Disabling the auto headlamps

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:18 am

You know...after second thought, I think I would like to figure out how to rig my truck where the lights work manually like they do on my '96 S10

I'm getting tired of the sensor causing the lights to come on, then go off.

So, anybody know how to make lights manual on an '03 S10?

Kevin S · Post by **Kevin S** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 12:06 pm

Here is the Headlight Modification Thread on ZR2USA

I did the Quadbeam, and the AHL disable from that thread, but a different DRL disable method. It says for ZR2, but I imagine it will work for any S-series with low - beam DRLs. This way was a bit easier than the way Knaffle posted, but doesn't work perfectly. My high-beam indicator does not work correctly anymore after doing it. Brett, the kid who started that thread, has told me he has since found a diode or something to put in that makes it work perfectly, but he has not given me any more info.

I think I am going to bump that thread, since I am thinking of it. Maybe he will post his solution now.

Hope that helps.

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:18 pm

I'd want to keep the high beam indicator on my dash so I know when the high beams are on, or not.

I'll read thru all this stuff and see if I can make enough sense out of it to try it without screwing something up.

Thanks for the info!

Kevin S · Post by **Kevin S** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:42 pm

Brett has posted that a resistor spliced into the wire will solve the issue, however he does not say what size or anything.

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:14 pm

Based on the write up found at:
http://www.zr2usa.com/mboard/index.php? ... =24106&hl=
(for 2000 year models and up)

All you have to do is cut the white wire going into the BCM

If it didn't work, for whatever reason, it's an easy fix to put things back since I'd have to just repair the white wire.

Just curious...what does "BCM" stand for?
I know it's gotta be 'something' Control Module

rlrnr53 · Post by **rlrnr53** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:31 am

BODY control module

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:01 pm

OK, so I found a thread at
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f199/drl- ... -to-14740/
that says....

"Remove passenger side speaker grill on dash. Unplug wire from the light sensor (little ball sticking up from the grill). Insert 2.2k Ohm 1/2 watt resistor into plug, and use a zip tie to strap the plug down to the dash. Reinstall grill."

Then, I found a thread at
http://www.s10planet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15600
where they were saying to use a A 1000ohm resistor, but doesn't mention what wattage...

So, should I try a "2.2k ohm" resistor, or a "1000 ohm" resistor?

Would a 1000 ohm resistor be 1.0k ?

Not much on resistors and electronic parts like this, so I thought I'd ask

blaz · Post by **blaz** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:25 pm

Allways oversize the wattage rating of a resistor, resistors are cheap. I don't know what the resistance rating of the photo-sensor is, but 2.2k ohm and 1k ohm resistors are common so I would guess that they were just tried and both sizes worked. E=IR, so if you use the larger resistor the amperage will be less because voltage does not change. I would probably use the 2.2k (2200) ohm resistor with a one or two watt rating.

Good luck.

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:33 pm

today I went to Radio Shack and tried to get a 1000 ohm resistor,
1/4 watts, but all they had was the 1/2 watts in 1000 ohms.

So, I guess I'll go back tomorrow and get the 2.2k (2200) ohm resistor with a one or two watt rating.

Think this is a safe thing to do that won't fry anything in the
electrical system?

I guess I need to buy a book on basic electronics and study

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:42 pm

I went back to Radio Shack and all they had was the
2.2k resistor with a 1/2 watt rating

So, I stuck it in the plug that plugged into the sensor
and now I have manual control of my headlights.

The daytime running lights come on when I put
the truck in drive, and off again when I put it in park,
which is fine for me as I wanted to go ahead and
keep the daytime running lights.

Anyway, so far so good...don't smell anything
burning and everything seems to be working fine

ludwis · Post by **ludwis** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:47 am

I remember seeing a way to do this in the owners manual of all places. I believe that you have to quickly turn the "dome override" on and off 4 times. Then it goes into manual mode.

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:02 am

Yeah, but that's only a temp fix that you have to do each time you
start up your truck. It gets old quick.

I've been running with this resistor setup and it's working great.

I left the daytime running lights in place for safety since I'm used
to having those (my old '96 truck had this and I drove it likr that
for years)

I simply wanted to control my lights manually as it was irritating
to me to have them automatically turning themselves on and
off all the time...like when you pull under a shadetree it thinks
it's night time and turns on the lights.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:37 am

I guess everyone is different. The AHL feature has never bugged me except for one time, That was when I decided to try the local hot dog "drive in" that the locals rant about and people drive from all over to try their chili dogs. It was after dark and when I fired up to back out, my head lights came on blinding the people facing me. On the other hand, I find the DRL feature annoying and sometimes costly. I've read countless threads on how Silver Star headlights are good, expensive but, short lived. I am coming up on almost five years for my original silver stars. Disabling the DRL feature may have contributed to their longevity.

Now that I have bragged on them, all four will probably fail today.

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:56 am

Yeah, I've never been a fan of funky headlight colors like Silverstars.

I've seen alot of vehicles coming towards me at night with bluish
looking headlights and they seem to be on bright...which is illegal
to have your brights on in traffic since it can blind other drivers

And, when I flash my brights at them...then they flash their brights
at me and whoa! Them is some bright friggin lights!

Only thing I want to do now is make it where all 4 of my lights
come on when I turn on my brights. That ought to light up the
dark roads a little better than what I have now.

04crewvt · Post by **04crewvt** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:23 am

I like the auto headlights, It's annoying after running the crew to have to manually turn on and off the Tahoe's lights. I am still on my firsts set of aftermarket lamps (high watt blue) with no problems with the DRLs, my guess is other voltage issues kill lamps more than them running constantly at low voltage in our rigs.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:32 am

Rockrz wrote:Yeah, I've never been a fan of funky headlight colors like Silverstars.............

No color to them, just bright.

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:05 pm

Well, I think some of the guys out there are running some that are
not only bright, but also blueish in color. I see them frequently.

Maybe they are some other brand other than Silverstar, I dunno

DLP · Post by **DLP** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:18 pm

I like the brite-white of the lowbeams on the SilverStars. Too bad the high beam is yellowish. Still a lot better than the 3 year old stockers IMO.

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:33 pm

I guess I'm gettin old...I kinda like the plane jane stock lights.

I'll be looking for my walker now....