HOW TO: Override DRLs on a GA

[SC/TGrandAm]

Apparently you dont use the Tech 2 to disable DRL's theres another computer that does that.

[cavingman]

yea, you can test them and whatnot, but no permanent changes.
I did figure out how to make individual gauges sweep and open the trunk and stuff. I got a picture of my car at 150mph and 0 rpm

[jdub]

hey i did the drl mod but not the alc mod, and when i turned the car on the full on headlights came on...is this supposed to happen until i do the alc mod or is it just jacked right now?

[dxtreme_85]

Sure you cut the right blue wire????? There are a couple down there....(I have to ask, its the first thing that comes to mind)

[redramair01]

So, does this work on a 01 GA?

[nightingale]

Thanks to everyone who has posted in this thread. after reading the entire thing it was easy. the pics really helped. thanks again to all.

[notsoaveragej0e]

Originally Posted by armith

ALC bypass
at connector C2 find A3 the yellow/black wire, and B2 light green/black wire.. be careful because there are two light green/black wires on that connector.. the one you want is closest to the yellow/black wire.

cut these wires again leaving as much wire as possible attached to the BCM.. simply tie the two wires together and tape them up real good. (this is the same thing as removing ambient light sensor and adding a jumper wire)

The BCM will now think that it is daylight all the time and it will not energize the relay to turn on the headlights.

independant fogs instructions are available just PM me. Most people have been concerned about DRL and ALC bypasses..

Sorry if this has been answered already, i simply cannot bring myself to read all 934854987 pages of this- I have a 2003 GA, and all i pretty much want to do is leave the ALC sensor functional all the time, but have a switch i can wire to it so that when i want to, i cant shut off the lights (at night) completely. I have already disabled the DRLs, so thats not a problem .
From what i deduced from the above quote, it sounds like if the wire loop with the sensor has a complete circuit (the sensor is not putting resistance on the loop), then the lights are off. If the sensor senses light, then it puts resistance on the loop and tells the computer to put the lights on.
So If i wanted to do a switched setup, i could theoretically just splice on a wire to the pos lead to the sensor, hook it to the constant + of a switch, have the "switched" of the switch go to the "negative" of the sensor, and the ground on the switch just grounded.
Would this be right, or is it horribly wrong? please let me know, and again i appoligize in advance if this was already answered, i just am way too ADD to read all these pages.

thanks!

[lightningGA]

hey armith.....hows the instruction booklet coming along???

[armith]

It has to be reorganized to meet the needs of each model year GA. Now that I got Acrobat 6 installed on this new PC I can start piecing it together again and hopefully get the PDF version out.

I'll be honest I haven't worked on it much the last few months. I have earned a couple new titles in the last year. Titles like Software Engineer and Daddy have ended up being my major time consumers. But I assure ya I will have it ready..

I didn't start this thread just to abandon it. Almost kinda proud to see that even after all this time has still continued to be one of the most active useful threads on the forum.

I will need to get it approved by the mods.. but I do believe that when I get the PDF completed.. I will create a new thread with the instructions and the PDF for download.. Then have it locked down and leave all questions, comments and what not on this thread.. No sense in having 2 endless threads. Any mods opposed to this?

Originally Posted by lightningGA

hey armith.....hows the instruction booklet coming along???

[SC/TGrandAm]

Armith- I just put together or got all/or most of the info together for the DRL/ALC disables thru the years.

Hopefully It will help you and others out a little more.



99-00 model Grand Am

No drl
at the BCM, locate Connector C2 (center)

On the "B" side row of pins, locate the dark blue wire (b4)

Cut this wire, leaving as much as possible still attached to the BCM.

Now simply add on a piece of wire to the side that is still connected to the body control module. attach this wire to a good ground, like a screw in the metal part of the dash behind the glove box or I used the interior light mounting bracket screw right there next to the BCM.

The BCM now sees this to mean that the regular headlights are on, and so it energizes the relay that turns off the DRL’s.

