Headlights

I have a '98 Tahoe 2 door, I want to know if there is a way to disable the daylight lamps? I have taken off the relay, but afterwards the lights won't work at all. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. :screwy:

The relay is needed for the regular low beams to work. Pulling the DRL/FOG fuse will turn the DRL's off but not the DRL light in the I/P.

I have a '98 Tahoe 2 door, I want to know if there is a way to disable the daylight lamps? I have taken off the relay, but afterwards the lights won't work at all. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. :screwy:

Disabling DRL can get into saftey equipement issues.
And may be a illegal operation.:nono:

Before you do it.
Check with you local and state and country laws.
Also check with your insurance company and change your insurance policy.

I have already removed the DRL/FOG fuse and still no luck.

Thanks,

Well, I usually just answer the questions as posted and don't get into the politics of what the questions represent.

In this case (and all future cases concerning disabling the DRL's) I'm going with MT 2500's post. His post is all about safety and that's what the DRL's are for-- SAFETY.

I see where you removed the post about removing the DRL bulbs. Guess it didn't take too long to realize that you removed the regular low beam bulbs also.

So you removed the DRL/FOG fuse and the DRL's are still on!! Be thank full the good Lord is watching over you and also for those folks who may not see you coming if they were intentionally disabled.

I have a '98 Tahoe 2 door, I want to know if there is a way to disable the daylight lamps? I have taken off the relay, but afterwards the lights won't work at all. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. :screwy:

my 2000 SIL you hit the push button next to the manual headlight switch 2X fast and the day time lamps go off , the chime will chime.

on re-start this will need repeating.

there may be reasons why owners would want to disable this feature.
when starting the vehicle these lights/headlights are on as soon as the key is turned...I do not like the fact the my battery must power all this when I need maximum amps for starter motor.

my 2000 SIL you hit the push button next to the manual headlight switch 2X fast and the day time lamps go off , the chime will chime.

on re-start this will need repeating.

there may be reasons why owners would want to disable this feature.
when starting the vehicle these lights/headlights are on as soon as the key is turned...I do not like the fact the my battery must power all this when I need maximum amps for starter motor.

The poster did not give the reason why he wanted to disable them.

But you get to thinking about the DRL lights on key.
Two ways to look at it.
Not sure how many amps they pull but The do not pull a lot of amps.
Heater blower motors and powering up all electrical stuff with key on may pull a lot more amps then they do.

Back in the old days when it was real cold and smaller batterys and heavey oil and old type starters that pulled more load they told us that leaving the head lights on a little while before starting engine warmed up the battery and helped it put out more cold cranking amps when you hit the starter.
And It did help some.

The poster did not give the reason why he wanted to disable them.

But you get to thinking about the DRL lights on key.
Two ways to look at it.
Not sure how many amps they pull but The do not pull a lot of amps.
Heater blower motors and powering up all electrical stuff with key on may pull a lot more amps then they do.

Back in the old days when it was real cold and smaller batterys and heavey oil and old type starters that pulled more load they told us that leaving the head lights on a little while before starting engine warmed up the battery and helped it put out more cold cranking amps when you hit the starter.
And It did help some.


the headlamps are about 55watts each so that would be 110 watts which comes to 10amps, then the other lamps if dark out , on top of that.

the turning on of the headlamps when very cold if you get a poor crank does warm the internal battery acid solution this then increases battery amps available.this is a sure sign your battery has lost its power/plates effeciency.

I believe that at about 0deg F you loose about 50% of amps the battery can supply...also a very cold battery can not charge as fast, you cannot take power out/in as well until its warmed up...

the trickle charger, used when very cold , is best to keep the battery warm to provide and accept power...battery will last much longer as well as the starter motor/solenoid contacts.

I believe he does have a way to turn off those lamps with the dash switches...but his vehicle is different than mine.

So this seems to be a discussion between us as the original poster is absent to this point.

On my '98 Sub. With the key in the "run" position the DRL's are on and I put the fan on high.

Turn the key to the "crank" position and the DRL's and the fan both shut off allowing full batt voltage to the starter.

And "yes" j caT the DRL system on the '98 is much different than your '00 NBS.

So this seems to be a discussion between us as the original poster is absent to this point.

On my '98 Sub. With the key in the "run" position the DRL's are on and I put the fan on high.

Turn the key to the "crank" position and the DRL's and the fan both shut off allowing full batt voltage to the starter.

And "yes" j caT the DRL system on the '98 is much different than your '00 NBS.

on my 2000 the lights fan everything stays on when cranking,,,not good when its very cold..

I have a '98 Tahoe. There is no DRL law in my state. I pulled a fuse, can't remember which one and it killed the DRLs although the light still shows on the dash. I will check the fuse number in the morning, I think either 8 or 9.

I have a '98 Tahoe. There is no DRL law in my state. I pulled a fuse, can't remember which one and it killed the DRLs although the light still shows on the dash. I will check the fuse number in the morning, I think either 8 or 9.

You need to think about that.:sarcasm1::nono::nono:

Think twice or 3 or 4 times before you pull that fuse or disable the DRL lights.
You are not out of the reach of the long arm of the law.
Even if no state laws and you operate it in the USA on a federal funded highway you are under federal safety rules and regulations.
If you have them disabled and get into a bad car accident and someone is killed or injured bad.
You can be in a world of hurt and law suits.

In case of bad accidents insurance companies and state police do a investigation on the cars and trucks involved.
And if they find a safety device not working or disabled.
Guess who they are going to come after.
You could even be charged with people killer laws or have a judgment over you head for the rest of your life..

So in other words be real carfull out there.

