HELP: Re-Enable DRL and/or Auto Headlights 2003 Tahoe

[Jay G.]

Hello. I am trying to acomplish the following:
My 2 new Chiefs trucks were delivered with a "fleet commercial pack". In this package, the automatic headlights and DRL's are disabled. How can I re-enable at least the Auto headlights?? I know the photocell is still in the truck because the interior dashlights do come on automatically at night.
FYI: They are positively switched headlights, as opposed to the standard ground switched on most Tahoes.

Thanks!!!

(P.S. I will post pics as soon as I can figure out how!)

[KG6EAQ]

http://www.lightsout.org

Look there about how to disable them. Reversing it should be easy.

[Jay G.]

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, I am just looking to re-enable the auto headlights, not the DRL's - Them I dont want for sure!

[KG6EAQ]

*phew* I would've had to come out there and disconnect them for ya ;P

[Code3Response]

Check out http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum. They should help you out!

[Macon Sparks]

My $0.02 worth:

I did a 2002 Special Service Package Tahoe for a local FD last year.

The auto headlights and DRL's were factory disabled.

The customer wanted alternating headlights. I contacted Whelen for the correct flasher and was told (by the factory) no can do. The headlights are positive switched and the DRL's are negative switched; but they are co-mingled somehow in the non-disabled vehicles. Probably using relays.

Bottom line was no alternating headlights unless you rig something up on your own and the thing was under warranty so I declined. Wired the disconnected DRL's to alternate as an alternate

Local Chevy dealer later confirmed it was best to leave well enough alone.

[apco25]

Facing the same problemw with my suburban - although I swear I have a technical bulletin from Whelen and another board user describing how to hook up a flasher to work around the DRL and auto headlight feature.

How are they co-mingled? If your flasher is hooked up to the highbeams how does that affect the DRL or lowbeams other than high beam override function ?

[Macon Sparks]

Don't have a clue how they are wired together when one's positive and the other is negative ground.

Anyhoo, I remember a thread last year about how to do it, but like I said the thing was under warranty and I didn't want to cause an issue if something went south later on.

I also remember a thread about a some poor soul who did install alternating headlights on an SSP Tahoe and caused a $2,200 fire.

A followup to the alternating DRL's above was that the Chief was unhappy because they were not bright enough. So I bought some red bulbs at the local "Low-Rider" store and made them into steady reds, ah la California style.

Chief was happy, I was then happy and we all lived ever after.

I'm sure it can be done with relays, etc. and since you own the vehicle you don't have to answer to an unhappy customer if things don't go right.

Might have an ABC extinguisher handy tho'.

[2wayguy]

I installed highbeam flashers in a Tahoe over a year ago using a Whelen flasher and a SPDT relay. No fire to date, no warranty problems and everything works great. It really isn't that hard if you take your time and have the right parts... PM me if you need the details to make yours work.

[Jay G.]

Hey - Mine work perfectly. I used a regular sho-me positive switched flasher with no problems. Doesnt backfeed into the factory wiring at all. it actually feeds each light independantly with a constant battery feed, and the flasher gets one of the factory wires just to tell the flasher to turn on steady. works excellently. I dont ever want DRL's, just the automatic headlight feature to work.

[jmr061]

I can't speak personally of the truck series for GM but the Lumina I have has DRL with auto headlights at night and they are controlled from the same module. If the truck is the same I HIGHLY doubt you could do just one, you probably have both or none.

Jason

[Jay G.]

well, now that I think about it, I dont care if the DRL's are re-enabled. There are no bulbs in those sockets which are not even in the housings now - I have strobes epoxyed where the DRL bulbs usually go.

[apco25]

post the wiring for the whelen with the relay?

Which show-me flasher did you use?

[Jay G.]

I use the Sho-Me flasher # 03.w126 - It uses the direct battery feed to power the headlights all the time, and just uses the input wire from the OEM headlight car wiring as a relay feed. Works very well!