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disabling drl's. I READ TECH INFO

Old 03-13-2005, 11:20 AM
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Default disabling drl'*. I READ TECH INFO

i have been reading for the past week or so about disabling my drl'*. I unplugged the wires from the white box next to the horn but that didnt do anything at all. Im wondering if there is a second box.

I dont want to run wires to the inside cuz that is alot of work for something so small. Anyways if someone could let me know where the second white box is and how to disable it i would appreciate it.
Old 03-13-2005, 02:16 PM
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Your light sensor could be turning them on. It'* not a box, more like a piece of ceramic.
Old 03-13-2005, 02:31 PM
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Did you just disconnect the plug from the ceramic box? If so what time of day, and for how long has it been disconnected?
DRL'* come on automatically whenever you have the key in the 'on' position -whether it'* midnight or 12-noon with the sun shining brightly overhead.
With Twilight sentinal the lights will come on as soon as the light sensor on the top of the dash can't sense a certain amount of light.
Old 03-13-2005, 02:50 PM
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I took a pic of where it'* at but I can't find my transfer cable for the camera.
Maybe this one will make some sense.

Look under where the DRL arrow is pointing(moving the stock PCM holder might help), and thats where the ceramic piece is. If you follow the wires down there should be some clips you can disconnect rather than clipping.
And as BlueEyes said the light sensor will turn on your lights no matter what, if ambient light is low.
Old 03-13-2005, 03:09 PM
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I am putting this here so others might have better input than me.

Originally Posted by amato
i unplugged the harness at about 1030 this morning and its now 250...where is the light sensor located and also is there a second drl resistor

sorry about the pm..for some reason i cant reply to my post
The light sensor is on top of the dash, to the left of center, where the dash meets the windshield.
It is a round 'eye'. I believe there is a how-to on a modification somewhere around that tells how to open up the eye so as to keep the lights from coming on too early in the evening.
Old 03-13-2005, 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by smellbird
Look under where the DRL arrow is pointing(moving the stock PCM holder might help), and thats where the ceramic piece is. If you follow the wires down there should be some clips you can disconnect rather than clipping.
The ceramic piece that this illustration is pointing to is the DRL resistor, installed just inside the driver'*-side fender. This drops voltage to the headlamps when the DRL circuit is on, so unplugging it will turn off the DRLs without affecting any other operation of the headlights. Follow the pair of wires leading away from it about 6" or so and you will find an in-line connector that you can unplug; you do not need to cut anything. (While you're disconnecting this stuff, you should know that there are also white lights on the _back_ of the car that come on automatically whenever you're backing up. Might want to see about disconnecting those, too... )

And as BlueEyes said the light sensor will turn on your lights no matter what, if ambient light is low.
Right. Also, for the '93 model year at least, when they were a Canadian-only option, the DRLs do not come on until the vehicle is out of Park.
Old 03-13-2005, 03:51 PM
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are the Head lights switched on the positive or negative wire?
Old 03-13-2005, 04:10 PM
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i think it is the light sensor that needs to be cleaned. When the drls are on should the dash lights come out therefore dimming my hud and Driver information displays. If this is not supposed to happen then it wasnt my drl'*....How do i clean the light sensor and im still not sure exacltly where it is. There is just an open hole on the left side of my dash then all the way up were the dash meets the windshield there is alittle opening...Its is next to the vin...Is that the sensor?
Old 03-13-2005, 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by amato
i think it is the light sensor that needs to be cleaned. When the drls are on should the dash lights come out therefore dimming my hud and Driver information displays.
If the light sensor has not turned on the running lights (headlights, parking lights, taillights, etc.), then the DRLs will be operating. If only the DRLs are on, your dash backlighting won't be on, and your fluorescent displays won't be dimmed.

If this is not supposed to happen then it wasnt my drl'*....
Right, the lighting controller switches between daylight (DRL) mode and nighttime/lights-on mode. In other words, your DRLs are controlled _by_ that system; the DRLs do not control anything themselves. Disconnecting the ceramic resistor to disable them will not affect any other part of the system; it'll just reduce your visibility to other drivers in daytime.

How do i clean the light sensor and im still not sure exacltly where it is. There is just an open hole on the left side of my dash then all the way up were the dash meets the windshield there is alittle opening...Its is next to the vin...Is that the sensor?
???

You've got a hole there? Yes, the light sensor is a dime-shaped flat lens or disc near the VIN plate on the top of the dash, near the driver'* side pillar. (It is _not_ the dome-shaped dark plastic thing that sticks up in the center of the dash, if you have one; that'* the solar intensity sensor for the climate control system.)

If there'* an open hole there at the left end of your dash, it sounds like your sensor might have fallen inside the dash, where it now thinks it'* nighttime 24/7, and is turning on all your lighting every time you start the car. You're supposed to see a flush-mounted little lens there, not an open hole.
Old 03-13-2005, 06:07 PM
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If the light sensor has fallen out of it'* spot on the dash it should be easy to put back.
Just get a flat screw driver and slip it in between the dash panel and the plastic trim closest to the windshield and pry the plastic trim up. You will most likely see the sensor laying there. Just pop it back in the hole in the plastic, twist it into the 'locked' position and replace the plastic trim onto the dash.
That would definitely be the cause of all the lights (headlights and taillights -only the headlights come on with DRL) coming on whenever the car is started.

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