Full Time DRLs

[Avalanche Rookie]

This is an easier way in my humble opinion.
And you can do it with key off.
1 Remove the panel under the steering Wheel, 2 screws
2 You may need to remove the dash bezel to get lower panel off.
3 At the bcm Tap into the 'Green wire with black stripe' and connect the new wire to a ground. Plenty of metal to screw to under there. You can do this with or without a switch.  
With the Dash bezel off you can use this as an opportunity to install a chevy stile switch to turn off your new mod. one place could be in the blanks by the On-Star buttons. Other wise this is a set and forget mod God I love this place

P.S. this is for 2002 AVs

I hope the rewright is clearer than mud now

I performed this mod yesterday and it still didn't work.  I guess I'll have to wait until the National Meet and have one of the "AV Pro's" help me with it.

[Alaska_AV.]

I performed this mod yesterday and it still didn't work.  I guess I'll have to wait until the National Meet and have one of the "AV Pro's" help me with it.

I hate it when a mod goes bad.

First thing I'd do is check the fuse.
2nd It is very possible that the connector cut the,  Green with black stripe wire, in half. With only the insulation holding it together.

If you cut the wire in half I believe the DRL's wouldn't work. So I'd give the connection another look.

Good luck, Jon

[blurvey]

THANKS TO jgwatsonjg for giving me the site to correct my GHASTLY mistake on this "EASY" Mod.  My wife still thinks I'm nuts, but she got over the fact that I was actually "SCREWING" with our brand new truck

I NOW HAVE FULL TIME AMBERS!!!

[TNAV]

???Just curious if everything has been worked out for the '03s?  I'm glad to hear that the override still works.  Keep us posted!

Thanks

Agreed inquiring '03 AV modders want to know, is there an update?

[MeanGreenAv]

Well done, COLORADO MEDIC !!!!!!  I think that makes at least 3 or 4 of us in Colorado to have this mod  .

You'll love the looks of amber DRLs at night with your fogs and headlights.

[SlashDG91]

Pray for me, I'm going in tonight.  And double check that I have the right equipment....

1.  Beer
2.  More beer
3.  Hammer to fix anything that the beer didn't

[Drifter]

They're on!  Thanks Alaska_Av and EDZ_71 for the post!  The wire under the dash was a piece of cake.  I was hesitant about the full time DRLs mod with some people's experiences not working, but this post made it a snap

[SlashDG91]

We've hit paydirt!!!  I am so pumped it's stupid.

Let's set the scene:  I began the day reading up on the many "bass" threads.  I got so depressed and upset that I started my own thread to complain about anything I could think of.  With the calming voices of some of our senior members I settled down.  Then asked to have the entire thread dismantled...and it was so.  (Thanks again to the powers that be).

I then went back to my "List of mods to be done".  And there it was, change DRLs into full time fun.  So, I spent the next few hours (at work of course) researching the methods to accomplish this grand canyon like task.  In my mind anything involving electricity is not an easy task.

I read so much my eyes began to bleed.  We'll maybe that was the pencil that slipped into my eye when I feel asleep about halfway through all this information.

Anyway, I put together three pages of information that included XRover, jasgot, jgwatsonjg, Jamie, and a few others I forgot to write down their "post names".  I took every bit of this out to the garage with more tools than could ever be used in one single night...I didn't want to have to go digging through things and slow me down.

