Front park lights as daytime driving lights?

Silvia · Postby **Silvia** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:08 am

I would like to use the front parkers as daytime driving lights instead of the headlights. I bought a couple of LED replacements but they seem to be down in the hole and not noticeable enough.
Anyone know of a bulb that would work? Not an electrics wizz so should be simple... :roll:

Car is 2002 NB

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:49 am

Park lights are designed to be minimal so I don't like your chances of getting anything that will be easily seen in the daylight.

What wrong with headlights?

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Silvia · Postby **Silvia** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:53 am

there's a possibility of leaving the car and forgetting to turn off headlights and flattening battery (11 yr.old original)..on mine the headlights go to low but not to parkers when ignition is off.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 9:26 am

Silvia wrote:there's a possibility of leaving the car and forgetting to turn off headlights and flattening battery...

The upside of NA6/8 pop ups.

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:44 am

Silvia wrote:there's a possibility of leaving the car and forgetting to turn off headlights and flattening battery (11 yr.old original)..on mine the headlights go to low but not to parkers when ignition is off.

Wire in a 'lights on reminder'. I put one on a previous car......very easy instrcutions to follow.

Or you could try this if you already have a factory buzzer in your NB

http://www.miata.net/garage/buzzer.html

J.

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:57 am

We already have a lights on reminder, just open the door :roll:

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:06 am

bootz wrote::roll: We already have a lights on reminder, just open the door

Yep...bloody horrible noise it is to!

johnnyreble · Postby **johnnyreble** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:16 pm

You could rewire Headlights so that they only come on when ignition is on..

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:52 pm

Lots of mine spec cars run a headlight trigger off the oil pressure. Once oil pressure comes up post start, the lights come on. Should be just a case of using an on/ off sender (which nb already has) to trigger the existing relay.

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bruce · Postby **bruce** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:13 pm

She wanted a simple way to do it!
There's a few threads on the US forum - I don't think it's an easy thing to do (it's a bit complicated).

Silvia · Postby **Silvia** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:53 pm

Thanks Bruce...it was straying a bit.
Guess I'm looking for a parking light globe that shows I'm there to 4 WD drivers who often turn into me, oblivious I'm even there...
Would this one do?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mazda-MX5-NA ... 5203wt_906

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:05 am

Silvia - I assure you that there is nothing legal or useful in removing the parking bulbs. Even if you could - and you cannot- replace the park bulbs you could not get a light source bright enough and with low power consumption to act as a day time running lamp. It would also not operate to drl specs

I do agree that day time running lamps are a great idea and I have fitted them.

An excellent choice are Philips Daylight 4s. I bought these at very reasonable cost ex UK- much cheaper than local.

I fitted them in the corners in the nose.

They operate with built in electronics as per drl requirements.

Another option is to find a legal quality drl to replace the fog lamps- I did not find one.

The Philips unit is a top looking product well engineered and very easy to wire up. Good instructions and vid on line.

Silvia · Postby **Silvia** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:25 am

I have already replaced park bulbs with LED's which are brighter but down in the "hole" socket of the fitting so not fully visible at the "straight ahead"
I've come across these longer ones that could possibly work?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mazda-MX5-NB ... 5734wt_906

I'm not too worried about them being legal or not...cops not as fussy in Qld.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:15 am

Do also bear in mind that if you put in bulbs that draw too much current or generate too much heat, you risk melting wires or the light housing.
I know LEDs are ok on teh heat front, but no idea on their draw.

I just turn my headlights on. You get the same result (personally I think it's a better result - more yellow light = less eye strain on other drivers) and it's free.

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:19 am

You are asking park lights to do something they are designed specifically not to do. The $20 for the lights could be spent to switch the normal headlights on. or follow Morlocks path.

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