2005 Cabrio S - I have searched through numerous threads but am still unable to figure out which wire under the dash to tap into for a switched power lead for PIAA driving lights. I need the wire that goes hot with high beams on and dead with them off. Any direction would be great and a picture would be even better. Thanks in advance.

 

OE kit install instructions

http://www.minimania.com/pdfile/NMA3030_INSTR.zip

page 10, steps 27,28,29

this isn't the only place you can tap it, but it is the factory place. It gives you the color to look for

 

Thanks Capt bj - I tried hooking the switch wire to the yellow / green wire (#15) in the body module as indicated but it would not power the switch nor the lights (I am using PIAA 540).

From a previous thread, I had tapped the switch wire into the purple / yellow wire just to the left of the steering column. That connections works fine as a hot lead but not as a switched lead with the high beams (honestly I have no idea what that wire connects to) - see photo.

Any other ideas (drivers side would be most convenient).

 

are you wiring with a relay? You should be & then this

is just power for the switch side of the relay . . .

by tying relay power to the trigger line the use of the DLs is restricted to times when the brights are on.

need a picture?


This is for horns but the idea is the same. Terminals 85 - 86 form the switch side of the relay. One end goes to the HB trigger (is hot when HB are on but minimal amps .... just enuf to trigger the relay) other end is ground. You'd interupt either of these with a switch for control . . . {the horn button})

If you want 'total control' of the DLs skip the high beam connection and just get a steady 12 volt input - any fuse will work (for the SWITCH SIDE of the relay) - us an 'add a circuit' ---- you can even use the full battery feed you need on the other side of the relay for the light's power. Just tie terminals 30 and 86 together and put your switch on the ground line, terminal 85 . . .

 

Yes there is a relay. All I need is to know which wire under the dash is a hot wire for the high beams. Currently the driving lights come on when I flip my switch regardless of if the lights are on low or high. I need to tap into a switched wire so that they only come on when the high beams are on. Thanks

 

It's not easily accessible under the dash. The wiring diagrams show that the headlights (both high and low beam) are driven directly from the BC1 module in the passenger footwell. On connector X332 of the BC1, the high beams are on pins 15 (yellow/green wire) and 19 (yellow/blue wire). X332 is a black 20-pin connector at the bottom right corner of the BC1. The BC1 is next to the hood release lever and there is no access panel. You'd have to remove the entire long trim piece that runs under the passenger door to the footwell. You might consider using a hi-beam line in the engine compartment.

 

Thanks for the reply and as you suggested I took the easy way out and ran a wire to my switch from the actual high beam wire coming from the headlight assembly. Works like a charm. Anyone wiring driving lights wanting them to be switched with the high beams should do it this way.

End of thread