How to disable / disconnect DRL - with pictures - Page 8

MefistoTdi · May 31st, 2008, 10:46

u can hold the handbrake a little bit ..

for automatic it's a differant story ..

Pat Dolan · June 1st, 2008, 07:00

Something that was touched on, but not elaborated, is the issue of DRLs and using fogs. In order to make a fog light do it's job, you can NOT have the DRLs on (defeats the purpose of the fog lights). What I will eventually do on our A4 Variant is move the DRL supply down to the fog lights (located in lower valance), with the Euro fog switch over-riding the DRL input (isolated with a diode). In that way, I have the required (and usually desireable) reduced load DRLs, but no interfering light when on fog position (if you don't know why that matters, then you haven't driven in heavy snow).

Shawnz · June 11th, 2008, 23:45

I did mine tonight. I did a beautiful job heat-shrinking the TFL pin, plugged it in and... still had DRLs. I unplugged the connector and found the heat shrink bunched up on the harness side.

I tried a couple more times and gave up. A wide flat flate screw driver made short work of laying the TFL pin over.

No more DRLs here. To make up for it I'll get on the 5-light mod soon

.

bakdoor · January 17th, 2009, 15:15

To start off, I have an '06 Jetta that has a busted drivers side low beam. I was gonna do fogs but now I'm thinking an HID upgrade would be money better spent.

So, from reading this thread I guess I need to use VAG-COM to disable my DRLs. And if my dealer refuses to do it, what options do I have? Find someone locally that has VAG-COM and pay them to do it? Any other ideas? What about installing a Euroswitch? Does that disable the DRLs in and of itself?

I really want a set of HIDs installed, but I know the DRLs and the decreased voltage are an issue. Ideas and experience is appreciated.

Thanks!

MBoni · January 18th, 2009, 06:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakdoor

Find someone locally that has VAG-COM and pay them to do it? Any other ideas? What about installing a Euroswitch? Does that disable the DRLs in and of itself?

Yep, finding someone with vag-com is about your only option.

Installing a Euroswitch is also a good idea, but you actually have to disable DRLs (or change to Scandinavian DRL mode) before the Euroswitch works right: the parking light-only mode gets overridden by the DRL mode.

Lew · January 21st, 2009, 12:09

On my wife's 05 Beetle, I found there is no wire connection for the TFL pin to attach to....Is there another pin that should be taped?

graeme86 · January 21st, 2009, 13:42

Sometimes the wire is connected to the "B" pin, not the "TFL" pin.

I think some 3B Passats were connected that way for a while.

Lug_Nut · January 22nd, 2009, 18:46

Post quoted from the first page of this thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by burningmoney97

Do not remove relay 173 to disable the DRLs! There is a lot of work involved to remove the relay, and you lose the hand brake warning light in the instrument cluster. The chances of damage to the wiring harness are also greater than if you follow the instructions below.

False, and nearly a lie. The presence of this misinformation on Fred's was brought to my attention by a poster asking on another thread why his handbrake warning lamp continues to work after he simply unplugged his DRL relay 173. Mine continues to work too.
The reason is because the warning lamp for the handbrake being engaged is a parallel connection from the handbrake switch. The hand brake switch operates two circuits, one to turn on the red alert lamp in the dash, the other to turn off the power to the coil of the DRL relay.
Unplugging and removing the complete DRL relay does nothing to the handbrake alert lamp circuit.

lovemybug · January 22nd, 2009, 19:01

On mine, I just opened up the relay and put a piece of electrical tape in between the internal moving connections. The relay is still in place for any other items that may use it, but my drl's are disabled. I like it better that way. Mostly because you don't forget to turn on your headlights at night or in the fog.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug_Nut

Post quoted from the first page of this threadFalse, and nearly a lie. The presence of this misinformation on Fred's was brought to my attention by a poster asking on another thread why his handbrake warning lamp continues to work after he simply unplugged his DRL relay 173. Mine continues to work too.
The reason is because the warning lamp for the handbrake being engaged is a parallel connection from the handbrake switch. The hand brake switch operates two circuits, one to turn on the red alert lamp in the dash, the other to turn off the power to the coil of the DRL relay.
Unplugging and removing the complete DRL relay does nothing to the handbrake alert lamp circuit.

highender · March 18th, 2009, 22:22

Thanks...this is an easy mod.

There are no more pictures in the first post. Newbies or other less mechanically inclined may benefit from pics .

To add a small note to original poster's instructions:

Once you disconnect the wires (module) from the actual switch, turn the switch around, and you will see many metal pins protruding out. Some have numbers, some have letters. Choose the pin labeled " TFL" , and either bend it 90 deg , or tape it off.

Then reconnect the wire module to the switch...and push in and turn switch counterclockwise to install.

Takes only 2 minutes for first timer....even quicker once you know how.

THANKS.

SheeB · March 19th, 2009, 14:53

Love this mod as it seems my jetta would go through headlight bulbs too often because they were always running with the drl's. I truly hated changing the headlight bulbs on this car! Err.

meetis · March 21st, 2009, 20:31

Personally I simply cut the wire on the back side of the switch when i replaced it with a euro switch and soldered (yes soldered) on a set of male / femal connectors so if i for some reason want to DRL's again i just pop the switch out and connect the wire.
Personally I know DRL's are supposed to be a safety thing but i think they are over rated and simply burn out headlights even faster. Its also rather annoying because it seems there are a lot of people with DRL's in poor driving conditions that now forget to turn on their headlights because they can see fine, problem is their tail lights are not on so you cant see them till you are on top of them.

riquo · June 7th, 2009, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by graeme86

Sometimes the wire is connected to the "B" pin, not the "TFL" pin.

I think some 3B Passats were connected that way for a while.

Ony my wifes 06 TDI Beetle, it was def. Pin B, and the parking brake indicator still works!! Thanks, as everyone said it was the TFL pin even on newbug forums!! Hecho en Mexico, not EU version of Beetle

Cheers,

Riquo

lovemybug · June 7th, 2009, 15:51

I forgot to add on my previous post about opening the relay up. My DRL's are disabled, but the light for my parking brake still comes on. Just in case anyone was interested.

blizzard60 · June 7th, 2009, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by meetis

Its also rather annoying because it seems there are a lot of people with DRL's in poor driving conditions that now forget to turn on their headlights because they can see fine, problem is their tail lights are not on so you cant see them till you are on top of them.

I totally agree with this! When it's really rainy and foggy here (all the time in BC), people don't turn their lights to "on" because they are used to having day time running lights. That make is SUPER unsafe because there are no tail lights anywhere...

About this whole thread. Why are people modifying the relays when they can just pull out the switch and unplug the cable going to TFL, then zap strap it back to the bunch of wires so it's not loose in the dash? 30 seconds and much easier to "undo".

Just my $0.02,
-Chris