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How to: 2007/2008 Full Time Daytime Running Lights (FT DRL)

Depends.  The reason for the diode is to make the electricity travel one way only so that you don't get feedback.  That is, you want the lights to turn on the DRLs, not the DRLs to turn on the lights.  If that fuse has a diode built in, you should be good.  Make sure it's rated for the right voltage.
 
No. The fuse does not have a diode built in. It is just an pigtail for attaching aux power to it. So the 50piv, 3A diode is what I need instead right?
 
That was the biggest diode I could find at Radio Shack and it's been in over a year.  Maybe someelse could answer if it is the RIGHT diode to use, but it does the trick.  You do need to solder it with some smaller wire - the wire on the diode is too big to go into the fuse block.
 
Great wirte up!  I'll be doing this shortly and if chAVey or AVcop have any set ups left over I'll buy one. 
Anyways I was looking at the pics and noticed that chAVey had inserted the wire in to the right side of the fuse and AVcop looks to have placed it in the left side of the fuse.   I do have an 07 and just want to make sure. Thanks.

-J
 
So I did this mod last weekend and a good tip is if the 22 ga wire doesn't allow the fuses to fit back in, make the ends of the wire-diode-wire set up flat at the ends so it fits better in the fuse holder with the fuse.
 
nwrolln07 said:
Great wirte up!  I'll be doing this shortly and if chAVey or AVcop have any set ups left over I'll buy one. 
Anyways I was looking at the pics and noticed that chAVey had inserted the wire in to the right side of the fuse and AVcop looks to have placed it in the left side of the fuse.   I do have an 07 and just want to make sure. Thanks.

-J
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Sorry, got your email but I lost it before I replied.

Anyways, the reason I put it on the right side of the fuse was that that was the way the electricity was flowing.  The electricity comes in from the right side, goes thru the fuse, then down the left side to the lights.  If you put it on the left side, you could blow the fuse or even remove it completely, but the DRLs would still be on.  By putting it on the right side, you still get fuse protection so if the fuse blows or is removed, the FT DRL will also quit working.  You don't want something bypassing the fuse if it's really blowing.
 
Hey everyone, I want to do this mod and the FT Fogs as well, but I have NO electrical equipment to work with.  Would anybody be willing to make 2 ready to plug and play diodes for me?  I will gladly pay a reasonable price for time, materials, and shipping. 

Thanks so much to all who make this a great resource for our awesome trucks!
 
adamjeeps said:
Hey everyone, I want to do this mod and the FT Fogs as well, but I have NO electrical equipment to work with.  Would anybody be willing to make 2 ready to plug and play diodes for me?  I will gladly pay a reasonable price for time, materials, and shipping. 

Thanks so much to all who make this a great resource for our awesome trucks!
Click to expand...
I have extra diods. PM me your Shipping address and I'll make them up and send the out to you.
 
Just wanted to know if anyone else had this happen.
Ok so i did the full time DRL mod on my 08 AV along with the fogs on high mod.
I just noticed today that if I turn the headlight switch to only turn on the parking lights the DRLs go off.
I had no idea about this. I like driving with only my parking lights on with my fogs.
I tried everything to see how things worked and this is what i came up with

If the lights are on auto day or night the DRLs come on
If I turn the switch to turn on the headlights on i have DRLs and fogs on High
If I turn the switch to only the parking lights....NO DRL's
If I turn the switch to parking lights and then turn my fogs on NO DRLs

Kinda sucks cause I really like the why the AV looks with only the Parking lights on and with parking lights and Fogs.

I really want to figure out how to get the DRLs to say on with only the parking lights and if i turn my fogs on.
one more thing...

If the headlights are on auto and its day time and I press the fog light button then the fogs and parking lights come on.

Any ideas???
???
 
anyone ?
ok i messed with it a little  more and NOW everytime the headlights (at night) come on the fog automatically come on. Not only that but if the headlight are off in the daytime and i press the fog light button then then fogs, headlights and parking lights come on. Before this happend i flipped the direction of the dieode for the fogs just to see what would happen. Well after I switched it back this is when the new puzzle started.

