auto headlights

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know how to turn this feature off? I missplaced my owners manual, so i cant look it up. It gets kind of annoying when i'm at the gas station and they turn on, then it takes them like 5 or so min to turn off & i cant read anything on my radio. I slightly remember reading about a switch or something that i can turn to turn off the auto headlights, but i dont remember where it is.

Thanks for whoever can help me.

[cdru]

I don't believe that you can disable the auto headlights, but I may be mistaken. You can get a digital copy of your owners manual at MyGMLink.com after registering your vehicle. My 98 owners manual doesn't have instructions on disabling the headlights. You can disable the DRL by setting the parking break while the ignition is in the off or lock position and starting the vehicle.

[HC2000]

Hi, My 99' montana had this feature which I did not like. I simply pulled the DRL (daytime running lights), fuse and the auto headlight feature was defeated along with the DRL's. The DRL's to me, are worthless. They create a terrible glare in oncoming traffic and in your mirrors. Have you noticed how your lens "haze" over quickly on these models? The plastic lens are deteriorating fast enough just with uv light damage alone. The amber bulbs which act as the DRL's on the montana/venture just accelerate the breakdown of the lens via the heat they give off. As for the auto-headlight feature, I do not want the lights to come on when I start the van in my garage or when I drive under a canopy or other shaded area in the daylight hours. The DRL's are NOT required by US law. GM should delete some of this gadgetry and invest that money and effort in their build quality.Try this site for more info on DRL's and auto-headlight removal tips. http://www.lightsout.org/disable.html I was able to defeat the auto-headlights on my 99' sierra GMC with the tip on this site for the chevy silverado. Look at this site and you might even join as I did by simply answering a few questions and giving your opinon. It cost nothing but a little time and electricity. Regards, HC2000

[jrdwyer]

HC2000,

Thanks for the tip.

I also dislike not having the ability to turn off the headlights when I want to.

Joe

['97ventureowner]

DRLs were put on the vehicle for one main reason: safety. It allows your vehicle to be seen by others, especially when conditions aren't the greatest. Canada has been using them far longer than we have in the US and has seen a decrease in head on collisions. I cannot begin to tell you how many "ignorant" drivers there are out there who don't know when to turn on their headlights in certain conditions to improve their visibility to others. That is probably one other reason they were mandated by the government. Many insurance companies offer a discount if your vehicle has DRLs also.For those who say that DRLs shorten the life of your headlights,I say "So what?" Headlights aren't that expensive for MOST vehicles and it's a good idea to replace them every so often as they do get old and their output decreases anyways. And for those who claim that DRLs decrease horsepower because they are on all the time robbing power, think of it this way: The effect of DRLs on horsepower is negligible, but a car that has been totaled in a head on collision now has "0" horsepower. Which would you rather have? I think as time goes on we will see the positive effects DRLs will have on decreasing accident rates and vehicular deaths, along the same lines of seat belts and air bags.Think twice before disarming your DRLs permanently. Yeah, they may be an inconvenience some of the time, but isn't your vehicle and your life worth more?

[HC2000]

Originally Posted by jrdwyer

HC2000,

Thanks for the tip.

I also dislike not having the ability to turn off the headlights when I want to.

Joe

Hi Joe,
You are welcome.
HC2000

[jrdwyer]

This is one of those DUH things that I had forgotten about with the van. If you don't like the headlights on when the ignition is in the ACC position in a garage or outside in the shade, then applying the emergency brake turns it all off (at least on our 2001 Olds Silo)

[DRW1000]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

DRLs were put on the vehicle for one main reason: safety. It allows your vehicle to be seen by others, especially when conditions aren't the greatest. Canada has been using them far longer than we have in the US and has seen a decrease in head on collisions. I cannot begin to tell you how many "ignorant" drivers there are out there who don't know when to turn on their headlights in certain conditions to improve their visibility to others. That is probably one other reason they were mandated by the government. Many insurance companies offer a discount if your vehicle has DRLs also.For those who say that DRLs shorten the life of your headlights,I say "So what?" Headlights aren't that expensive for MOST vehicles and it's a good idea to replace them every so often as they do get old and their output decreases anyways. And for those who claim that DRLs decrease horsepower because they are on all the time robbing power, think of it this way: The effect of DRLs on horsepower is negligible, but a car that has been totaled in a head on collision now has "0" horsepower. Which would you rather have? I think as time goes on we will see the positive effects DRLs will have on decreasing accident rates and vehicular deaths, along the same lines of seat belts and air bags.Think twice before disarming your DRLs permanently. Yeah, they may be an inconvenience some of the time, but isn't your vehicle and your life worth more?

I think this post says it all. DRLs are strickly a safety feature and being a Canadian where we have had DRLs as mentioned for a few years now, I am glad to hear that parts of the US are finally starting to mandate the use of them.

I wish they would make tail lights automatic too. Sometimes some forget to turn on the lights because of the DRL's. I remember a few times on the highway at rush hour in heavy fog wishing I could see red lights constantly rather than sudden and close brake lights of the car in front of me.

[Bosen_Sweden]

I want to enable DRL on my venture. It was sold in germany and they don't alow DRL there. But here in sweden every car have DRL. How can I enable DRL???

[rockwood84]

Originally Posted by Bosen_Sweden

I want to enable DRL on my venture. It was sold in germany and they don't alow DRL there. But here in sweden every car have DRL. How can I enable DRL???

try looking in the fuse box on the passenger side of the dash. i recall a fuse for drl in there it might be all you have to do is put a fuse in.