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hiwaymirage
Novice
Jun 10, 2013, 6:01 PM
Post #1 of 11
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Head Light / DRL Issues
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2004
Chevy
Impala
3.4
51,500
I found out today that my new employer requires me to have a car that does not have DRL (daytime running lights), or a car that has it disabled. I got online and saw one possible solution: to take out the DRL relay from the fuse box, or if that didn't work, bend over pin 87 and try that. (Someone said it worked on a 2005 Impala.) When I tried taking out the relay, the DRL did not come on, but one of the high beam lights would not come on, and I had a "service engine light." I tried out the method where you bend over pin 87. This time, the normal lights (low beam and corner lights) came on instead of DRL. (The DRL lights on my car use the high beam bulbs only.) I bent back pin 87 into place and put it back in the fuse box. I wasn't sure if it would work now that one of the pins were bent and bent back, but it appeared to be back to normal now.
An hour or so later, I was reading on the internet that with some cars, you can start them with the emergency brake pressed in and this will disable the DLR until you start it again. I decided that it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. Now, the car was back to the problem of having on the low beam lights and corner lights all the time. Also, the dash lights would not come on unless I turned the dial over like I have to do at night (I can't remember if this was an issue after I bent over pin 87 or not). What surprised me was that even after I turned off the car and turned it back on again, it was still doing the same thing.
I thought that perhaps that relay was no good. Maybe when I bent the prong back, I thought, it worked for a little bit and then stopped. I thought that certainly starting your car with a parking brake applied would not cause a permanent problem. I went to O'Reilley's and picked up another relay. Same problem.
What is going on? Right now, I just want to get the car back to the way it initially was. If I can do that, I'll ask a local mechanic if he can work on the wiring to turn DRL off later. For my job, I could just unscrew the high beam light bulbs for the time being. But with the way the car is now, I'm screwed.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 10, 2013, 6:07 PM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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Your employer requires you to disable DRL? What do you do with your vehicle?
Is he aware that it is against the law to disable safety features?
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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hiwaymirage
Novice
Jun 10, 2013, 6:22 PM
Post #3 of 11
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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I was under the impression that DRL lights were only a feature on some cars, and that DRL was not required by law to be on cars here in the US (but I believe is in Canada). I don't imagine it would be against the law to disable something that is optional and not even a feature on every car.
Anyways, yes, for employment with this company (I actually haven't technically been hired yet), you are required to have a vehicle that meets certain specifications. Having DRL lights is a big issue.[hr]
(This post was edited by hiwaymirage on Jun 10, 2013, 6:24 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 10, 2013, 6:36 PM
Post #4 of 11
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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Well, it's not optional on GM cars and it's all incorporated into the Body Control Module so I doubt it's going to work right.
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hiwaymirage
Novice
Jun 10, 2013, 6:52 PM
Post #5 of 11
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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Do you think there is anything a mechanic could do with the wiring to make it right? I finally found the job I wanted 5 years after graduating from college. If I can't get this job I may never have another opportunity like this.  So understand I'm pretty upset right now, and desperate. Are you sure that nothing can be done? I'm feeling pretty bad right now. I just really didn't think starting the car with the parking brake on would cause a permanent problem like that.
Anybody?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 10, 2013, 7:02 PM
Post #6 of 11
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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The parking brake didn't cause any problem. I can't be so sure about the messing you did with the relay though.
You may be able to have the BCM reprogrammed by the dealer. I would give them a call and ask.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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hiwaymirage
Novice
Jun 10, 2013, 7:21 PM
Post #7 of 11
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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The problem started right after the parking break thing though. After I replaced the relay, it was back to normal. And even after I put a new relay in, it was still doing it. I believe you, but I did want to point that out in case I didn't make it clear. But you're probably right, I thought it being the parking brake seemed strange. It was probably just a coincidence. What ever caused in just took a little while to happen. Like I said, I did the parking brake thing and noticed the problem about an hour after I messed with the relay.
Thanks for the advice about going to a dealership. Hopefully they can do that.
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hiwaymirage
Novice
Jun 10, 2013, 8:28 PM
Post #8 of 11
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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One more thing, if you're still there. Or for anyone else.
Someone suggested to me that maybe I could reset the BCM by unplugging my battery for about 5 minutes? Is there any way this would work?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 11, 2013, 2:58 AM
Post #9 of 11
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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That may erase any stored codes. I don't have high expectations for that helping, but i guess it couldn't hurt. You also want to test all your fuses with a test light too.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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hiwaymirage
Novice
Jun 11, 2013, 6:20 PM
Post #10 of 11
(2275 views)
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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Update:
I drove to a gas station this morning, and when I got there and turned off the dash lights, I noticed that they were now staying on. I put it in neutral and the DRL lights were properly working. I turned off the motor and when I got back in my car and started it up, the problem came back (had to turn on dash lights manually and normal lights instead of DRL). After I drove around for a few minutes it started working again. I use my car during my job, turning it off and on often. It worked fine for most of the day, so I thought the problem was over. It seemed like something just needed to get charged or re-energized or something. However, near the end of my work shift when my car was off for around an hour, it did it again, though it started working again about 15 second after the motor ran.
So is this a fuse issue or something similar? If so, I feel relieved it's not a BCM issue.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 11, 2013, 6:23 PM
Post #11 of 11
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Re: Head Light / DRL Issues
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Nope, looking more like a BCM issue than a fuse. Fuses don't come back after burning out.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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