General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds

Simple DRL question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-19-2014, 08:21 PM
  #1  
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
 
Red97LT1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Simple DRL question

My DRLs never used to come on when the E-brake was on,but I have noticed the last few mornings when I was warming up the car(30 degrees),the DRLs are on?
I don't like advertising that my car is running without me in it,the DRLs are bright.

My brakes light is on,so I'm not sure if it's the parking brake switch or not. Ideas?
Old 03-19-2014, 10:29 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Jrclayton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Indiana
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah its the parking break im pretty sure. If a car has automatic headlights. when you start it if you apply the e-break before hand the lights wont come on. Sooo it might be a short or just might be normal. What do you drive?
Old 03-19-2014, 10:58 PM
  #3  
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
 
Red97LT1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

It's an auto
Old 03-20-2014, 03:14 AM
  #4  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (14)
 
chrysler kid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mckinney Plano Frisco
Posts: 2,720
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Red97LT1
It's an auto
Same rule applies, parking brake must be applied prior to starting the vehicle in order to keep the drl's from coming on
Old 03-20-2014, 06:21 AM
  #5  
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
 
Red97LT1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by chrysler kid
Same rule applies, parking brake must be applied prior to starting the vehicle in order to keep the drl's from coming on
Yes. The park brake is applied before the car is started. The DRLs never came on when I started the car with the p-brake on,but now they do. Thats why Im trying to figure out if the parking brake switch is bad or some other problem.
Old 03-20-2014, 07:53 AM
  #6  
Ungrounded Moderator
iTrader: (4)
 
WhiteBird00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 11,082
Received 259 Likes on 223 Posts

Default

The parking brake switch is a grounding switch that provides ground for the brake light in the instrument cluster through the DRL module. The DRL module does no processing of the ground for the light other than having a diode to prevent current back feed. But the DRL module has a solid state logic module that controls a pair of relays for the two front lamps. Your parking brake switch must be working or the light would not come on. It would seem that the logic module is not seeing the ground from the parking brake switch so it activates the DRLs whenever the ignition is on.

You may be able to open up the DRL module and check for broken traces or bad solder joints (much like the common RAP circuit problem in the BCM). Or you may want to replace the DRL module. Unfortunately, a new module is almost $400 at the dealer (about $240 online... P/N 10407669) so you might want to try a junk yard first. I've seen used ones on eBay for $30-$40. The same module fits all 98-02 Camaros and Firebirds and probably several other vehicles as well.
Old 03-20-2014, 08:11 AM
  #7  
Save the manuals!
iTrader: (5)
 
wssix99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,664
Received 322 Likes on 295 Posts

Default

When you put the e-brake on, does the BRAKE light come on in the gauge cluster? If not, you could have a problem with the handle sensor circuit.
Old 03-20-2014, 01:17 PM
  #8  
It's not mine! woo hoo!
iTrader: (7)
 
demonspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 7,128
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by wssix99
When you put the e-brake on, does the BRAKE light come on in the gauge cluster? If not, you could have a problem with the handle sensor circuit.
Good point.

It's obviously weather-dependent, so hopefully you can soon forget about it until next year

You could also disable them altogether. I respect those who do not wish to do so (*cough*WhiteBird00*cough* ); however, it's a legitimate option (I disabled them on my '00 and '02).
Old 03-20-2014, 01:54 PM
  #9  
Ungrounded Moderator
iTrader: (4)
 
WhiteBird00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 11,082
Received 259 Likes on 223 Posts

Default

Who, me??? Would I ever make a comment about disabling safety devices?


BTW, the OP already said that the BRAKE light in the instrument cluster was working:
Originally Posted by Red97LT1
... My brakes light is on,so I'm not sure if it's the parking brake switch or not. Ideas?
Old 03-20-2014, 01:57 PM
  #10  
It's not mine! woo hoo!
iTrader: (7)
 
demonspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 7,128
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
BTW, the OP already said that the BRAKE light in the instrument cluster was working:
That's what one gets when they wait to speak rather than waiting for the speaker to finish
Old 03-20-2014, 02:24 PM
  #11  
Save the manuals!
iTrader: (5)
 
wssix99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,664
Received 322 Likes on 295 Posts

Default

I read that and processed it as the brake tail lights work.

Old 03-20-2014, 09:10 PM
  #12  
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
 
Red97LT1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Well tonight the Parking Brake light didn't even come on,even though the park brake was up. I checked the wire that goes to the park brake switch and some how it had come off.

Anyways,I connected it and everything is working as it was before. I guess after 17yrs it worked its self loose.
Old 03-20-2014, 11:58 PM
  #13  
Save the manuals!
iTrader: (5)
 
wssix99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,664
Received 322 Likes on 295 Posts

Default

HA! Subconsciously, I knew it!
Old 03-21-2014, 07:02 AM
  #14  
Ungrounded Moderator
iTrader: (4)
 
WhiteBird00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 11,082
Received 259 Likes on 223 Posts

Default

The subconscious mind is an amazing thing!



Quick Reply: Simple DRL question



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:18 PM.