Here's a very brief outline of my steps:
1.  24 pack of Bud Light iced down in big cooler
2.  Wheeled big cooler to garage
3.  Opened first Bud Light
4.  Opened second Bud Light
5.  Opended third Bud Light and drew the attention of three of my male neighbors.
6.  Opended first Bud Light for my three male neighbors.
7.  Showed all my notes, pictures, and tools to my three male neighbors.
8.  Standing ovation from my three male neighbors before anything was started.
9.  Opended second Bud Light for my three male neighbors.
10.  20+ minutes has passed and my hood is not up yet.
11.  One of my male neighbors wheels his smaller cooler over to my garage.
12.  Another male neighbor wheels over his quite large grill to begin a combined family meal of hamburgers, corn on the cob, baked tators, and beer.  (the kids were only allowed to have one beer each).
13.  I begin.
14.  Using smoke (from the grill) and mirrors I followed directions for each step given by DRL experts.
15.  We have reached the point where it is time to pull the two blue wires out but the meal breaks our progress.
16.  The 24 pack of mine is gone.  The 12 pack of my neighbor with the small cooler is gone.  Dinner has begun and approximately 50+ minutes has passed since step 1 of this sequence.
17.  Neighbor who has contributed nothing (he's a mooch) brings over a 12 pack to help in the cause.
18.  All children and women have made for the hills.
19.  The four men spend 15 minutes, at least, trying to figure out how to get the little blue wires out without breaking anything.
20.  I find a post that says "the best way to free the little blue wires is to wedge a paper clip under the tab".
21.  We sit to discuss this new found post and drink a beer.
22.  I go back to finish my work and almost two hours has passed.  Man, I'm good.
23.  Two of my male neighbors get called back home by their wives...and they leave their beer...not smart around here.
24.  The blue wires come out and are easily moved into their new place.
25.  Every piece of equipment is put back into place and the hood is shut.
26.  Oooops, we find in the small cooler what appears to be a bracket and four bolts.
27.  The bracket and bolts are replaced, and I know what your thinking, what about the negative battery cable?  I'm not stupid ya know.
28.  With my last male neighbor in front of my AV, I crank it up and yell out the door..."are they on?"  He replies..."are what on?"  I told him he couldn't have any more beer.
29.  I am full time with my DRLs
30.  Thanks to everyone for all their hard work and their posts to make this possible.

Goodnight Irene!!!

[StrobinAvalanche]

Haha That Should Go Up As Post Of The Year!!!!!!!

[MeanGreenAv]

Yeah congrats on a wonderful job done SlashDG91 and Drifter !  You'll love the looks of amber at night  .

SlashDG91 - that's one interesting step-by-step analysis you had  

[SlashDG91]

Has anyone looked into connecting the DRLs with the turning signals?  So that you have both ambers blinking at the same time?

[lightbg]

Jeez.....if it took you 36+ cans to get the amber mod done, when you try the turn signals you'd better get a keg.....

Congratulations!

Jake

[SlashDG91]

Don't temp me lightbg.  If your buying, I'll change over your turn signals too.  May need a pillow and blanket 'cause it may turn into a sleep over by the time I'm done.

[Avalanche Rookie]

Finially!!!  I got my full time DRLs to work.

Big thanks to jgwatsonjg for his assistance.

[TNAV]

Don't get too exicted yet...

There is an updated Full Time DRL mod for the '03 coming that retains the use of the headlight switch for turning them off and also makes the work with the key fob for night time keyless entry.

WesTexAvy And Sovereinmgmt have it done, I'm doing it tomorrow for testing purposes.  After we know it's ok, I'm sure Chris will post it for everyone.

SJP

I would get it done tonight but it's been a BAD bad Day...

Any new news for us '03 AV'rs   ?

[U.S.A.valanche]

So am I to understand that these additional benefits will not apply to the '02's?  I haven't converted mine yet but am anxious to do so, and if something different would be better than the already stated "one-wire" mod I will do that.

[ktr-sa]

Did the one wire.

[toonman]

has anyone just tried tying the blue wire going to the fogs and purple wire going to th drl's together.(colores may be switched, cant remember) they are located at the bulb. I just tied them together about ten inches from the bulbs and now both the drl's and fogs come on at the same time. since only the drl's are on during the day, they supply voltage to the fogs in the daytime. Now at night the headlights are on, turning the drl's off, you now can turn on the fogs that are now powering the drl's. since the headlights turn off the drl's in the daytime the two power wires I spliced together are never working against each other. The only down fall is that you dont have the option to have either fog's on or drl's on. they both stay on.  

[ktr-sa]

I put up seven pix of my DRL install - they are step by step and I think it makes the one-wire install crystal clear.  No warranties, etc but mine work.  Check it out at KTR's Full-Time DRLs page.  Let me know what you think.  

[toonman]

looks pretty simple. I used the same scotchlok connectors on mine also.  I just might consider your mod instead, except I'll through in a switch to toggle the drl's. thanks for the pics. By the way I have some family that lives down there by you. I miss texas.

[TNAV]

"There is an updated Full Time DRL mod for the '03 coming that retains the use of the headlight switch for turning them off and also makes the work with the key fob for night time keyless entry.
WesTexAvy And Sovereinmgmt have it done, I'm doing it tomorrow for testing purposes.  After we know it's ok, I'm sure Chris will post it for everyone."