ALC bypass
at connector C2 find A3 the yellow/black wire, and B2 light green/black wire.. be careful because there are two light green/black wires on that connector.. the one you want is closest to the yellow/black wire.

cut these wires again leaving as much wire as possible attached to the BCM.. simply tie the two wires together and tape them up real good. (this is the same thing as removing ambient light sensor and adding a jumper wire)

The BCM will now think that it is daylight all the time and it will not energize the relay to turn on the headlights.



01-02 model Grand Am

No drl
1.) I should not have to say this but first disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. (cheap insurance).

2.) Remove the middle connector as stated before in the previous posts. Now locate the brown wire (pin 8 on the bottom). This is the pin that tells the BCM that the lights switch in not in the auto setting. Cut this wire, leaving enough room to extend it to the relay.

3.)The relay: Get a standard 4 or 5 pin 12V relay. Here is how the pins need to be wired. Pin 30-->go to the brown wire that you cut (on the BCM side), Pin 87-->12V (constant), Pin 86--> ground, Pin 85-->12V (switched when key is on), Pin 87a-->no connect.
NOTE: the 12V constant to Pin 87 could also be switched I do not think that it matters.

4.)Once the relay is connected I used some double sided tape and stuck it next to the fuse box out of the way. Now you need to cut the dark blue wire and ground it just like the 99-00.

5.)reconnect your BCM and your battery and test the system. Every thing worked fine for me no SVS and no DRLs.

**Apparently this method works as well**
Ground the dark blue wire(b4) and run a jumper wire from the brown wire (pin 8 on the bottom) to the sunroof fuse on the Passenger side fuse panel.

ALC bypass
1.) Remove the ambient light sensor under the dash defrost grill.

2.) Put a 10ohm resistor in place of ambient light sensor.



03-04 model Grand Am

No drl
Pull DRL #22 relay (located in the under hood fuse panel)

ALC bypass
1.) Remove the ambient light sensor under the dash defrost grill.

2.) Put a 10ohm resistor in place of ambient light sensor.

[armith]

Wow that does help.. I didn't have the final word on the 03-04 models. Thanx. Well I have Acrobat running, I have all the info and seperated out.. Guess I just need to put it all together and send out the PDF.

I would be interested in getting a nice compilation of pictures of some people's installations.. I have one set of pictures and am looking for more. you can send me an email with the pics..

Thanx

[notsoaveragej0e]

Originally Posted by SC/TGrandAm

03-04 model Grand Am

No drl
Pull DRL #22 relay (located in the under hood fuse panel)

ALC bypass
1.) Remove the ambient light sensor under the dash defrost grill.

2.) Put a 10ohm resistor in place of ambient light sensor.

Short. Sweet. Simple.

Thanks!

[ChrisB]

I think you got it right...

[Landon]

what is the bcm and als?

[dxtreme_85]

BCM=Body Control Module
ALS=Ambient Light Sensor

[sickness]

What about the 96-98 Grand Ams... : (

[SC/TGrandAm]

Originally Posted by sickness

What about the 96-98 Grand Ams... : (

If anybody knows how to do it they haven't came fourth with instuctions... someone would have to do some testing on a 96-98 to find out if previous methods would work.

[sickness]

Someone with a 97 Grand Prix told me there is a fuse in his car, and he took that out. No warning light, nothing. His DRLs were off. I'll look more into that.

[Rogue9]

How do you get the light sensor out of the socket? I couldn't get it out.

Problem 2: I did the wiring as per the 2001 instructions and I still get a SVS without the ALS part installed. Will fixing the ALS return it to normal?
So right now I have the 2001 instructions for DRL removal done, pretty sure all the connections are right and tight and still have SVS.
So I drove home tonight with no dash lights or rear running lights...

[armith]

wow man... That seriously sounds like a wire crossed or a wire that came loose during modification. I would consider returning the wiring back to stock and double check all fuses.. could have popped a fuse too.

2001+ have an additional wire that connects to the headlight switch I believe its possible that if the wrong wire was used that its grounding out the one that controls the dash lights or the rear lights... to have both of them out though.. kinda makes me wonder if a fuse didn't blow too. I'd have to look thru the wiring diagram again.. don't have my stuff here with me at work. I'll check back tonight... let me know how it goes.