Turn off headlights while driving in the day time?

dlang13 · May 8, 2016

Wondering if it's possible to just have your marker lights on in the day time and not your headlights. I see other trucks that just have their marker lights on. (Dodge, Toyotas, Fords). Any info is great!

Daryl LBZ · May 8, 2016

You can, but you'll have to turn the headlight switch manually to the marker lights.

dlang13 · May 8, 2016

I have done this and it seems that the headlights stay on still until I put it into park then they go off.....

99silveradoz71 · May 8, 2016

Turn and hold the switch all the way to the left when starting and you'll be dark if you want to go without.

dlang13 · May 8, 2016

That doesn't work either as soon as I shift out of park headlights come on...

JRL1164 · May 8, 2016

That doesn't work either as soon as I shift out of park headlights come on...

Are you in Canada?

dlang13 · May 8, 2016

Yup

dlang13 · May 8, 2016

Are you in Canada?

Yup

JRL1164 · May 8, 2016

Yup

I might be wrong but I think for Canadian trucks it's programmed that way in the ECM. I don't think it's possible. There's a topic called "Disabling DRL" and it was discovered your trucks are done different than the US.

MikeNH · May 8, 2016

Canadian trucks can't easily disable the DRL. Different brands use different lights for DRLs.

wulfgott · May 9, 2016

I believe MikeNH and JRL1164 are correct. If I recall correctly it has to do with Canadian Laws and the whole DRL thing back in the... late 90's? when it was being passed. Some (but not all) provinces require Daytime running lights be active (must be on if in motion) on vehicles past a certain year of manufacture. Only reason I remember this is back when I had my Avalanche and was involved with all that the question came up about how to disable it and they couldn't back then as it was embedded in the BCM or something. I am not from Canada, would be interesting to find out though just for accuracy and curiosity which provinces have that code/law if that indeed is the case.

dlang13 · May 10, 2016

I believe MikeNH and JRL1164 are correct. If I recall correctly it has to do with Canadian Laws and the whole DRL thing back in the... late 90's? when it was being passed. Some (but not all) provinces require Daytime running lights be active (must be on if in motion) on vehicles past a certain year of manufacture. Only reason I remember this is back when I had my Avalanche and was involved with all that the question came up about how to disable it and they couldn't back then as it was embedded in the BCM or something. I am not from Canada, would be interesting to find out though just for accuracy and curiosity which provinces have that code/law if that indeed is the case.

Ya i figured it had to do with Canadian Laws. You are correct most if not all provinces require daytime running lights but i just thought there may be a way to make the "marker" lights the DRL. I see lots of new trucks like this around and surely they are not all from the USA. But like one of the other guys said different manufacturers are using different DRL.

wulfgott · May 12, 2016

Ya i figured it had to do with Canadian Laws. You are correct most if not all provinces require daytime running lights but i just thought there may be a way to make the "marker" lights the DRL. I see lots of new trucks like this around and surely they are not all from the USA. But like one of the other guys said different manufacturers are using different DRL.

I am sure you can, if you flip which cables go to which lights and get the proper adapters/connectors if necessary. After that observe proper voltages and polarities, etc. Hopefully, someone whom has played with the lighting wiring on the front end will chime in. I haven't had time to add my hidden grill light bar yet due to work and other stuff going on.

Donstar · May 12, 2016

Daytime running lights make you more visible on the road. Marker lights make you visible and headlights even more. Re-configuring your DRL's may be possible but maybe not an improvement. Last night I was driving my motorcycle on the highway with the sun in my eyes and it is surprising how much more visible the oncoming cars are with their headlights glowing. As a driver I know I can't depend upon people having their headlights turned on, but I want to be as visible as I can to those who may have trouble seeing me. If you can't find a solution to your wiring question, it may not be a bad thing!