Toyotaforme
New member
Awesome write up! At 1/2 time I'm going to pull the plug on the DRL on my 99 Yota. Thanks for the terrific pictures too.
How to: Disable DRL on your 3rd gen. (earlier models)
- Thread starter trd_4runnin
- Start date
GottaBeTRD
New member
yeah ive heard about the switch, If i remember right it looked complicated so i was just thinking on cutting the wire then getting something that you can just pull apart when you dont want them and snap back into place when you do want them...
it may be a first, i think im gonna try it. does anyone know how much play is in the black and yellow wire?
it may be a first, i think im gonna try it. does anyone know how much play is in the black and yellow wire?
zcruiser
Senior Member
If you cut the wire and add butt connectors, you are actually adding length so you should be good.
GottaBeTRD
New member
:ybrick: i knew that haha, cool i might tackle this soon. it seems like it would be much easier then making a switch?
sapruby521
New member
Thanks for the thread, been wondering how to turn those puppies off. Still awfully sunny here in OK to be needing those.
Plus I actually went to a drive in last week, (not here, the Admiral Twin has burned
). Not being able to turn those lights off was no fun.
Plus I actually went to a drive in last week, (not here, the Admiral Twin has burned
). Not being able to turn those lights off was no fun.
Here in Canada we have to have DRL's. If your parked and don't want them to come on, pull your parking brake before you start it. If your on the trails and don't want the DRL's, pull your parking brake up one click before you start it; of course you will have the red brake light on the dash to deal with. Cheers.
Turn them off if you want, but it's a proven safety feature. They don't just put crap on there to make it more complicated! I run full lights whenever the car is moving. Someone post a mod so you get full lights with ignition "on"!
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811029.pdf
SpidermanGeek
New member
Well, I know this seems to be a pretty talked about topic on this forum as well as yotatech and when I was searching for info on how to do it, I found a lot of confusion as well as misinformation. I tackled the DRL disable and it was fairly simple so I thought I would snap a couple pictures and do a write-up. Might be nice to sticky this somewhere since it seems there are a lot of people interested in doing this.
From my understanding this will only work on earlier models of the 3rd gen 4Runner (1996-2000?). Someone please correct me if I am wrong.
The first thing you are going to want to do, is locate the battery.... should be easy enough. After you have found the battery you want to remove the nut that is closest the windshield on the battery tie-down bar. (Mine was a 12mm, you will want to hold onto the rod that the nut screws onto as it will be loose after you remove the nut.)
This is the nut:
After you remove the nut, you will see what I mean about the rod not being connected to anything on the other end. To make sure I didn't lose it, I just took the rod off and threaded the nut back on.
Rod and Nut removed:
Once you have this removed you should be able to lift up on the tie-down bar enough to slide the battery over about 6" away from the fender. This will give you plenty of room to work. There is a box hooked to the fender, and there is a clip right off of this box that you need to unplug.
This is the box:
Now, you may be able to reach down and seperate the clip on your own, but since I have bigger hands, I found it easier to just use a flathead screwdriver:
Once you have undone the clip then you should have a situation looking like this:
Your DRL's are now disabled and you can put everything back together and drive off into the daylight!!
This was my first write up ever so if it sucks.....
...Then BACK OFF!
Umm..so I did this on my '97...and now my headlights don't work at all.
SpidermanGeek
New member
Any ideas? I'd love to disable my DRL's as I just purchased the rather expensive Sylviana Silverstar Ultra light Bulbs and want to get the most life out of them.
I have a Canadian '97 limited if that makes a difference.
When I unplug the DRL module/relay, I completely lose function of my headlights.
What gives? Anybody else experience this?
I have a Canadian '97 limited if that makes a difference.
When I unplug the DRL module/relay, I completely lose function of my headlights.
What gives? Anybody else experience this?
SpidermanGeek
New member
Nobody else has run into this issue?
I'm driving around with the parking brake clicked up a notch, but I would much rather a more permanent/valid solution.
I'm driving around with the parking brake clicked up a notch, but I would much rather a more permanent/valid solution.
BoarderDave
New member
Is this the plug you are unplugging? I'm reading on other forums about 1997 4Runner's and I see someone from Canada is saying this is the plug you simply unplug for the 1997's and it works. Just want to make sure you are unplugging the right one.
This is what the other forum says..
On my 97, it's right beside the battery fastend to the fender well. All you have to do is pull the connector apart and your DRL's will be disabled. Here's a pic of the connector and box.
SpidermanGeek
New member
Yup, that's exactly the one.
I unplugged it, and my headlights don't work at all (no DRLs, high beam/low beam..nothing).
So I plugged it back in.
I unplugged it, and my headlights don't work at all (no DRLs, high beam/low beam..nothing).
So I plugged it back in.
SpidermanGeek
New member
bump
SpidermanGeek
New member
Bump again.
Is nobody else having this issue on a '97 when unplugging the gray connector from the DRL box?
I got no headlights at all when I do this and I'm getting sick of seeing my parking brake light on in the dash (because I'm using the "one click DRL disable" method right now)
Is nobody else having this issue on a '97 when unplugging the gray connector from the DRL box?
I got no headlights at all when I do this and I'm getting sick of seeing my parking brake light on in the dash (because I'm using the "one click DRL disable" method right now)
Little bruiser
New member
Hey SpiderMan.
Okay, so if you look up underneath your dash on the driver side you'll see a little gray box. Unplug the plug from the back of the box and cut the black wire with the yellow stripe. After you do that your DRL's are disabled.
Attachments
SpidermanGeek
New member
Thanks, but I think that method only applies to the 2001-2002 models.
Little bruiser
New member
Nope, not true. You and I have the exact same truck bud.
I've got a 97 runner 4x4 V6 limited and I was having the exact same problem you were having when unplugging that module beside the battery.
In fact, the only reason I joined this forum was to help you out.
I've got a 97 runner 4x4 V6 limited and I was having the exact same problem you were having when unplugging that module beside the battery.
In fact, the only reason I joined this forum was to help you out.
SpidermanGeek
New member
Awesome, ok thank you. I'll check it out and report back.
SpidermanGeek
New member
Yay! That seems to have done the trick. Snipped that wire and all my lights still work, but no DRL's.
I don't have to stare at that stupid Parking Brake light anymore, lol.
I don't have to stare at that stupid Parking Brake light anymore, lol.
Similar threads
