Disabling Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

07Softail · September 15, 2015

I drive with all lights on all the time so others can see me sooner!

I don't!

RT

Matt DiMarco · September 15, 2015

Thought I would share what I did. I know it isnt what others are trying to achieve, however some people may be interested. I have a GMC with the LED daytime running lights. I wanted to be able to run just the LED strip with my fog lights. However on Canadian trucks it would turn on the automatic headlights. So to get rid of the automatic headlights, I removed the upper dash piece where you see the sensor. I unglugged the harness from the sensor bulb and added a resistor. This in turn disabled my automatic headlights allowing me to run the LED strip and fog lights whenever I want-Even at night if i disire.

I have no desire to disable the daytime running lights since I have the LED strip. Just wanted to get rid of the automatic headlights.

so you didnt want the auto night lights. so you must turn your low beam on maunaly when it gets dark? Edited September 15, 2015 by mattblackout

XMR15 · September 15, 2015

so you didnt want the auto night lights. so you must turn your low beam on maunaly when it gets dark?

That is correct. That way I can control what I want on anytime day or night.

Matt DiMarco · September 15, 2015

That is correct. That way I can control what I want on anytime day or night.

But you still can not control your LED strip (DRL) correct? They are always on?

XMR15 · September 15, 2015

But you still can not control your LED strip (DRL) correct? They are always on?

Yes that is correct.

xtremespeed2102 · September 16, 2015

Has anyone used a low pass filter to eliminate the pwm signal for DRL? I've been thinking about this for a while but haven't executed it yet. Should be faulty fairly simple with the right capacitor and resistor.

Edited September 17, 2015 by xtremespeed2102

silverado2015 · September 16, 2015

cant the drl be disabled using mdi passthrough with tis2 or gds2 from the dealer?

RobZ71LM7 · September 18, 2015

When you say "in P" i assume you mean the light switch is on parking light (one click to the right). In this setting, while driving, both conditions are being met (power from parking lamps and power from oem low beam wire) so how would you drive with only parking lamp?

Lets step back and talk about the stock oem functionality. Because i think we have different situations. In USA silverados, when you shift into drive the low beams come on right. so here is my questions, can you be driving along (in daylight) and turn your low beams off with your light switch? and can you choose to run parking lights only while driving? because In Canada we dont have that option. We can not turn our low beams off unless we are in park. The light switch will not turn off low beams while in gear. so there is no way for us to run prkining lights only unless we do the pin swap.

On my truck in "P" my low beams are never on.

Matt DiMarco · September 18, 2015

On my truck in "P" my low beams are never on.

cool, so you can leave your switch on "P" and the low beams will not come on when you shift into drive?

RobZ71LM7 · September 18, 2015

cool, so you can leave your switch on "P" and the low beams will not come on when you shift into drive?

Correct. I do it in drive-thru's all the time and pulling into my driveway or when near neighbor's houses at night.

xtremespeed2102 · September 20, 2015

Came across this on the 2500 forum. Anyone know how this works?

http://www.gen5diy.com/Silverado-DRL-Harness/

RobZ71LM7 · September 21, 2015

Just completed the mod. I added a

Came across this on the 2500 forum. Anyone know how this works?

http://www.gen5diy.com/Silverado-DRL-Harness/

Probably the exact same way the relay mod here works only they are charging you 10 times as much. Their kit simply plugs in between the factory headlight plug.

RobZ71LM7 · September 21, 2015

I just completed the relay mod yesterday. It cost me all of $20 for a waterproof relay. I tapped into the parking light power and used it to signal the relay. The relay simply completes or opens the circuit between my factory low beam signal and the HID kit relays. Everything now works like stock Auto, Off, Parking, Parking & Headlights, the only difference is that the DRL's never come on.

The best part is without DRL's I've now been able to get rid of my capacitor thus simplifying the setup. And now I'm not cycling my expensive HID's everytime I start the truck and go from drive to park.

RKeeper1 · September 21, 2015

I just completed the relay mod yesterday. It cost me all of $20 for a waterproof relay. I tapped into the parking light power and used it to signal the relay. The relay simply completes or opens the circuit between my factory low beam signal and the HID kit relays. Everything now works like stock Auto, Off, Parking, Parking & Headlights, the only difference is that the DRL's never come on.

The best part is without DRL's I've now been able to get rid of my capacitor thus simplifying the setup. And now I'm not cycling my expensive HID's everytime I start the truck and go from drive to park.

What wire was it for the parking lights?

RobZ71LM7 · September 21, 2015

What wire was it for the parking lights?

It's a purplish pink wire with a stripe if I recall correctly. It's also very thin since it only carries current for the parking lamps-I think it was 20 awg. It's probably easier to identify it as the wire that connects to the fat yellow wire on the other side of the plug (the headlight plug). Anyways I cut the wire, joined it with an 18 awg wire to signal my relay using a butt splice and heat shrink.

I should add you only need 1 relay if you have an HID kit as most HID kits are single input for signal. Because I'm switching the signal wire going to the HID relays I'm not really load carrying so I'm not affecting voltage drop by using one relay/circuit.