Any ideas ?
anyone ?
Please ?
:E:
 
Sorry DJ - Getting a little confused as to where you are at.

Pull all the diodes and verify that the lights all work correctly and that it's not a diode causing the problem.  Go back to where we started to make sure that we didn't blow some fuse somewhere.

The small diode (Doide #5 from Vertabatt's thread) is the foglight diode.  Putting it there makes the fogs come on whenever the low beams are on.  In the 2003-06, the lows would turn OFF when the hi-beams came on.  That's why he had the extra diodes in there.  In the 2007-Up, the lows stay ON when the hi-beams come on, thus lows are on always when either hi or low beam are on.  Putting the diode from the lows to the fogs made the fogs come on whenever the lights were on (ie at night) but prevented the lights from turning on if you turned on just the fogs (ie when it really was foggy).  You only need a small diode because you aren't actually powering the fogs.  You're using just a little bit of power from one relay (ie electric light switch) to turn on the other relay.  That relay (=switch) has the actual fog light power going thru a the other connection.

I used the larger diode from the low beams to the DRLs because the DRLs don't actually have a relay - they are controlled by the BCM.  So the electricity to power the actual DRLs is flowing thru that diode, hence why it is larger.

If you want to turn on fogs with only parking lights only, then you would run another diode from the parking lights to the fog relay.  I don't know what size diode that would be - you'll need a multimeter to test it.  BTW, driving with parking lights only is illegal in most states so I can't recommend it.
 
Ill check things over again but I dont understand what Im doing wrong. When it was only the Fogs on high mod everything was working right.

chAVey said:
Sorry DJ - Getting a little confused as to where you are at.

Pull all the diodes and verify that the lights all work correctly and that it's not a diode causing the problem.  Go back to where we started to make sure that we didn't blow some fuse somewhere.

The small diode (Doide #5 from Vertabatt's thread) is the foglight diode.  Understand that part

Putting it there makes the fogs come on whenever the low beams are on. Is that for the 07+ as well ? 

In the 2003-06, the lows would turn OFF when the hi-beams came on. But in the 07+ the fogs go out when the high beams are turned on but the low beams stay on with the highs....correct ? 

That's why he had the extra diodes in there.  In the 2007-Up, the lows stay ON when the hi-beams come on, thus lows are on always when either hi or low beam are on. understand that part  

Putting the diode from the lows to the fogs made the fogs come on whenever the lights were on (ie at night) but prevented the lights from turning on if you turned on just the fogs (ie when it really was foggy). ok that does not happen. first off how do you turn only the fogs on? would you turn on only the parking lights and then hit the fog light button or when the lights are off hit the fog light button?

You only need a small diode because you aren't actually powering the fogs.  You're using just a little bit of power from one relay (ie electric light switch) to turn on the other relay.  That relay (=switch) has the actual fog light power going thru a the other connection. Understand this

I used the larger diode from the low beams to the DRLs because the DRLs don't actually have a relay - they are controlled by the BCM.  So the electricity to power the actual DRLs is flowing thru that diode, hence why it is larger. I have the larger diode connected the same way. if you turn off your headlights and only have the parking lights on do your drl's still work ?

If you want to turn on fogs with only parking lights only, then you would run another diode from the parking lights to the fog relay. I want to be able to turn on my headlight and have the fogs come on when i push the fog button but at the same time the fogs stay on when i turn on the highs. but i also want to be able to drive with only my parking lights on or only my parking lights and my fogs and have the DRls always be on no matter what lights are on or off 

I don't know what size diode that would be - you'll need a multimeter to test it.  BTW, driving with parking lights only is illegal in most states so I can't recommend it. I live in Georgia and in Georgia i don't even think they have a law stating that you need headlights or parkinglights at all. I know for a fact you can drive around without a hood cause so many people do lol. everything is really differant down here.  cops just don't care. you can drive around all day without break lights or rear running lights but look out if you have anything like 5% window tint! they think its a safety issue and it makes it hard to see other cars on the road... hummm i dunno but i think if that car in front of me had break lights and running lights i probably wouldn't have seen him at night and not made his high dollar s500 Mercedes look like a smart car.
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DJ Payaso said:
Ill check things over again but I dont understand what Im doing wrong. When it was only the Fogs on high mod everything was working right.
Click to expand...

