DRL OVERRIDE SWITCH reserved for updates

 

I posted this thread to address a few questions from the thread below.
http://www.ssforums.com/forum/chevy...-ss-general-discussion-forum/69570-question-auto-headlamps-interior-dimmer.html

 

Our DRLs are the LED lights, right? Just curious as to why you'd want them off? I added Glen's module to keep them on all the time.

 

Conspicuous vs. Inconspicuous


Sometimes I wanna be inconspicuous while other times I don't mind being conspicuous. In other words, sometimes I don't care for the attention or the SS attractions, ("What is that, etc,"); I simply keep to the slower lanes and try to blend in with all of the other Malibus. While other times, I welcome the attention...

I was asked a good one the other day, "Is that a real Holden?" My reply was, "You're dang right it's a real Holden!" :laugh:

But a question I have is why did GM Holden facilitate a way to turn the DRL off in the first place? In other words, did they know that some people may want to turn them off, and if so, what are those reasons?

I thought about your question awhile then figured that my reasons are not unique or different from the reasons others may want their DRL off during the day. Another reason of mine is, I want to control when the DRLs are on, and off, but not have the DRL dash sensor determining it for me.

But, not just me, a few others on the forum expressed the same, wanted their DRL completely off during the daylight, for various reasons, and without having to turn the headlight knob each time the car is restarted, in addition, stopping the headlights and DRL from turning on and off all day while going under bridges, tunnels, etc. As you may know, many guys want them on not so much for safety but for appearance, (they look good on during the day with a waxed car while cruising) and I agree, therefore, mines are often on during the daytime.

But again, [I may contradict myself] I want them on sometimes, and off sometimes, and agree with both sides. Therefore, I like that they are on the SS and look good, sporty... On the other hand, when I want them off, I want them off!, and want them to stay off until I turn them back on. Hence the added "override switch."

The module you said you added to keep the DRL on, that module is mostly for nighttime, to run the DRL with the headlights... I might still get the module so when I turn my headlights on (at night) my DRL will come on also, but for appearance, (mostly the cool factor).

Again, I could not come up with anything different than the reasons others want the DRL off, on, sometime off, sometimes on, off at daylight, on at night with headlight, etc,... But, I think a common factor is, some want to control when and when not, the DRL come on.

In Closing: Other reasons some want their DRL off at daylight.

You can click on the link in post #3 of this thread, and read more "pros and cons" as to why... DRL off/on... But below are a few of the Quotes, Comments, Questions, from others:
...Is there any way to turn off the auto headlight permanently? It's so annoying. If I wanted them on, I'll turn them on...
....Headlamps default to auto mode with each startup cycle. No way to override - must manually turn off each time.....
... SS is hyper sensitive. My 2008 Audi auto lights come on right at dusk (or prolonged shade). But I can also adjust the sensitivity which is cool...
... auto headlights on the SS are hyper sensitive...
...behaved much more to my liking, and like your ... Audi the sensitivity was adjustable (I always had them set to lowest sensitivity)...
...So I guess it's normal. That sucks, I have never had a vehicle that was this sensitive. But I have also never had a vehicle that would dim my interior lights/radio if I turned off the auto headlamp function...
...I follow cars on my way to work that turn the lights on and off while I'm following them going through area of shade from trees. Its so dumb I can't even take it. There should be a way to program this auto light off...
...Manual DRL's activate when parking brake is released. I would like to pull out the fogs, duct through to the wheel wells and hook the DRL's to the fog switch in the headlight knob...
...Some cars allow adjustment of time, some allow adjustment of sensitivity, and some just get it right. I had a car which I had reason to believe used two sensors, one in the dash and one in the rearview mirror, so if you simply passed under a bridge, if there was sufficient light ahead of you, the lights wouldn't turn on...
...DRLs can be turned off temporarily by turning the headlight switch to the temp off position when headlights are off they'll go back on when your restart....
...devise a programmer that can set bits in the car on various things like that. I've had cars with "secret menus" before that could be accessed to get deeper into things. Wonder if there's a easy diagnosis way into the brain of this one that would permit programming changes....

Good question, hope this helps

 

So, if you put an inline switch in the green /brown wire and the switch was open, the DRLs will stay on at all times when the car is running?

 

Every time vs. Once

...I would like them on at night for additional visibility. Not mine, but others. I'd also like some cooling for the brakes that properly placed duct work may provide. If I do the duct work, I'll have a fog button in the car that does nothing and I'd like it to do something. If the fogs were that important they'd be on the '16, and they aren't.

