Semi-switchable
Daytime Running Lights
I
have misgivings about telling anyone how to remove their DRL, particularly
since the modification doesn’t do all I’d hoped it would. But then, there are worse ideas floating around
the Internet! So read about the
auto-headlights mod first, then this, and use your judgment.
I
had hoped the DRL could be switched using the alternator signal. Tried cutting that line but it didn’t seem
to do anything.** Short of redesigning
the circuit board, the only other alternative seems to be to use the hand brake
signal. So as not to give a false brake
warning to the dashboard and the ABS controller, the hand brake signal (11)
gets connected directly to the warning and ABS line (10), bypassing the circuit
board entirely. The trace from the
board that formerly connected to 10 remains unconnected, and the trace that
used to connect to 11 gets connected to ground instead, preferably through a
dash-mounted switch. Radio Shack will
sell you a nice automotive switch for about $4, or for $15 get Toyota switch
00550-35976, which fits one of the rectangular holes left of the steering
column and has a fog lights symbol on it.
If you really want to kill DRL forever (bad idea in my opinion), forget
the switch and wire directly to DRL relay pin 2 (ground).
Note
that the switch must be in the off (grounded) position when you start the car
to keep the DRL off. You can then turn
on DRL at any time, but once on, DRL will stay on until the ignition goes
off. You won’t be able to switch them
off momentarily as you approach a gate guard, for example, unless you shut off
the engine.
**
I’ve since read that you can ground the alternator signal to kill both auto
headlights and DRL. See http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1188
for one approach, but I suggest you work inside the DRL relay (yellow = pin 8)
instead of hacking the wiring. Cut leg
8 and connect the circuit end to leg 2 or to a dash-mounted switch.