But in the 07+ the fogs go out when the high beams are turned on but the low beams stay on with the highs....correct ? 
No.  Because the lows stay on when the highs come one, the fogs should stay on at all times.  If you look at my pic, you can see the fogs are on with the highs too.

ok that does not happen. first off how do you turn only the fogs on? would you turn on only the parking lights and then hit the fog light button or when the lights are off hit the fog light button?
You should be able to turn on the fogs normally with it's own button.  The diode facing the right direction makes sure that the low beams do NOT come on at the same time.  If you were to just put a piece of wire there, then the fogs would turn on the low beams and the lows would turn on the fogs at all time.  The diode prevents the first scenario.


I have the larger diode connected the same way. if you turn off your headlights and only have the parking lights on do your drl's still work ?
No, we don't have them connected this way.  The fogs are on only with headlights, not just parking lights.

I want to be able to turn on my headlight and have the fogs come on when i push the fog button but at the same time the fogs stay on when i turn on the highs.
Again, the small diode placed the right direction should accomplish this.  Go back and read Vertabatt's thread for Diode #5 here.  Diode #5 is the only one you need in the 2007-Ups because the lows are always on whenever the lights are on.  You don't need to do Diode #1 in the 2007-Ups.

but i also want to be able to drive with only my parking lights on or only my parking lights and my fogs and have the DRls always be on no matter what lights are on or off
This is not something we had scoped out.  But it would work the same way - you would need to run a diode from the parking lights to the DRLs.  You would need to test with a multimeter to know how much juice goes thru to know what size diode you need.  But with this mod, you probably would NOT need the big diode I specified for this mod.  Let us know what you find.
 
chAVey said:
But in the 07+ the fogs go out when the high beams are turned on but the low beams stay on with the highs....correct ? 
No.  Because the lows stay on when the highs come one, the fogs should stay on at all times.  If you look at my pic, you can see the fogs are on with the highs too.

ok that does not happen. first off how do you turn only the fogs on? would you turn on only the parking lights and then hit the fog light button or when the lights are off hit the fog light button?
You should be able to turn on the fogs normally with it's own button.  The diode facing the right direction makes sure that the low beams do NOT come on at the same time.  If you were to just put a piece of wire there, then the fogs would turn on the low beams and the lows would turn on the fogs at all time.  The diode prevents the first scenario.


I have the larger diode connected the same way. if you turn off your headlights and only have the parking lights on do your drl's still work ?
No, we don't have them connected this way.  The fogs are on only with headlights, not just parking lights.

I want to be able to turn on my headlight and have the fogs come on when i push the fog button but at the same time the fogs stay on when i turn on the highs.
Again, the small diode placed the right direction should accomplish this.  Go back and read Vertabatt's thread for Diode #5 here.  Diode #5 is the only one you need in the 2007-Ups because the lows are always on whenever the lights are on.  You don't need to do Diode #1 in the 2007-Ups.

but i also want to be able to drive with only my parking lights on or only my parking lights and my fogs and have the DRls always be on no matter what lights are on or off
This is not something we had scoped out.  But it would work the same way - you would need to run a diode from the parking lights to the DRLs.  You would need to test with a multimeter to know how much juice goes thru to know what size diode you need.  But with this mod, you probably would NOT need the big diode I specified for this mod.  Let us know what you find.
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Ok i took all the diodes off so i could start from stock again and record what happend when everything was stock.