The only confusing thing for me in your modification is the fact that you didn't want to manually turn the DRL's off every time you got in the car during the day, but now you have to either flip the switch or manually turn the headlights on every time you get in the car at night. Am I missing something?

Key words: every time vs. once

DRL using headlight switch = every time
DRL using added "override" switch = once

If the DRL are turned off using the headlight switch and you want them off every time you start your car, then yes, the headlight switch has to be turned every time you restart, just as GM Holden meant for it to work.

But if the DRL are turned off using the added "override switch", then no, not every time, you use the switch only once, and then you can restart as many times as you like without touching either switch again. UNLESS, you used the headlight switch for any reason, then the system will revert to factory default. At that point, I simply hit the added switch again, or whenever, sometimes the next day, because most of the time it's not a big deal. But, either way, the system's (dash) will inform you that the DRLs have just been turned on or off.

Don't think of the added switch as an on/off switch, but rather a ground. It only grounds the DRL until the DRL headlight switch reverts the system back to factory default, or you use the added switch again to turn the DRL back on or off. THE SYSTEM WILL NOW HAVE TWO WAYS TO TURN THE DRL ON OR OFF.

OEM DRL switch used to turn off DRL = Used every time you "restart" the SS.
Added override switch used to turn off DRL = Use once and the DRL will stay off, unless... reverted.

If you use the added switch to turn off the DRL, there are "two" ways to turn the DRL back on. 1) Use the added switch again. 2) Or, use the headlight switch as usual and the system reverts to factory (normal).

Note that I left post #2 reserved.
I plan to do a few variables using the headlight switch in conjunction with the added switch and will post updates. I've use this type of switch on my DRLs going on five years and I mostly look at the dash to tell me that my DRL are on or off. Moreover, if I miss the display, I simply hit the switch again until the desired message is displayed, "DRL are OFF." I don't recall the exact wording the SS uses. However, I'll find out soon and post in #2 of this thread.

Now talking about fog lights out...
As for the DRLs hooked up to the fog switch, I already took my fogs out and the wires, (DRL wires, and fog wires) are zip fastened next to each other. Then why haven't I tried to connect the DRL to the fog switch yet? I don't know, I hadn't got around to it yet. However, I'll do it soon and post results.

Not directly relevant on this thread but, you (15SuperSport) and I are talking about taking the fog lights out for two different reasons, I believe your reason is for "brake cooling." I once thought about during that also but was diverted to another reason to remove my fogs. Will post Fog Lights out update.
You or somebody should post a thread about brake cooling on the SS.


I totally agree with you on the fog lights not being OEM on the 2016 SS anymore. I figured the forum would tear me apart about taking the fog lights out, but after seeing the 2016 SS the first thing I did was smile because I then knew I had a good reference, which is what you talked about in your post, the 2016 not having fog lights anymore.

Hope this helps

 

So they have done away with the Carbon Fibre and Upholstery ( imitation ) look on the dash.....my 2013 SV6 looks like the picture below and is only a 6 cylinder....it looks top notch....it is a shame they did away with this look.:crying

 

Different color stitching, black instead of "faux" carbon fiber, moved the steering wheel... much the same.

 

My DRLs are mostly off most of the time since I instinctly now hold the headlight switch to off while starting the car to prevent the headlights from striking. Given that I start the car in a garage 75% of the time, it's become a habit

 

After giving this some thought, I'm going to jump in and give my opinion on this.

In my opinion, it should be a fine-able, moving violation to disable or turn off the OEM DRLs in any vehicle when said vehicle is in forward motion on any highway or street with a posted speed limit greater than 30 MPH.

The ability to be seen by other drivers far outweighs the ability to see in certain lighting conditions.

Let the storm begin.....:storm:

 

After giving this some thought, I'm going to jump in and give my opinion on this.
In my opinion, it should be a fine-able, moving violation to disable or turn off the OEM DRLs in any vehicle when said vehicle is in forward motion on any highway or street with a posted speed limit greater than 30 MPH.
The ability to be seen by other drivers far outweighs the ability to see in certain lighting conditions.
Let the storm begin.....:storm:

As you know, the SS headlight switch turns the DRL off, but one day this may not be the case, it may be mandated that they be on, as seatbelts, airbags, etc. In addition, putting them on cars in the first place just might be the slippery slope that may lead to them becoming mandated. The safety stats are probably not in yet.

