Nct and daytime running lights

bazery

I retrofitted drls to my car just next to my foglight grill. They come on with the ignition and only switch off when the car is off. Should I remove them before my Nct or is it not a failing point?

Toyotafanboi

i'd say they are have to be on a switch and fused appropriately.

Bpmull

Afaik for DRL's to be legal they have to go off when you turn on your lights or dim so they are not to strong for night time.

Stoolbend

I don't think they need a switch but i'd say they either have to dim or turn off when you turn on the headlights.

Obviously they need to be fused and insulated terminals on the positive wires.

colm_mcm

Just disconnect them

GTE

I just realised that what I am about to say is probably no help whatsoever to the OP but anyway, it may be of use to budding DRL retrofitists, new word boom.

I don't have front fog lights so when I installed the DRLs, I got a new headlight switch from a fog lighted VW I ran the DRL power out of the fog switch. For me, this was an easier way to do it instead of splicing into pre-exisiting wiring which I was not confident to do at the time.

I also discovered that VWs of the Mark 4 Golf vintage have a DRL power out at the light switch anyway so I imagine that would deal with the dimming/off when dipped are active issue.

This means I have control of when I want them on or not. I have since spliced them into my dipped beam circuit so the DRLs will dim when the dipped comes on.

Never had any issue with the NCT. They are E marked DRLs too.

If they were not E marked, then I would imagine there would be an NCT problem as that is a European stamp of road worthiness, roughly speaking.

colm_mcm

Not so sure about the E mark thing on lights, Japanese imports don't have e marks on the lights.

GTE

colm_mcm wrote: »

Not so sure about the E mark thing on lights, Japanese imports don't have e marks on the lights.

Regardless, the DRLs I got said Euro regulation compliant (E-Mark) in the manual so there is something in it. Possibly the imported cars have an exception. That or they are not as strict as the tyres in the NCT though pointing out the e-mark would help you if the Gardai were asking about it in a checkpoint. That said, they are so common now that I doubt anyone would asked about them.

jimmad

For them to be road legal they have to dim by 50% when the headlights are on. Mine that I fitted myself do that are road legal but they failed the NCT, I took out the fuse went back and they passed it, best turn them off because the spanners in the NCT centres dont know whats road legal and what isnt so theyre just going to fail you.

Chimaera

ECE R87 is the relevant regulation for DRLs. Once your lights and the installation meet the requirements for R87 they're legal for NCT purposes and the NCT can't fail you (if they do, you've legitimate grounds for complaint). And if you want to use them at night, they're supposed to be compliant with ECE R7. Both regulations specify light output levels, and minimum/maximum fitting heights.

The DRL regulation requires that the lights operate while the engine is running. The sidelight/nighttime regulation requires them to dim when the dipped beam lights are switched on.

On the Japanese imports not having e-marked lights, you're legally supposed to replace the lights with e-marked ones upon importing it.

Basically, anything used on cars here must be e-marked as this guarantees a minimum level of safety in design and operation, and compliance with relevant regulations.

bazery

well f##k it anyway, Removed the lights and it failed on front window tints. tester said it only let 29% of light through. Which I'm almost certain are factory tinted. I'm raging as I serviced every aspect of this car.

ironclaw

bazery wrote: »

well f##k it anyway, Removed the lights and it failed on front window tints. tester said it only let 29% of light through. Which I'm almost certain are factory tinted. I'm raging as I serviced every aspect of this car.

Are your windows that tinted? :eek:

bazery

I genuinely don't think so. The windows don't have any noticable film on them and are very easy to see out of. My dad put it through the nct so I can't wait to see if they are right when i get home.

Toyotafanboi

bazery wrote: »

I genuinely don't think so. The windows don't have any noticable film on them and are very easy to see out of. My dad put it through the nct so I can't wait to see if they are right when i get home.

i'd do nothing. just take it back to the centre, tell them you've had a lighter tint fitted and see how it goes.

bazery

Is tint a visual inspection, as in do they walk out and look at it and go" Ya that's grand". If it is I'll chance it and say i got legal ones done professionally