Day :: Manually turning on the headlight only the low beams come on
Day :: Manually turning on the headlight and pressing the fog light button fogs come on
Day :: Manually turning on the headlights and pressing the fog light buttom (fogs on now) Fogs will go off when the high beams are turned on
Day :: Manually turning on the headlights and then turning on the high beams without touching the fog light button only the highs and lows are on.
Day :: Not turning on the headlight but pressing the fog light button, fogs and parking lights come on.  **
---------
Everything is the same when the light come on automatically at night
except ** because obviously the lights are already on.
---------

Just put back in the large diode like in replay #2 (For the full time DRL's and everthing works. DRL's say on no matter what I do with the fogs/Highs/lows
But still no fogs on High obviously.

So guess I need to know how to make the fogs stay on with the High beams but not come on with the lows or parking light unless I press the fog light button.

If this all sound like it is doing what is sould when stock please let me know

 
Yeah, sounds like you've got it all right again. 

If you want fogs with high beam ONLY (and not low beams), then you need to do Vertabatts Diode #1 INSTEAD of Diode #5.  Same diode - just coming from a different place.  Don't put in #5.

If you want DRLS FT including when just under parking lights, then you need to move the big diode from the low beams to the parking light circuit.  Sorry, I don't know the specifics of that - just follow your fusebox and use a multimeter to test.
 
chAVey said:
Yeah, sounds like you've got it all right again. 

If you want fogs with high beam ONLY (and not low beams), then you need to do Vertabatts Diode #1 INSTEAD of Diode #5.  Same diode - just coming from a different place.  Don't put in #5.

If you want DRLS FT including when just under parking lights, then you need to move the big diode from the low beams to the parking light circuit.  Sorry, I don't know the specifics of that - just follow your fusebox and use a multimeter to test.
Click to expand...
Ok but i want to be able to turn the parking light on only and then turn the fogs on
then also be able to turn the lows on and then the fogs if i want.
and then with the lows and highs on have the fogs stay on.

The DRLS FT is what i  want as well and should be able to figure that one out. I don't have a multimeter so as soon as i can get to the shop I will give it a try.

Sorry if I'm running around in circles. I'm a learn by doing kinda guy and reading about it and then trying it just doesn't work as well for me. But then again just doing it always seems to result in something expensive happening to the AV lol

Thanks for the fast replays! Its starting to make more sense and i appreciate the help !  (y)
 
OK so today on the ride to work I noticed the my FTDRL are either not working correctly or something.

Just yesterday, while driving, I noticed that when my headlights are on the FTDRL worked (as it is supposed to with this mod). So the lights that were on were: headlights, turn signal lights (on low unless I had the turn signal going) and the DRLs.

Today my headlights were on and no DRLs. Then the headlight must of automatically shut off because it got lighter out (sort of) and the FTDRLs came on with the low turn signal lights.


Am I missing something or is there a prob with the mod I did? It worked perfectly for the longest time.

 
Mitranom - check to make sure that your diodes are still good and/or haven't shorted out somewhere.  Sounds like that may have happened.
 
Ok, I tried this mod tonite and and soon as I pushed the 3114 fuse back into place my low beams and drls come on.  I started the truck and yes the drls stay on with the low and high beams but the headlights will not go out.  What am I doing wrong??

0424092131.jpg

This is with everything off as soon as I plug in the fuse for the low beams:
0424092132.jpg


Edit: Maybe the headlights are coming on because its dark in the garage and when the diode is first connected the BCM thinks I just turned off the lights and will go out by themselves in a couple minutes?  Maybe I'll wait till morning and do this outside in the light to take the auto lights out of the equation.
 
I need to do both the DRL and Fog lights on mine...got it in Sept. and have only done the Bag-Lite mod and the Amber DRL's...

If anyone has any diode kits left PM me - otherwise I'll make a trip to Radio Shack in the next few weeks...

Thanks for the awesome post!
 
The diodes are pretty cheap - $0.99 for 5 of the small ones and about $2.99 for 2 of the large ones.  Shrink wrap is about $2.99 for a small misc pack.
 
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