I said sometimes my DRL are turned off. My driving habit at a given moment, determines if my DRL are on or off. This relates to your point about "being seen," hence the name DRLs. However, I think that the DRL today have more to do with appearance than safety.

No storm here, good points.

 

Hey guys,

I'm one of those who thinks that daylight running lights should be reserved for motorcycles ONLY. So I always turn mine off and love this mod. Just wanted to say thanks to SSLogic for putting this post together.

Since I don't ever want mine to come on automatically, I skipped the switch and just placed a jumper wire from the grn/brn wire to chassis ground. This does keep the drl from coming on.

BUT I cannot turn the headlights on with the dash switch. I turn it to parking lights or head lights and I get nothing. I can get the auto system to come back on by playing with the switch, but unless it decides to turn the lights back on, I can't get them on.

If I pull the ground wire, everything goes back to normal. The drl come on, I can turn them off, I can turn the headlights on and off. As soon as I reconnect the gnd wire, no headlights.

Any help with be appreciated.

Jason

 

The DIC (Driver Information Center) will display whether or not the DRL is On or Off

Hey guys,

I'm one of those who thinks that daylight running lights should be reserved for motorcycles ONLY. So I always turn mine off and love this mod. Just wanted to say thanks to SSLogic for putting this post together.

Since I don't ever want mine to come on automatically, I skipped the switch and just placed a jumper wire from the grn/brn wire to chassis ground. This does keep the drl from coming on.

BUT I cannot turn the headlights on with the dash switch. I turn it to parking lights or head lights and I get nothing. I can get the auto system to come back on by playing with the switch, but unless it decides to turn the lights back on, I can't get them on.

If I pull the ground wire, everything goes back to normal. The drl come on, I can turn them off, I can turn the headlights on and off. As soon as I reconnect the gnd wire, no headlights.

Any help with be appreciated.
Jason

Pardon the repetitive points.


ALL THE SWITCH DOES IS GROUND, UNGROUND, THE green/brown (GB) WIRE TO THE SS CHASSIS.
See Pics in the OP.

Maybe read the OP again, the NOTE section. I think you may have missed a couple of small points. In fact, I just went back and read it again to answer your question.

In the OP, the NOTE section tells how the SS OEM headlight knob is spring-loaded and will override the GB (Green\Brown) wire grounded to the SS chassis. No matter, if you hold the GB wire with your hand to SS metal/ground, or, have a switch "hold contact" to the SS ground, either way, THE SS OEM HEADLIGHT SWITCH WILL OVERRIDE THE GB WIRE GROUND, ANY TIME THE SWITCH IS TURNED TO THE LEFT.

It's really a good thing, because, if you hit the GB wire (ground) switch again, or turn the headlight switch to the left, the SS will revert/back to OEM DRL status.

The reason for the GB wire ground switch.
By grounding, the GB wire to the SS chassis/metal, this will keep the DRL from coming on every time you start your SS during the daytime. No matter how many times your start during the day, the DRL will not come on after the engine starts.


UNLESS OR UNTIL YOU DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

There are a few ways to unground the GB wire and make the DRL come on after starting the SS engine, day or night:

Turning the SS OEM headlight switch to the LEFT.

The GB wire chassis ground is only a temporary ground, until something/someone ungrounds the (GB wire.) i.e. unground by turning the headlight switch to the LEFT. Or, hit the GB wire ground switch again.




Repeats:
Ways to unground the GB wire, and to make the DRL work normal again.

1) Manually unground/unscrew the GB wire from the SS chassis/body/metal. But who wants to manually unground a wire. Hence the reason for the switch placed between the GB wire, and the SS chassis, to switch it (on/off), or to (ground/unground) it as desired.

2) Hit the GB wire switch to the other position, off/on.

3) Manually turn the SS OEM (spring-loaded) headlight switch to the LEFT.
By turning the headlight switch to the left, causes the GB wire to become UNGROUNDED, then DRL starts to operate as OEM, normal again, UNTIL YOU REACTIVATE IT AGAIN, by hitting the GB switch again.




Main point:
You have to use a switch between the GB wire and the SS chassis to body to reactive the ground again. Because, if not, every time the headlight switch is manually touch/turned to the left, it will override the ground created by the GB wire to chassis.

