Honda Electrical Load Detection (ELD) Bypass
#12
06-03-2011, 05:23 PM
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Quad Cities, IL
Posts: 3,279
yes, your 1997 Accord has an ELD. the ELD will shut off your alt, causing your voltage to drop to battery, 12-12.5V. you can witness this by turning off fans, lights, A/C, etc. and watch the voltage while driving (city or hwy doesn't matter). when the voltage drops suddenly, turn on your A/C and the voltage will jump back up. that is the ELD at work.
documents i have with the ELD date back to 1991 in almost all Honda's.
it looks like this in some cars:
documents i have with the ELD date back to 1991 in almost all Honda's.
it looks like this in some cars:
Last edited by keep_hope_alive; 06-03-2011 at 05:26 PM.
#13
09-07-2011, 11:52 PM
Great info! By any chance do you happen know if this is all still applicable to a 2003 Accord (7th generation, vs your '01 being 6th gen), i.e. still want a 820 ohm resistor?
Ahh..
I've used a DMM maybe once or twice in my life, time to hunt down extra long cables for it I suppose 
Ahh..
820 ohm worked for me, should be universal, but measure voltage just to ensure you get sufficient drop. A volt meter in the car is a good idea.
Last edited by Sadus; 09-08-2011 at 12:01 AM.
#14
09-08-2011, 07:09 AM
The ELD is a fuel saving measure. It is another input for the ECM for alternator field control. I agree having it on all of the time should be fine. I just like the option of increasing mpg when possible.
In a new carn this mod is llikely to void your warranty.
820 ohms is a standard value that gave me the necessary voltage drop.
In a new carn this mod is llikely to void your warranty.
820 ohms is a standard value that gave me the necessary voltage drop.
Can I just disable the ELD? I googled the following: "Disconnecting the control wire from the alternator will disable the ELD control of the charging system, thus allowing the alternator to charge normally. The most important thing to remember when testing the charging system is to be sure to add an electrical load (such as headlights)."
I think the fuel saving design is fairly bogus since my mpg hasn't broken 30 mpg on the highway. It's also dangerous because it appears as if you are flashing other drivers.
Last edited by tradosaurus; 09-08-2011 at 07:13 AM.
#15
09-08-2011, 09:12 AM
I've seen this "feature" on several cars in the family over the years.
95 Integra
98 Accord
03 Accord
07 Civic
The dimming of the headlights is pretty minor. You can see it easily, but it sure doesn't look like flashing. The brightening/dimming that you see from going over a bump in the road is much more pronounced. If yours dims so severely that it actually looks like flashing, then maybe something else is going on.
95 Integra
98 Accord
03 Accord
07 Civic
The dimming of the headlights is pretty minor. You can see it easily, but it sure doesn't look like flashing. The brightening/dimming that you see from going over a bump in the road is much more pronounced. If yours dims so severely that it actually looks like flashing, then maybe something else is going on.
#16
09-08-2011, 12:01 PM
I've seen this "feature" on several cars in the family over the years.
95 Integra
98 Accord
03 Accord
07 Civic
The dimming of the headlights is pretty minor. You can see it easily, but it sure doesn't look like flashing. The brightening/dimming that you see from going over a bump in the road is much more pronounced. If yours dims so severely that it actually looks like flashing, then maybe something else is going on.
95 Integra
98 Accord
03 Accord
07 Civic
The dimming of the headlights is pretty minor. You can see it easily, but it sure doesn't look like flashing. The brightening/dimming that you see from going over a bump in the road is much more pronounced. If yours dims so severely that it actually looks like flashing, then maybe something else is going on.
I'm just trying to eliminate the design flaw if possible if the Texas DMV doesn't accept my complaint form.
But you didn't answer the question whether "unplugging" the ELD will cause any other issues.
#17
09-08-2011, 12:29 PM
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Quad Cities, IL
Posts: 3,279
unplugging the ELD can confuse the PCM/ECM which can cause it to throw error codes. The exact effect on every make/model is unknown.
#18
09-10-2011, 01:11 AM
Parts List:
(1) 20A 12VDC relay, with 12VDC coil and N.O and N.C. contacts (5-pin) – I recommend getting a 5-wire socket with it.
(1) 820 Ohm Resistor (Gray/Red/Brown)
(1) 12VDC SPST Toggle Switch (unlit – a lit toggle would need separate terminals for the lamp)
Approximately 10 feet of 18awg wiring – each 10 ft. in three colors for a total of 30 ft. I found that 10 feet of 18-4 CL2 speaker wire works great.
(1) 20A 12VDC relay, with 12VDC coil and N.O and N.C. contacts (5-pin) – I recommend getting a 5-wire socket with it.
(1) 820 Ohm Resistor (Gray/Red/Brown)
(1) 12VDC SPST Toggle Switch (unlit – a lit toggle would need separate terminals for the lamp)
Approximately 10 feet of 18awg wiring – each 10 ft. in three colors for a total of 30 ft. I found that 10 feet of 18-4 CL2 speaker wire works great.
(Mixing up threads here but I'm just hoping quality AWG 1/0 wire from a generic electronics store might be cheaper than the amplifier specific wire/kits out there, I was depressed to find that Monoprice does not carry it haha. So far the best I've found is StreetWires UFX020 for about ~$80 20' of supposedly decent wire. Need to do some measuring to see if 20'd that will be enough for the big 3 + a run to the trunk.)
Last edited by Sadus; 09-10-2011 at 01:14 AM.
#20
10-12-2011, 03:26 PM
First off, thanks for making this thread and helping everyone out with this issue regarding the ELD circuit. Definitely helped a ton!
I am currently trying to install a toggle switch for the ELD in my '99 Honda Civic LX. it is almost exactly like the picture posted above. Once you unscrew the screws holding those fuses in, the ELD pops right out. Problem is, the wires/plug going to the ELD from underneath have very little (if any) give to them so it seems like it would be impossible to access them there. I DID however find the green/red wire right where it goes into the PCM. I'm assuming its ok to tap into it right there correct? also I cannot find the ELD ground wire and am curious what I need to do so I can ground it and bypass the ELD...
--also in the wiring diagram i found online it mentions that ground going to something called G203 by the PCM? any Ideas? if i can figure out/find out what/where that is i should be fine but thats whats stumping me right now
also does this look good as far as wiring the switch?
Thanks in advance!!
-Andrew
I am currently trying to install a toggle switch for the ELD in my '99 Honda Civic LX. it is almost exactly like the picture posted above. Once you unscrew the screws holding those fuses in, the ELD pops right out. Problem is, the wires/plug going to the ELD from underneath have very little (if any) give to them so it seems like it would be impossible to access them there. I DID however find the green/red wire right where it goes into the PCM. I'm assuming its ok to tap into it right there correct? also I cannot find the ELD ground wire and am curious what I need to do so I can ground it and bypass the ELD...
--also in the wiring diagram i found online it mentions that ground going to something called G203 by the PCM? any Ideas? if i can figure out/find out what/where that is i should be fine but thats whats stumping me right now
also does this look good as far as wiring the switch?
Thanks in advance!!
-Andrew