Daytime driving lamp issue.

[Wivvix]

Now before you tell me to use the search button, I have. Before you berate me for installing DRL's, I didn't, the P.O did.
I've never liked the things but I knew it would be effort to get rid of them.

So I was driving home from work and got breathalysed at a booze bus.
One of the young cops said that some of the LED's in the front right LED daytime driving lamp had blown.
As a result half of the lamp flickers. Big deal, right? Yeah, apparently this is enough to get a yellow sticker in WA.
According to the cop, old people see the flickering light and think it's an emergency light or indicator, and thus it can confuse them.
I almost felt like pointing out the obvious; that's yet another argument for why they shouldn't be on the road.

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So today I spent the better part of an hour trying to remove the damn things with no success.
They're "Aerpro Z-hybrid daytime lamps". Yeah, even the name sounds wanky.
The previous owner had them wired in such that they come on whenever the parkers or low-beams are switched on. Apparently it never occurred to him that a separate switch would be a good idea.

At any rate I have a few questions:

1. Can the LED's be replaced in the unit, or do you have to replace the whole unit?
2. Do I wrestle with getting the units out and then snip and close off the wires
3. Do I wrestle with getting the units out and then chase back the wire to where it's paired in and remove it altogether.
4. Are they likely to be generic enough 12v units, that I could snip wires and attach new units without changing any of the old wiring?

Below is the current equivalent unit sold by aerpro. The ones on mine are thankfully white light, and they don't look nearly as tacky as these.
http://www.aerpro.com.au/list.php?pcode=EL30B&cat_name=MOBILE+LIGHTING+++++++++++++++&cat_no=1&product_name=12+SUPER+BRIGHT+LED+DAY+LAMP+BLUE+%28PR%29+&cat_sno=124

[Mr Morlock]

DRL's are becoming very popular with a number of cars fitted as std. Correct quality units are excellent for safety on a low profile car as the MX5- it is very hard car to see in low light condition in my opinion. More use than foig lamps for most applications- as a safety item the advantage is that fogs are often only legal in the fog or misty rainy conditions.

The lights may very well be set up correctly- I suspect they are not meant to be separately switched- drls ie OE are designed to be running whilst the car is being dríven. If any of the leds have failed they are not replaceable. They should last a very long time but dodgy quality may be an issue. You might want to think about replacing the faulty units with good quality units - try as an example Narva or Hella and check the information on how they work as far as wiring is concerned. I would also consider just disconnecting the existing units without removing wiring or relays etc. If the wiring is correct you may be able to just refit new units without starting from scratch.

[Wivvix]

Cheers Morlock. Had a look into Narva and Hella units. Seems they're worth about $300 or so for good units.
Going to have a look at the faulty units today, see if I can trace back the wiring to a relay and if I can get the units off.

[Wivvix]

Removed the DRL's today. PO had them configured to draw off the parkers, no relays.
Probably not looking to replace them at this point.
I'm hoping the standard low beam globes will throw enough light to give good visibility at night.
Failing that, might have to look into what legal upgrades there are, and if it's really worth it.

[Mr Morlock]

the vast majority of cars are not fitted with drls's and as far as I am aware even the latest MX5 does not have them. The only purpose is that it makes a car easier to see in the day. Good that Wivvix has removed the faulty units without a hassle.