There are variables to this because the GB wire to SS body ground was not designed to be a permanent DRL OFF, only a temporary OFF.



Therefore:
Use a switch between the GB wire to SS body ground.

Once the switch is in place, between the GB wire and the SS Body ground, park in front of a mirror, or strip center's glass, and play with the switch ON/OFF. While turning the SS headlight switch to the LEFT (override), and learn what, when, the GB switch, and the SS headlight switch, which turns the DRL on and OFF.

The DIC (Driver Information Center) will indicate/display when/if the DRL or on, Auto ON, or Auto OFF... Therefore, while you are hitting the switches, (GB or Headlight), look at the DIC display.

Once you learn to read the DIC, you will then know when the DRL or On/Off.

Hope this helps.

 

Welcome to the forum Jason.

 

Thanks. Just picked up a '17 SS a month ago. First mods are a wider throttle pedal, and trying to get rid of the DRL.

Jason
'17 Grey, M6, Spare, No roof

 

I understood all of that. My issue is that with the switch in the grounded position, ie, grn/brn wire grounded, there is no way to turn the knob to the RIGHT and get the headlights on. My understanding of the OP is that you have to manually turn them on (which is fine with me) when the switch is grounding the grn/brn wire. That doesn't work for me. Should it?

Thanks,
Jason

 

Green/Brown Switch Positions = Left ON and Left OFF.

I understood all of that. My issue is that with the switch in the grounded position, ie, grn/brn wire grounded, there is no way to turn the knob to the RIGHT and get the headlights on. My understanding of the OP is that you have to manually turn them on (which is fine with me) when the switch is grounding the grn/brn wire. That doesn't work for me. Should it?
Thanks
Jason

Short answer:
Green/Brown (GB) ground Switch Positions = Left position is ON and Left position is OFF.

The GB wire switch does not have a ground position. Both positions will trigger a ground, depending on the last position the OEM headlight switch was left in, or used in...

To turn the headlights on manually.
Turn the headlight switch to the left first, (this will unground) then to the right.
Try that with the GB wire switch in both positions.
The green/brown wire is used as a "ground trigger wire", not a ON/OFF switch.
Once you trigger a ground to the DRL, the AUTO ON is deactivated.

I know it seems confusing but perhaps the long answer will help.



Long answer:
I thought of an analogy that may apply.

You know when you have a room with two different light switches in one room, a switch on each side of the room, BUT, both switches control the same light(s).

Therefore, if Switch01 is left in the UP position, (LIGHTS ON), then if you put Switch01 in the DOWN position, it should turn the (LIGHTS OFF), true.

BUT, if you/someone used the other switch, Switch02 to turn the (LIGHTS OFF).

THEN, putting Switch01 in the DOWN position will turn the (LIGHTS ON) not OFF.

Note:
Switch01 position can be used UP (LIGHT ON) or DOWN (LIGHTS ON) because it depends on which switch was use last.
The position of one does affect the other.

Analogy ended to make a point.
Switch01 = SS OEM Headlights switch
Switch02 = GB wire ground (switch)
Again, the last position of one switch, does affect what the other will do.


Another point:
Don't think of the GB ground wire switch as an ON/OFF switch, think of it as a ground, unground switch.
Because, both positions can be used to ground the GB wire.
Put the GB ground switch in the LEFT position and the DRL are grounded.
The next time, putting in the LEFT position ungrounds it. I know, confusing.

That's why I said park somewhere so you can see a reflection of your headlights while turning the switches on and off. While at the same time paying attention to the DIC display.


Been using this since 2012 without issues. Use it every day I drive my 2014 SS. Either to turn the DRL AUTO OFF, or to put the DRL back on, AUTO ON.

Hope this helps, if not Post or PM.

 

Thanks for your help. I think I see what you're driving. If the Headlight switch is turned left (in stock config) it grounds the GB wire turning the DRL off or on depending on their current state (temporarily). If you toggle the GB switch it does the same thing but "permanently".

So lets talk about what happens from a fresh ignition cycle. And I've been using my tool chest to see the headlights from the drivers seat as I play with this. This is what happens on my car.

With the GB switch set to ground the wire, I get no DRL on startup as intended. If I leave the GB switch grounding the GB wire, I can turn the headlight switch to the left and get the DRL back on and lights on auto. If I then turn the headlight knob to the right, I get no headlights. Is this as it should be? Do you also have to toggle the GB ground switch to the ungrounded position?

Thanks again,
Jason