You need to think about that.:sarcasm1::nono::nono:

Think twice or 3 or 4 times before you pull that fuse or disable the DRL lights.
You are not out of the reach of the long arm of the law.
Even if no state laws and you operate it in the USA on a federal funded highway you are under federal safety rules and regulations.
If you have them disabled and get into a bad car accident and someone is killed or injured bad.
You can be in a world of hurt and law suits.

In case of bad accidents insurance companies and state police do a investigation on the cars and trucks involved.
And if they find a safety device not working or disabled.
Guess who they are going to come after.
You could even be charged with people killer laws or have a judgment over you head for the rest of your life..

So in other words be real carfull out there.

Why ??? There is no federal law for DRLs that I know of. If there is, I would like to see it. Cars can still be bought without them. As far as I know, DRLS are a requirement of a particular state law. My vehicle came from a state that had that law, mine does not, hence they aren't required. Unless someone can refer me to a federal law requiring them, I don't see any problem. As far as law suits, as long as my vehicle conforms to my state laws (and it does) and I have a valid state inspection sticker(which I do), the State Police here would never find me at fault for any safety violations. That is precluded by the inspection sticker. Of course if someone was worried about it, they could always put a blown fuse in that circuit.

Why ??? There is no federal law for DRLs that I know of. If there is, I would like to see it. Cars can still be bought without them. As far as I know, DRLS are a requirement of a particular state law. My vehicle came from a state that had that law, mine does not, hence they aren't required. Unless someone can refer me to a federal law requiring them, I don't see any problem. As far as law suits, as long as my vehicle conforms to my state laws (and it does) and I have a valid state inspection sticker(which I do), the State Police here would never find me at fault for any safety violations. That is precluded by the inspection sticker. Of course if someone was worried about it, they could always put a blown fuse in that circuit.

You are missing the point.
Federal laws take place over state laws.
If you operate it on a federal funded highway you are subject to federal laws on it.
DRL lights are a saftey devise and are comes under federal laws and regulations.
If the car has them then it comes under federal saftey laws.
Also they are writen up in your insurance policy.

Run a web search on it.

Here is some info.http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/fmvss/index.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS356&as_q=Federal+safety+laws&as_epq=&as_oq=DRL&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images

http://www.findlaw.com/?DCMP=KNC-General-Law&HBX_PK=Federal+Laws&HBX_OU=50


The "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations" Brochure, HS 805 674, is available through the following NHTSA offices:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Planning and Consumer Programs
Mail Code: NPS-30
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
or call:
DOT Auto Safety Hotline
1-888-DASH-2-DOT
(1-888-327-4236)
The complete text of all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and other NHTSA regulations can be found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Title 49 of the CFR is published in seven volumes, the fifth volume (Parts 400-999) is where these regulations can be found. Copies of this volume can be obtained for a cost from -
U. S. Government Printing Office
Superintendent of Documents
Mail Stop: SSOP
Washington, DC 20402-9328.
DOT HS 808 878
REVISED MARCH 1999

MT-2500 , I respect what you say but in searching the links that you posted, this is a cut & paste from one of them: " U.S. law now permits but does not require DRLs, which turn on automatically when the ignition is started and are overridden when regular headlights are activated. DRLs typically are high-beam headlamps at reduced intensity or low-beam headlamps at full or reduced power. Tail lamps and/or turn signals also may be lit. In some vehicles, turn signals alone function as DRLs, especially when the headlamps are hidden."


My point is that it is not a required piece of safety equipment by Federal law. It is an option, therefore not every vehicle is required to have them in the USA. These are not like airbags or whatever other Federally mandated safety devices and therefore not subject to the same requirements or subject to removal restrictions.

At any rate, it's pointless for us to argue about this since probably neither of us will concede. Since it's my vehicle , I will do as I please with it. I don't believe that I've broken any laws. Although it may be a gray area, I found the wording clear enough to convince me that I'm correct.

I have opted not to disable the DRL afterall, few of the reasons why were posted on this forum. Another of the reasons why it got to complicated and time consuming. Thanks to everyone who replied and offered some advise. Till next time!!!:grinyes:

I have opted not to disable the DRL afterall, few of the reasons why were posted on this forum. Another of the reasons why it got to complicated and time consuming. Thanks to everyone who replied and offered some advise. Till next time!!!:grinyes:

You are welcome and thanks for posting back your decision.

I think everyone should consider the fact that DRL lights are a safety feature.
Along with air bags and seat belts and other safety stuff.

Safety features are put on there to not only help save our lives but the lives of our family members and friend and other people on the road.

Good Luck

The real reason for DRLs in the USA is that Canada requires DRLs on all their vehicles. Since many GM vehicles are assembled and sold in Canada, to GM it saved money and was easier to just put DRLs on all vehicles rather than have separate wiring schemes and parts for US and Canadian vehicles. There is no US law that mandates them...can't speak for every state though.

FMVSS should be regarded as the MINIMUM safety standards for vehicles sold in the US. Each state has their own additional safety standards, and independent associations like the Consumers Union and IIHS make their recommendations for safety features that manufacturers can (and usually do) implement to make their cars more appealing to buyers.

I don't know about every GM car, but the Jimmy I used to have kept the DRLs off until you shifted out of Park. I could disable them by just removing the DRL/FOG fuse, but I didn't care. Hafta check the Envoy to see what it does...now I'm curious. But I think that the DRLs stay off until after the engine is started. I'll edit this is I'm wrong.

Finally, the DRLs for the trucks (definitely the Jimmy) draw a lower amperage than the full low beam. Some vehicles even have their own separate bulb. So if they were on prior to start, they would either be drawing little power or they are temporarily disconnected by the ignition switch (like the radio and other accessories) when you turn the key to start. Thus, the auxiliary power draw is minimized.

That's my 2 cents...take care & drive safe.