Disable Your Daytime Running lights AND Auto Headlights OBS!!!

[99SKALAID]

#### PLEASE USE AT YOUR OWN RISK NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE ####

So i have been tired of the the Daytime Running Lights and the automatic Headlights in my 1999 escalade so i have been trying very hard to figure out what to do to disable them. No where on the internet have i been able to find out what to do. So i have been looking at wiring diagrams and schematics to see what really goes on.

You must disable the DRL's and the Automatic Headlights

Just disabling the DRL's will make the lights come on at dark still, and just disabling the Automatic headlights will make the DRL's always on.

First i started taking some stuff off.


Now you cant really get to much off it is all welded together.

Then i found the DRL module (circled in red)



so i popped the module out, and disconnected it



those 2 tabs on the bottom bend them with pliers and the module will slide out of the bracket, and then unclip the wire harness, it has just 2 wires that plug into it.


There is the DRL module disconnected from the vehicle. Now you have complete control over the vehicle as long as it is Daylight outside.

Next issue to tackle is the Automatic Headlamp System.

So figuring it uses a photocell to determine if it is daylight or night time out side i went on the mission to find it.... after searching avery little crack and everything i looked at the rear view mirror. I noticed a sensor in the front and rear of the mirror, but those control the Night time dimming function of the the inside and outside mirrors. I thought they ALSO controlled the Automatic Headlamps, but after reading the schematics, they dont, so there is still another sensor somewhere else..... hmm where.....

how about in the little black box on the windshield under the mirror???



Another look from outside the window

THATS IT!!!!!!!! FOUND IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Now the original idea was to measure the resistance and remove the photcell and replace it with a resistor that simulates the daytime resistance the photocell sees, but that didnt work out to well, and i wanted to figure it out so that anyone could do this. So i then looked at where the output of the sensor is and where the wiring goes.

On the back of the mirror are 2 plugs, one has about 8 wires in it, while the other has 2 wires on it.

Well the connector with 8 controls the actual dimming of the lights and the compass and the temperature...

So the connector with 2 wires is the culprit.

REMOVING THE 2 CONNECTOR PLUG COMPLETELY WILL DISABLE THE MIRRORS FROM TINTING!!!!!

So the orange wire is in charge of actuating the Tinting of the mirrors, while the yellow is in charge of the Automatic Headlights....

So disconnect the yellow wire from the harness, either by cutting it or by removing it from the mirror.


And now you have complete control over your headlamps Day or Night.

[thecodeman]

Hmm, and I thought it would be cool to have auto-on headlamps with my fogs, especially if I went HID.

I just pulled the fuse for the DRL

[bluechicken]

If you press down the E-brake just a lil, not enough to engage the brakes, then your OBS day lights will shut off. Dont know if this will help anybody.

[DirtyBlackHoe]

you can always just pull fuse 15 to get rid of the DRL's

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by DirtyBlackHoe

you can always just pull fuse 15 to get rid of the DRL's

I have a switch to disable the lights in the 'Hoe since it was an interceptor.

[1badgmc]

Originally Posted by bluechicken

If you press down the E-brake just a lil, not enough to engage the brakes, then your OBS day lights will shut off. Dont know if this will help anybody.

But then instead of having the green DRL indicator on the dash you have the red e-brake indicator, beside the fact that you'd have to make a conscious effort to do it. I pulled the fuse and then pulled the indicator bulb and all it's all good.

[Z56 Tahoe]

Pulling the fuse for the DRL does not work, at least in my 2000 (old body) denali. Great write-up dude! Im doing all that tomorrow... same thing.. i have a HID kit that i did not want to put in until i disabled all that stuff... good lookin out!

[99SKALAID]

Originally Posted by Z56 Tahoe

Pulling the fuse for the DRL does not work, at least in my 2000 (old body) denali. Great write-up dude! Im doing all that tomorrow... same thing.. i have a HID kit that i did not want to put in until i disabled all that stuff... good lookin out!

your welcome, glad i could help out

[Z56 Tahoe]

yep, all worked out well today... took about 5min to get all that stuff bypassed... and my 8000k HID's looked nice this evening!
thanks again..

[SmokingSS]

You are God. lol Ever since I got my 99 Denali in September, ive wanted to disable the drls and auto on lights. But all the previous methods seemed cheap, unsafe, or unreliable. But finally a method not messing with resistors or wiring modifications and no side effects. Needless to say, i just came back from my garage where I just did this method and it works perfectly. Now I can finally install my HIDs without concern. Perhaps you should see about getting this writeup in the Tech Articles section, i'm sure the admins would think its a great idea. Thanks again. -Paul

[99SKALAID]

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

You are God. lol Ever since I got my 99 Denali in September, ive wanted to disable the drls and auto on lights. But all the previous methods seemed cheap, unsafe, or unreliable. But finally a method not messing with resistors or wiring modifications and no side effects. Needless to say, i just came back from my garage where I just did this method and it works perfectly. Now I can finally install my HIDs without concern. Perhaps you should see about getting this writeup in the Tech Articles section, i'm sure the admins would think its a great idea. Thanks again. -Paul

Glad i could be of use to you guys,

[nova7163]

I know in my 01 silverado all you have to if press the dome override button multiple times till you hear a few beaps and the lights go out

[99SKALAID]

Originally Posted by nova7163

I know in my 01 silverado all you have to if press the dome override button multiple times till you hear a few beaps and the lights go out

this isnt an 01 we are talking about

[JoeliusZ28]

is there any way to put a switch on the DRL's? I would just prefer to wire a switch in front of the module or something as opposed to deleting it completely. If not though... i will be yanking the module in due time.

[99SKALAID]

TTT anyone else do this

[NacIK]

is there any way to put a switch on the DRL's? I would just prefer to wire a switch in front of the module or something as opposed to deleting it completely. If not though... i will be yanking the module in due time.

All you would have to is just add a few relays into you harness with the wires already identified and give it a master switch. Then expection time you can go compleatly to stock with the flick of a switch. That is what I did with mine.

[bigredvortec]

Thank you so much! I hated those lights!

[Harleyfxdl]

I have a 2001 2500HD will this work for me?

[NacIK]

I have a 2001 2500HD will this work for me?

It should be the same setup as above but I dont know if the locations are the same. The NBS might me different.

[85NCALB]

I hope this will work on a '96 Tahoe also. I have always hated those dahgum DRL's!!! Great Great usefull article! Way to take it in your own hands and solve the problem. Thanks