Before we get started please read the
following background and notes.
Do this at your own risk. I'm not a lawyer or auto technician
or anything like that.
Please don't send me an e-mail that I shouldn't be doing this. There is
no law requiring DRLs and I don't want them. The government tells us to
do enough things that are not based on science - we don't need GM telling
us also. Look at this web site for more information and discussion - www.lightsout.org.
This mod turns off the DRLs and has no known side effects. You parking
brake light operates normally. Your turn signals work. The regular parking
lights work.
How to remove the DRL "feature."
OK, the DRLs are controlled by a module made by Trico, a supplier of GM.
This module contains 4 relays that control not only the DRLs but the also
the turn signals, parking lights, and four way flashers.
To access the module (sorry - no pics) you need to remove the lower plastic
kick panel that is located above where the drivers feet normally are. You
will need to open the drivers door, kneel in to the car and put you head
in the footwell area. The panel is black and is held on by four phillips
screws. Remove the four screws and the panel drops down. You can unlclip
the wire that goes to the courtesy light in this panel so that you can move
the panel out of the way.
Now that the panel is out of the way you can access the DRL module. Look
up from the footwell area (yep, gotta get your head in there). Look straight
up, just to drivers left of where the clutch pedal is. The module is about
the size of a cigarrette pack but a little shorter. It is black.
The best part is that the module is not bolted down! Instead it is clipped
to the aluminum subframe that holds the instrument panel. Snake your hand
up there and simply pull it off to unclip it. Now bring the module down
into view. The wires are long enough so it will hang down into the footwell.
Now you need to look at this JPG file which
is a wiring diagram of the module. To disable the DRLs you need to cut
the wire that goes into terminal H. This wire is the input line for DRL
and is a Ground=ON circuit. The PDF clearly show that terminal H is the
middle wire in the top row of wires. Tape off both ends of the wire. If
you want the ability to turn DRLs on and off then you could wire in a
switch.
Now snake the module back up there, clip it on, and reinstall the kick
panel.
