Disabling Headlights and DRL's
 

Heya guys. I know this has been asked a few times before, but the instructions I've found aren't exactly..specific..for my car.
Here's a few pictures that I took..

http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...46_21_full.jpg
One of three ground wires..If I unplug the two larger ones, the headlights only dim..don't go out completely.

http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...46_22_full.jpg
And of the headlights.

What would be the easiest way to wire in a manual switch that I could flip on and off in the cab to disable headlights/DRL's? Heeeeelp!

Re: Disabling Headlights and DRL's
 

Yikes! Don't _do_ that! When you disconnect a ground wire, 99% of the time you're breaking the ground path for multiple circuits, not just the one you're interested in. After that, power seeking a ground from one circuit will double back through the others that share the same (broken) ground connection, running in series. Your headlights went dim because they were running in series with something else that shared the same ground connection. Putting a switch in the ground wire is not a solution here.

I assume you really want to disable _only_ the DRLs, right? I know the earlier models have a kind of a horseshoe-shaped ceramic resistor mounted inside the left front fender which can be unplugged, but later models (almost certainly your '99) control the DRL circuit electronically.

So basically I can't tell you exactly how to disable DRLs on your car, but I can tell you that disconnecting ground wires is a double-plus-bad-thing to do, so don't.

Seems to me that some GM SUVs have a "Dome Lamp Override" button on the dash that will kill the DRLs for that driving session when it's pressed three times; does your car have that? Anything in the owner's manual about turning them off? (Probably not...)

I know about the Dome Override switch. Our 2002 Tahoe LT has one. But noooo. Not the '99 Bonnie. :nono: That would be too easy.

So, what can I do? I want to be able to disable the lows AND the DRL's with the same switch. There's a guide in the Tech section here but it's for a '97 SSEi..And I get the feeling it's completely different now.

Someone help? Willwren?

For disabling your DRL, it should still apply to yours. Did you use this link http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/techinfo/?article=18.

Re: Disabling Headlights and DRL's
 

... as you hear sizzling from the sheilding melting off another wire (or circuit board) from the way too high current draw on an underrated wire... :shock: :flaming:

hehe glad that didnt happen... (yes speaking from experience, but not on the bonne) :roll:

I don't just want to disable DRL's..I want to be able to switch the lows AND DRL's on and off at night via a switch inside the cab.

Any particular reason? cause arent the DRLs just a dimmed high beam? well if your car is like my moms you can turn on the DRL's by flipping off the regular lights while in drive.... but your looking for them both to be on ic... that sounds like some fancy electronic work...

Go here http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...pic.php?t=9920 is that what you want to have both sets of lights on while driving at night?

The DRL are the low beams. You are going to have to hook up a swtich to interrupt the power for the headlights. The is a post about it.

my DRL's are disabled... im looking to get rid of my automatic lights becuase i want to be able to drive w/ just my fog and parking lights on during the evening, when its still light out, but dark enough to turn my lights on... plus my radar detector blocks light from the sensor, so my lights will turn on during the day, making it so i cant see my HUD... any easy answers of turning this off???

Re: Disabling Headlights and DRL's
 

Well.. I don't know how it woudl affect it if you splice the ground wires for the headlights only as I've done that.. I will get a headlamp monitor everytime I break the circuit
( as the circuit would see it as incomplete circuit but when the ground is on ( which is mounted onto the kickpanel )) it works fine and no probs at all.. I can understand if it's the DRL as you mentioned that it's electonically controlled now instead of resistor. BUT ( and a but ) it should theoratically still work as I don't see how the ground for headlight would be tied into anything... input please mister tech info junkie.. hee hee :wink: