Disabling Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

[LTZ2014]

Took the truck in today for the rear slider bulletin so I told them about the DRLs. They spent some time troubleshooting that the headlight DRL's were inoperative, I saw the tech and when he told me that, I said this is a GMC not a Chevy! They verified this as they were surprised that GMC would use LED's for DRL's. The DRL LED's worked perfectly while at the dealer and they said that the green dash light should only be on when the headlights are on. Can anyone with a GMC verify this? I thought it had always been on but maybe I was wrong. Interesting thing is the tech told me that there were two errors recorded in the BSM, one for rear lights and one for license plate light. He asked what I had done, which was the LED bar and the LED bulbs in the license plate. It is not causing an issue but interesting that anything connected or changed on the truck is recorded. I will keep watching to see if they come on regularly.

 

I have a silverado and mine works like this. The DRL come on only when in gear and there is no green dash indicator. So if your in park and get out to look they won't be on. Also my DRL are headlamps only, no parking lights(the orange ones). Now when I hit my fog light button in the daytime I get the green headlight and the green fog light indicator. So I'm having to wire my aftermarket led strip to the parking lamps for them to work how I want. So if I want my led strip to work in the daytime I either need to hit my fog light button or turn my knob to parking lights. And obv they will be on at night.

[Dnt]

Took the truck in today for the rear slider bulletin so I told them about the DRLs. They spent some time troubleshooting that the headlight DRL's were inoperative, I saw the tech and when he told me that, I said this is a GMC not a Chevy! They verified this as they were surprised that GMC would use LED's for DRL's. The DRL LED's worked perfectly while at the dealer and they said that the green dash light should only be on when the headlights are on. Can anyone with a GMC verify this? I thought it had always been on but maybe I was wrong. Interesting thing is the tech told me that there were two errors recorded in the BSM, one for rear lights and one for license plate light. He asked what I had done, which was the LED bar and the LED bulbs in the license plate. It is not causing an issue but interesting that anything connected or changed on the truck is recorded. I will keep watching to see if they come on regularly.

2014 Sierra. The above is why I am not doing any electrical mods. It draws electrical gremlins. Like others stated green light on dash is only illuminated when headlights or fog lights are on the green light does not illuminate during normal daytime driving for DRL operation. On Sierras only the lower LED is lighted during the day. Both top and bottom LEDs are on with parking lights or headlights. If I remember to do it I typically turn on my parking lights early or late in the day because I like both LEDs on for DRL. I think that it looks cool or at least i did until I read through this article now I am thinking that I may look like a geezer who forgot to turn off my lights?................... BUMMER....................Sigh I guess I will stop doing that now.

 

[mcnwil]

Update. My LED DRL's have worked as designed all week, I am now checking them in glass when I pull into work, stores etc. It appears now that I am partly to blame as I mistakenly thought the green light should be on. This was probably due to me coming out of the garage in the am when the auto lights are on, and or going to and from work at twilight. I now suspect that the battery disconnect did resolve it but I was hung up on the dash light. The auto function, fog parking lights, etc. all work fine. I will now watch in glass windows for the DRL's but I do not expect an issue.

I now will move on to adding the HID kit. I think I will disconnect the battery from now on prior to any electrical work as a precaution. I do not think there is any harm with the electrical mods if done correctly, it is just that the processor apparently can sense load/resistance and a script or process can hang.

[brokesilverado]

To turn off drl turn the head light control knob to the left. It is spring loaded & will return to the release position. After doing this the DRL will stay off until you turn the ignition off. Then repeat every time you restart the truck. Its nice that people call you ignorant or stupid just because you don't do what they think you should do. People just like the government always telling you what you should do.

[J-Jeezy]

i posted this last night on our texas gm truck page. I'm going to try this out soon in the near future and see how well this works, what issues arise and yada yada. if this works properly it will be a completely plug and play DRL bypass for the silverados. it will allow us to filter out the PWM signal going into the low beams and still retain auto headlight function ability. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[RyanbabZ71]

Why is removing the drls such a big deal? Is it legal to bypass a safety feature?

 

 

Ryan

[TimmyG]

I think its for guys with hids

 

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[J-Jeezy]

me personally, I've never been able to stand them. also, when i do my retrofit this would drastically reduce the life of my bulbs.

[04GMshorty]

i wanna disable the auto lights to..haha

[block8head]

Can't wait to see it.. LOL

[Spurshot]

I'm thinking of disabling my backup camera. I hate the way it looks and resent GMC telling me when it should come on.

[Stex]

I'm thinking of disabling my backup camera. I hate the way it looks and resent GMC telling me when it should come on.

Agree, I think the DRLs and back up should be at driver demand. I recently drove a loaner '14 and found the back up camera to be of little use and some what disorientating. I would only use it to hook up a trailer or check on load/hitch while under way. With the '14s using the leds for DRLs, it is not so bad on bulb life.

[scoobyd3w]

Get In truck turn key, twist knob, drive away what is so hard or annoying with that? People have the energy to open there car door or change the radio station but not twist a small knob so DRL's stay off?

Edited April 15, 2014 by scoobyd3w

[Spurshot]

I may disable my brake lights too, or maybe paint them with some black tint til they can't be seen.

[MotoMedic]

Get In truck turn key, twist knob, drive away what is so hard or annoying with that? People have the energy to open there car door or change the radio station but not twist a small knob so DRL's stay off?

You're entitled to your opinion.. but don't forget a big part of this forum is customizing/modifying owner's trucks exactly how they want them.

 

If you have HIDs in anything but the Sierra SLT or Denali, permanently disabling DRL's is highly recommended. Using the knob to kill them often means a quick start up then switched off, which is bad for the HIDs.