Still waiting for the post on this for my '03 WesTexAvy and Sovereinmgmt, any updates    
 

[Loopback]

Patiently the 03 Avalanche owners wait …………….

[TNAV]

"There is an updated Full Time DRL mod for the '03 coming that retains the use of the headlight switch for turning them off and also makes the work with the key fob for night time keyless entry.
WesTexAvy And Sovereinmgmt have it done, I'm doing it tomorrow for testing purposes.  After we know it's ok, I'm sure Chris will post it for everyone."

Still waiting for the post on this for my '03 WesTexAvy and Sovereinmgmt, any updates    
 

Can we get an update from either Member?

[WesTexAVY]

"There is an updated Full Time DRL mod for the '03 coming that retains the use of the headlight switch for turning them off and also makes the work with the key fob for night time keyless entry.
WesTexAvy And Sovereinmgmt have it done, I'm doing it tomorrow for testing purposes.  After we know it's ok, I'm sure Chris will post it for everyone."

Still waiting for the post on this for my '03 WesTexAvy and Sovereinmgmt, any updates    
  

Sorry for the delay with this 2003 Better Method  DRL/NRL mod. These instructions are for the 2003 Avalanche ONLY! so here we go................

Shopping for parts:
At Radio-Shack you will need to take $3.00 with you for some 50 volt/1 amp diodes and a pack of ScotchLok Tap connectors.
Diodes : RS part #276-1101 (1N4001 Industry #). This is a pkg. of 2 for 59 cents. I believe all Radio-Shacks have gone to the big metal drawer/bin cabinets for these items.......if so these diodes are in drawer #B-1

Red Squeeze Tap Connectors: RS part #64-3053. This is a pkg. of 7 for $1.99. These are in drawer #B-13. (These are actually 3M brand Scotchloks).

**Edit: See post #239 below for issues resolved when using these tap connectors**

Modification Theory and Results:
2003 DRL/NRL mod using a diode keeps (or takes the DRL back to) it's original circuit relay and fuse with modified control. The DRL works as factory except at night it takes a relay trigger from the Park lamp relay so this does 2 things: 1. DRL lights on at night and , 2. using the Headlight defeat (manual off) position of  headlight switch turns everything off.

Tools Needed:
13mm Socket and pliers. (7mm nut-driver only if you need to REVERSE the prior DRL/NRL mod of moving the blue wires)

I don't want to make this post longer than necessary...so I will just link to prior information already posted. Sorry for bouncing around for info  .

Gaining access to it post. DISREGARD PICS IN POST #119 IF YOUR HAVE NOT DONE THE "MOVE THE DRL WIRE MOD"

If you DID  do the "2003 Move 1 wire DRL/NRL mod", you must REVERSE it now. Refer to the
Move 1 wire post for pin location.

The Better Method DRL/NRL mod:

1.  Connect the Cathode side (white stripe) of the diode to pin #F11 White wire on the C1 white (light grey) block with a red tap-in connector.
2. Connect the other end of the diode to pin #E3 Lt Green w/ Black stripe on the same block with another tap-in connector.


  :0:If you would like to do the "All 4 Headlights on High" mod, you might do it now since you already have the parts and you are in the same wiring location   Follow this
2003 Diode for All4onHigh post for instructions.

**For the 2002 Avalanche, I was not able to achieve this mod at the under-hood fuse block...I did achieve this mod at the under dash BCM location. Now I am not a fan of any wiring mods in this location for various reasons....so I don't think I will post this info until I come up with a better location for the mod   .

Did I mention that this is for the 2003 model and not the 2002 model??? I am sure this violates vehicle codes in various states, and may result in a traffic violation or vehicle inspection failure (you bunch of OUTLAWS ). I would like to stress my favorite XRover WARNING below also applies to this post:

This mod I am sure will void the warranty but unless someone is actually looking underneath the electrical box, they will never see it. Please do not attempt this unless you are VERY competant and knowledgeable in electrical  systems and using a multimeter.
............I am in no way telling anyone to attempt this. If you understand what I have done and it makes sense to you then you can do whatever you want.

If it is a bit confusing, please don't  attempt this because you can fry your electrical system if you tap into the wrong wire.......

If you think I am just plain crazy,
Get in line...

[TNAV]

Thanks WesTexAVY