99 Grand Am SE Lights

I was just wondering if anyone knew a way to disengage the automatic lights on a 99 Grand am SE. They are always on and there isnt a way to get them to turn off that I know of. Thanks

welcome ktmrider37. there is no switch to turn them off. Nor can you, at this time, buy any such device to dis able them. At one time you could buy something but they dis-continued them for some reason. There is a place, I should not mention here, where you can go and learn how to disable them. But this requires the cutting and splicing of the wires in the dash. I myself hav succeeded doing it but only after many many many weeks of deep thought, and consintration. I do not hav nor do remember exactly how I done it. I would only recomend this if ur really good at wiring and electronics. you can really make a mess of things if you cut the wrong wires. I will PM u the link if so requested.

Hi everyone.... Oh man, I hear you.. I had the same problem with my 2000GT1. That damn ALC sendor would turn on my headlights while I was driving through a dense shady area; it would think that nighttime was coming and turn them on full brightness automatically. I finally had enough of that so I followed a tutorial to disable that, and also the drl's too. The tutorial I followed was specific for '99 and '00 Grand Am's...make certain that you follow the proper one for your year car if you decide to tackle it.
Yes, it does involve cutting two wires in the wiring harness to the bcm module. Not a job to do if you are not the kind to take your time and do it properly. Much can be fouled up if you're not sure what you're doing.

I was so happy to finally have complete control of my fogs, running lights, and headlights. Particularly as I just installed Slyvania SilverStar bulbs; and I don't need them burning out prematurely due to the constant drl and ALC turning them on/off. The bulbs are simply too expensive, and I don't want to see them burn out by constant on/off cycling during the cold winters here in New England. (worst enemy of the bulbs' filament and lifespan).

I wish I could remember exactly where I found that tutorial, but at this typing I can't remember.....but I did find it while doing a google search for Grand Am info. I do remember that it was on another Grand Am forum somewhere....

Take care; good luck.

Thanks for the insight...I dont know if it is really worth the hassle....after it was done...you just use the normal knob that you would use to turn on your lights during the time with?

yes ktmrider37, the head lights work as normal ones due. ON-Off or the parking lights. it's nice :-)

Sorry for this late reply; I just logged on now....
Yes, my headlights work as normal. I can now use my parking (or running lights) only; my headlights; or my fogs.
I didn't write in my info above, but I took my project one step further. I installed a on/off switch inside my glove box; so I can put my drl's on if I want. If I drive on a long trip on the turnpike, I put them on.
I like to have my parking lights and fogs on if it is raining or foggy, and I like the looks of it now without those damn drl's on all the time.

My total time was over four hours.... but, I took my time and soldered the connections; I also built that on/off switch, and ran the wires through my glove box. Most people do not bother with that, but I wanted that on/off switch.
I also found that I had better access to the bcm module when the glove box was removed. I first tried to lay on the floor and "look up"; impossible for me as I have a spine problem here. But it was much easier to access the bcm without the glove box there.
And of course, at the same time I also got rid of that ridiculous ALC sensor too; that was much easier to do than the drl mod.

Hey thanks, do you have a step by step guide to how you did yours with the on and off switch?

I don't have one; sorry.... but what I did was to make a scematic diagram on paper and thought it through very carefully.
In actuality, the process was to snip two wires, and run a ground to one of them.
So with a three-pole switch, i ran the ground to post #3; the snipped wire to post #2; and the other snipped wire to post #1.
What this accomplishes is this..... With the slide-switch in the "on" position, posts 1 and 2 are joined.. thus leaving on the drl's as normal.
When i flip the switch to "off", posts 2 and 3 are connected, and that adds the ground to disable the drl's.

I know I must have you totally confused.... I wish I could word it better, but I am not too good with explanations... I'm good at planning projects in my mind, but I have trouble verbally trying to word it...
I hope you know what I'm trying to say......

I did take a photo of both the front of the switch I used, also the back of it showing the three posts; and I also took a pic of how I mounted the switch out of view inside my glovebox.
Trouble is... I am brand new here on this forum, and I don't know how to "copy & paste" photos onto this forum.

If you were able to find that tutorial on the other Grand Am foirum, follow it exactly as I did and take your time.... don't rush it as those wires at the bcm module harness are very small (thin wires).

Wish I could have helped more, but I am lousy at creating projects onto paper. I can type neat, but I have difficulty with verbally giving instructions.
I hope I helped a tiny bit though.... good luck with the project.

Tommy

Alright, hey that helps a lot, ill give you my email [email protected]. and if you want you could send me the pics. i think that they will me out a lot. Did you cut the wires they said on the tutuorial posted above?

Icut the wires that were in that tutorial on the other Grand Am forum. But I made sure that I followed the tutorial specific for my 2000 GT1, as the '99 and '00 wiring is all the same. but for '01 and up, it is different.
So luckily the tutorial was for 1999 and 2000 Grand Ams.

I have to hit the sheets here now as I have to wake up early tomorrow morning, but I will send you a pic tomorrow sometime of the switch I used. i got it at Radio Shack, and it is a very common slide switch. I have a good pic of it, and it shows how I soldered the wires to it.
I'll send it to your e-mail tomorrow... not sure what time though because I am going to a car alarm installation place tomorrow morning; not sure when I'll be getting out of there....plus it is a long drive for me too. But I will send you a few pics tomorrow, o.k.?
Probably in mid - afternoon... Take care..

Tommy

Good morning... I looked all through my folders and pics here, and I think I deleted the folder that had pics of the switch, dammit..... If I remember correctly, I think I free'ed up room on my harddrive and cleaned out many folders and old pics about three weeks ago.
I wanted to save that pic too for future reference...
If you decide to try the switch, it is a very common slide switch that I got at Radio shack many years ago. It was sitting here in my parts bin; sorry it didn't have the wrapper so I can't list the part number.

The back of the switch has six terminals; three on the left side and three on the right side... but only the three on the left side are used.... the three terminals on the right side are not used.
The front of the switch is a two-position "on/off" switch. In the "on" position, terminals 1 and 2 are only ones activated.... terminal three is not active while in the "on" position. I connected the cut wires from the bcm and ran one to terminal 1, the other to terminal 2. What this accomplishes is a normal connection so the drl's are on as normal.

Now, with the switch in the "off" position, only terminlas 2 and 3 are active... terminal one is not. I ran a new ground to terminal 3. What this accomplishes is a ground between terminals 2 and three, and this shuts off the drl's.
So this switch lets me turn them on or off at my discretion whenever I want them. If I travel on the turnpike or main highways, I sometimes turn them on for safety; but around town here I shut them off as I find them annoying.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, if you are not handy with electronics, I would get someone to assist you with this switch.... I am not the best at making a tutorial, so I don't think I was really much help here. But if you follow that tutorial on the other Grand Am forum, you can read it and understand it better than what I can try to explain here.
Maybe you might choose to just not use a switch altogether, and just shut them off forever... that might be much easier for you...

I should mention that the mod does not cause any "service engine soon" light on the dash.... believe me, I read many posts before I attempted this to make certain that the mod worked safely. But use your discretion and decide if you want to try it too.

Good luck; hope I helped a little bit at least... I'll be away from my pc for a while on business, but will check the thread to see if you had success or decided not to try it.

I hope I didn't go against forum rules here by mentioning this mod... I am new here and I hoping I didn't post this in error. Good luck; and take your time with it and do it correctly.....no rushing this mod.. the bcm is nothing to screw around with if you are unsure what you are doing..

Alright, Thank you for all the insight, i will do some more checking to make sure before i attempt...might be a winter project.