill. Unless you look very closely as shown in the photo, you can't see the DRL until the ignition is on.

To make the side lights come on with the ignition needs a small wiring change at the BSI.

The BSI has the signal that powers each side light. Cut these two wires so BSI no longer has control, but power both wires (via fuses) from the 'live with ignition' supply.

BSI - The inside story. tells us the side lights are on Plug PP (16 way green connector) and there is a 'Ignition plus supply' on pin 2. (Yellow wire in the picture)


Tap into the wire on pin 2,

Cut the wire at 13 - Front LH sidelamp output
and
Cut the wire at 15 - Front RH sidelamp output

Feed a fused supply from the tap at pin 2 to each 13 and 15 that disappear into the loom.


Insulate the 2 wires cut off at the plug,




Arrowed is the red insulation tape and the red 'tee connector', two new fuses and some yellow wire to extend the citroen wiring loom slightly as its quite tight around the BSI.


With the simple wiring modification the side lights will come on with the ignition and because they are now bright LEDs they will become a DRL.

But one other need for this mod is the 'AO Switchback LED indicators with DRL' modification that uses this feature to provide power for the DRL/Amber indicator switchback installed in the headlamp unit.