Daytime Running Lights

I'll be the first to admit this: my question isn't at importatnt or life-altering as say, alternator fires...but I nevertheless have a question on something that's been giving me problems: Daytime running lights.

I have a 1997 GA 2.4L 4 banger and my DRLs are never on unless it's cloudy outside. If it's sunnier than all hell during the day, my regular headlamps are on, and I don't really want that. If it's raining my normal headlamps come on. I have being behind someone and having my DRLs engage, then a second later, back to normal headlights. (Seattle is always cloudy from September through June).......I just wanna be able to turn the headlights on and off normally...no extras...there was no fuse for DRL that I was able to find in the dash either...the sensors for DRL are NOT blocked, either.

Is there anything i can do...besides learning to live with it...?


Also: sometimes my interior instrument panel lights where the dimmer switch is don't light up...they were off for the longest time, but they just came on for like 10 seconds this morning.....???


Thanks Y'all!

Michael in Seattle WA

Go Seahawks!!!!!

I had a simular problem with the DRL on my 97 s10, had the headlights on at night and the headlights would shut off & DRL's come on, lots of clicking from the DRL relays in the glove box. Ended up being a corroded wire shorting out on the headlight switch. I'd check the grounds under the dash on both sides (10 mm bolt usually), and check any connections near the headlight switch and the dimmer switch. Sounds like a ground isssue of some sort.

As for disconnecting the DRL's im sure you can do a search on the web for "DRL elimination grand am" and find where someone else gives the process, i've seen a link given on this site before, but don't recall where it was, and im not positive that will fix your problem.

Yup, I had the same damn thing on my 2000 GT1. It's bad enough that my DRL's would turn on all the time, but my ALC sensor would falsely sense darkness coming just from me driving into a shady area, and turn on my headlights on full brightness. (low beams, I mean...) That was driving me nuts.. Also, the constant on/off cycling of headlights makes them burn out very quickly; particularly in a cold climate. It puts a strain on the filament; on/off; on/off....... I installed Sylvania SilverStars and I certainly didn't need the filament to get burnt out prematurely; not with the price of SilverStars.
I finally got sick and tired of that, so I searched around and I luckily found a nice tutorial on how to delete the DRL's and the ALC sensor. Now I have full control of my headlights; running lights; and fogs too. I control them now, not a sensor. The tutorual was specific for 1999 and 2000 though... different wiring scenario on those years. I don't know about your 1997 though.....
If I can remember where the heck I found that tutorial, I'll post it for you here..... It was on a forum somewhere; I can't recall right now where I found it ...... But if you search for "Grand Am disable DRL's", I'm sure you'll find it.

Tommy

My 99 is also disabled. Was going through too many $ilver $tar$. You can make the Auto Lights On work better, by taking the defrost grill out and find the AL sensor.
Theirs a small cap covering the sensor with a hole in the top to let light in. Make the hole bigger , it should tell it that its more day light than in say a shady area. I had done this to my Al sensor before I did the DRL disable.
But Amerikaner83 the disable wont work for your 97. But you might be able to pull the relay for the DRL's. I would get the shorted ground fixed before you pull the relay though. Good Hunting!

My 99 is also disabled. Was going through too many $ilver $tar$. You can make the Auto Lights On work better, by taking the defrost grill out and find the AL sensor.
Theirs a small cap covering the sensor with a hole in the top to let light in. Make the hole bigger , it should tell it that its more day light than in say a shady area. I had done this to my Al sensor before I did the DRL disable.
But Amerikaner83 the disable wont work for your 97. But you might be able to pull the relay for the DRL's. I would get the shorted ground fixed before you pull the relay though. Good Hunting!


If i pull the realy, won't that just make the auto lights ON do their thing, and instead of DRLs I's always have low-beams? I wanna be able to turn the damn things all the way off during the day

If i pull the realy, won't that just make the auto lights ON do their thing, and instead of DRLs I's always have low-beams? I wanna be able to turn the damn things all the way off during the day

Hi guys, I hope this isn't too elementary about the DRLs but if you pull up the emergency brake to the first click, it disables the DRLS. Then you can use the switch to manually turn on/off the normal lights.

I didn't see it mentioned in the posts and didn't want to assume everyone already knew this.

If i pull the realy, won't that just make the auto lights ON do their thing, and instead of DRLs I's always have low-beams? I wanna be able to turn the damn things all the way off during the day

No the relay would kill the DRl's, the AO sensor/relay controls that(it should) and the ALO is only for Night time. Your DRL's should be High beam at a lowered voltage.

But you may get an SVS light on the dash if you pull the relay. Dont know if that will allow you turn your low beams on during the day, but should disable the DRls.

I wouldnt try useing the E-brake trick while you are driving the car, would overheat the rear brakes and ruin them and possibly could do other damage.
Other than pulling that relay I dont know how else you'd kill them on your 97', otherwise you're stuck with them. I'll PM you a link or two!