If I remember correctly, the Canadian models came standard with the auto on headlights. Heard this somewhere.

 

If you are looking for daytime running lights you can take the car to the dealer and have them turned on. 2005 models and up to my knowledge are all capable of having daytime running lights. The dealer can turn them on by entering a code into the smart junction box. The lights will only be 1/2 power until you turn the headlight switch on. The downside is you can not use hid lights with the daytime running lights. I just had them turned off by the dealer in my 05 so I could get hid lights.

 

The Canadian models come with standard daytime running lights, some of the newer models may have auto on lights but it would be an option on most. Even with the auto on headlights though they do not turn on during the day or during rain and bad weather, there is a sensor on the dash that determines when it is dark enough then turns the lights on.

There is no reason you cannot use HID's with your daytime running lights, it just means your lights are on at all times. I have been running HID's for about 3 years now and my daytime running lights are still on at all times and work normally.

 

All the research I did says due to the half the voltage the car gives to the lights for the daytime running lights the ballasts would be damaged. I guess you would know for sure since you are running them for 3 years. When I was doing research on this topic it seems there is a lot of mis information out there. Even if I was not going the route of hids, I also hated the look of the daytime running lights. Since I do not live in Canada where it is law, they had to go.

 

I hate the look of them as well and have tried to get a few places to change the drl's to my fogs as some of the newer mustang's seem to have up here but everyone tells me they won't mess with the wiring at all.

 

Yes I did

 

Its not just as easy as "turning them 'on'".
There is hardware needed in addition to changing the as-built-data
in the SJB. There is a ballast resistor mounted on the drivers side frame rail
that cuts the voltage in half to the headlights for the DRL function.
It is based on current to provide the proper voltage drop.
HID ballasts dont draw enough current for the DRL dropping resistor
to be any concern for the HIDs ballast.

Two birds, one stone...

 

What I was told the smart junction box is the same for American and Canadian models. In Canada it is law that cars have to have day time running lights. In the US it is not law so they are not turned on. When I took my 05 to the dealer all they had to do was obtain a code from Ford and enter that in to the smart junction box, and walaa no more daytime running lights. My car is not a Canadian model and others from what I have read, have gone to start their car, or the battery died, and suddenly they have daytime running lights. So what you are saying is some US cars have the resistor and some don't?

 

Mine does not have a resistor.
So "turning them on" in the SJB is not an option for me.
Thank God because I detest DRLs.
Stupid people think their headlights are on at night
when they are not. And this results in no marker or taillights.
I am sure you have seen these idiots around.
DRLs at night and no other exterior lighting.
Its an accident just waiting to happen.

The wiring diagrams for the US models dont show a resistor.
I have never seen this resistor on a US model.
Do they exist?
Who knows but Ford.

BTW, I have been into my SJB and the resistor does not reside there.
The heat generated by the dropping resistor could not be tolerated
by the SJB anyhow... Thats why they are placed in the airstream...

 

My 2004 Explorer has auto headlights......hmmmm. Didnt know GM built explorers...LOL