Thank you! I had a second diode and it has the grey mark. I like this method the best and will try it in the next few days.

 

A great big THANKS is in order for Utkinpol for this thread. I used the Radio Shack diode in the Utkinpol II hack and it works great. I simply put the lights on "home" and have true DRL functionality. I also used PSPorsche's recent walk through and photos to use his no wire removal technique. It worked wonderfully. And thanks to his warning about the fragile paint surrounding the light switch, I took precautions and did not leave a single mark. Thanks for the warning PSPorsche.

You guys are AWESOME! This was a very easy project thanks to your help. The last part of my lighting upgrade arrives later in the week. The rear Dectane LED's and the Maxspeed interior and exterior package. I will be in LED heaven once these are installed. Thanks again guys!

 

I agree, this is a great mod Utkinpol devised! There's something very cool about those bumper fog lights turning on as soon as you start the car. A very modern touch, and elegantly simple solution.

I'm really glad you were able to avoid scuffing off the paint on your trim piece. I got the exact color match paint from Home Depot, and touched mine up, but being a perfectionist, I wish I had protected that part from the beginning.

 

PSPorsche,

How do you get the proper paint code for your interior trim paint? I have a local home depot and have a couple of spots around my ignition and ashtray that could use a small paint touch up. In my particular case, I have a sea blue interior. After you apply your paint, let me know how well it matched. Thanks again for your help...

 

Doug,

Take a small interior trim part to Home Depot to have them color match it.

I started a new thread, so we can build a knowledge base...
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...-up-paint.html

Please post your color code there once you get it!

 

Solution to install wire tap worked, but as another person noted, my battery also went dead. Car sat for 4 days, when to start it today, and dead. Easy to figure out how to put trickle charger onto fuse panel emergency release for the trunk to pop the lid, now waiting for battery to charge. Will use fall back plan and remove the wire tap, and have Porsche dealer change programming. Anyone have any other solutions? Options?

 

Big thanks as well. i just installed this and it took me all of 2 mins to do!! Way cool.

 

I just noticed a nice little side-effect of the hack... The Fog Light LED indicator on the light switch is actually turned ON, when the switch is in the Home position. It lets you know that your fog lights are ON and makes the hack seem more OEM.

When you turn the dial to the Parking Light or Low Bean positions, the LED naturally turns off, because the fog lights are OFF (unless you pull the switch out).

I didn't notice this before because the light from the LED indicator is not visible during the daytime.

 

I did the hack without the diode and my car sat for 4 days with the switch in the home position and fired right up today. I really think that the age and the condition of the battery has a lot to do with the issues that others are having.

 

I was wondering if that would be the case- really cool that the indicator lights up! So with this hack - you can still activate the DRL's (original Fog's) by pulling out the switch as usual when the parking & low beams are on? If so -that's really cool.

I'm waiting for my DRL's to arrive any day now ~ Do you guys think this hack will work (be safe) with the stock fogs lights given the diode is rated @ 1A (but has a max surge of 30A) in the meantime? Any try the hack with stock?
Thanks.

 

Something worth considering...
I installed the front DRL's. And I initially did the $2 hack but I removed it because of the battery drain situation and did not do the diode hack.
Now that I've driven the car for nearly 2 months, I really like the option of turning the front DRL's on using the light switch when I want. There are times when I'm driving and the DRL's are not necessary

 

I did the diode hack and have left my car sitting for over a week with the light switch in the home position. I haven't experienced any battery drain issue. My car has the original factory fog lights.

Rather than taking control away from you, this hack actually gives you an added option to control your fogs. Here is a list of options on controlling your lights...

1. No lights (switch in OFF position).
2. Fog lights only (switch in HOME position) <-- Utkinpok II Hack
3. Parking lights only (switch in PARKING LIGHTS position)
4. Parking lights with Fog Lights (switch in PARKING LIGHTS position & pulled out)
5. Headlights lights only (switch in HEADLIGHTS position)
6. Headlights with Fog Lights (switch in HEADLIGHTS position & pulled out)

All options, except # 2, still function exactly as they do on the stock car.

So you don't lose the ability to turn the fog lights on/off manually. Option 2 is just an added feature. IMHO, it feels like it would have come from the factory that way, especially since the appropriate indicator light correctly shows you the status of your fog lights, based on your switch position.

It takes only a few minutes and a couple of dollars to do this hack, and it is completely reversible. So it's worth trying to see if you like it. I would do this hack 1st, before installing after-market lights. This way, you will get an idea of how the after-market lights should behave, just in case there is any issue with the new lights.

 

Great clarification... I'll definitely consider it if I change my mind

 

Thanks for the clarity PSP..., I just bought the diode on my lunch break and can't wait to try it soon., I'm pretty savvy with electorincs / car audio, etc., and this looks pretty easy. Until I get my volt meter and test some things - does the diode eliminate ANY chance of battery drain? I'm a little confused why some had issues with the V1 hack? I get that the diode flows current 1 direction, but don't fully understand. I'm guessing that the Home position uses ignition switched power to control the lights - therefore no change of battery drain? My concern is it does still keep the lights on after you shut the car off for like 20 seconds., but as you said - it's cheap and easy - I will def try it out...might also test the battery overnight (under the same conditions /same time period) with and without the hack and see if my volt meter detects any drain... Pretty pumped to try this out and get my DRL's!

 

STANDARD FUNCTIONALITY

On the 997.2 and the 997.1, the HOME position activates the "Welcome Home" function.
The Welcome Home function turns the lights ON for 30 seconds when you unlock the car or when you shut down the car. The Welcome Home lights normally turn OFF when you start the car.

On the 997.1, the Fog Lights are used for the Welcome Home function.
On the 997.2, the Daytime Driving Lights are used for the Welcome Home function.


DRL HACK FUNCTIONALITY

For 997.1 cars, this hack keeps the Fog Lights ON, even when the engine is started.
For 997.2 cars, this hack keeps the Daytime Driving Lights ON, even when the engine is started. (Would someone with a 997.2 please confirm this? I'm not sure if DRL on the 997.2 is low powered headlights, or the light strips just above the air intakes.)


BATTERY DRAIN?

I think Utkinpol did some extensive testing with a volt meter, if you read back in this thread. It would be great if you could give some additional insight since you have the expertise.

Utkinpol suggested to use a diode to protect from a battery drain after the "Welcome Home" 30 seconds have expired when the car is turned off. Could it be that 997.2 and 997.1 cars react differently to the hack? Or could the battery drain be occurring during the 30 seconds that the "Welcome Home" function is active?...

As I mentioned earlier, I have not experienced a dained battery on my 997.1, even after leaving it in the HOME position for over a week.

However, I noticed that the Fog Light module on my 997.1 actually contains two bulbs. One is a small bulb, and the other is larger. I wonder if the larger bulb is the actual Fog Light. The smaller bulb may be what is used by the "Welcome Home" function (Porsche probably calls the whole assembly a "Fog Light"). With the DRL hack, both of the bulbs turn ON when I unlock my car. I suspect that the larger (actual Fog Light) bulb uses more wattage than the smaller bulb. So, could it be that the battery drain is not happening while the car is sitting, but within the 30 seconds that the lights remain on without the battery being charged by the alternator? Perhaps if your battery is a little older, it can't take the higher wattage drain for 30 seconds???