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ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki Grand Vitara, Vitara, Chevy Tracker (Gen. 2 Platform) 1999-2005 => Topic started by: zbadboy69 on April 15, 2007, 09:43:27 AM

Title: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: zbadboy69 on April 15, 2007, 09:43:27 AM
I moved this from the Suzuki Forum in hopes of getting some answers.  Is there anyway to turn these off?  If not, is there a way to make a switch to turn them off and on?  Some mentioned a fuse.  Couldn't find one.  One person mentioned unplugging the sensor on the dash.  Did that .....but it did not work.  Any help would be appreciated. 

Thanks
Jeff
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: Fredo on April 15, 2007, 03:34:48 PM
One person mentioned unplugging the sensor on the dash.  Did that .....but it did not work.  Any help would be appreciated. 

Thanks
Jeff

Yeah, It's my mistake. The dash's sensor is for the automatique light. But why you want to shut your headlight off?

Fredo
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: zbadboy69 on April 15, 2007, 08:17:08 PM
One, they will go through head lights alot quicker.  Two, and more important, when I go hunting, I do not like the head lights on.  Any body got any ideas?

Jeff
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: mckellyb on April 15, 2007, 11:29:06 PM
Here is how I did it, exactly.  I took copious notes, as I know it bothers other folks, too.  DRL's suck when you're pulling into/away from a star party (astronomy).  It takes as long to read as it does to do it, but tweaking things like this can be ultra-dangerous in any modern vehicle.

As posted on the Yahoo! Groups suzukigrandvitara board back in Sept. 1999.

I know there are a few people on the board who, like me, truly
dislike the daytime running lamps. Here's how to extinguish them
without any tools or permanent, harmful, modifications:

Reach up past the right side of the steering column, under the dash.
About even with the bottom of the A/C controls, between the column
and the center radio-A/C stack, you'll feel two rectangular boxes,
each slightly smaller than a cassette tape box. One is oriented so
it is taller than it is deep. This is likely the first one you'll
feel, it has a connector coming out of the bottom. This one isn't
the evil DRL relay.

Move your hand slightly to the left and forward towards the
firewall, go up just a bit more, and you'll find a relay box which
is flatter and oriented to be longer front-to-back. This is it!! On
the bottom is a connector. The connector, a 9-pin, has release
buttons on it's side, like most push-in multiple-pin connectors.
Push in the release levers gently, and pull down to remove. Let it
dangle, should you ever want to reconnect (yeah, right).

Get in, start the engine, notice, no DRL's. Celebrate appropriately.
Think about how much longer your headlight bulbs will last. Enjoy no
longer being a nuicance to others or standing out in a pack of fast-
moving vehicles. ;-)

There is one side effect of your procedure though. Now when you pull
the parking brake, the brake light on the dash board does not
illuminate.

To correct this tie pins 3 and 8 together on the connector you just
pulled out. Here is a diagram of the connector viewed from the
front, with the wires coming out from the back:

[1][2]___[3][4]
[5][6][7][8][9]

For your information the following is a summary of each pin's
function (as best as I can interpet from the wiring diagram (Suzuki
PN 99512-65D00-33E):)

[1] - When grounded turns lights on. If the dimmer/passing switch is
in the lo position, then the low beams will come on, if the switch
is in the hi position, then the high beams will come on. No other
lights are affected by grounding this pin, and it works irregardless
of the ignition being turned on or not. In fact this pin is tied
directly to the ground side of the headlights.
[2] - Not connected.
[3] - This pin is grounded when the parking brake is applied.
[4] - This senses weather the engine is running or not by being tied
to the generator. If the engine is running, then 12 Volts appears at
this pin, otherwise with the engine off, it is at 0 Volts. Note
these voltages are measured with the connector removed from the DRL
controller.
[5] - Tied directly to the 20A IG Meter fuse. So this is always at
12 Volts.
[6] - Not connected.
[7] - Tied directly to ground.
[8] - Tied to the brake light in dash. The other side of the brake
light is tied to the 20A IG Meter fuse. Grounding this pin, which is
what happens when the parking brake is applied, turns the brake
light on.
[9] - This pin goes to the optional fog light connector. It is
grounded when the headlights are on. I'm not too clear on exactly
how it works yet.

Below is the color of each wire (Base color/Stripe color):

[1] - Red/White
[3] - Violet/White
[4] - White/Red
[5] - Black/White
[7] - Black
[8] - Violet
[9] - Gray/Black

Note, you could probably turn the DRL off by removing the wire
leading to pin [1] however, I found it easier to remove the
connector and rig a wire with a tab on each end and stuff it into
the connector. This should make re-assembly a bit easier as well.

Edit:  I found a bent paperclip works better than a wire with connectors
on it.  It'll never fall out, and if you're careful in bending the paperclip, it
won't likely ever touch anything, either.

Oh, and yes if you want to turn the DRL back on, then simply turn
your light switch (on the steering column) two clicks forward. :)

All of this is based on up to the 2001 model year, though it likely
works on all of the 2nd generation GV's.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: zbadboy69 on April 17, 2007, 07:07:15 PM
mckellyb thank you very much for the info I will attempt this procedure tomorrow.  I will let you know how things turn out.  Looking forward to "Celebrating Appropriately"

Jeff
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: greatwhite on April 22, 2007, 05:57:20 AM
mckellyb,

A great big thanks to you!  I have posted this same ? here before, with no positive results.  I will be trying this same tip out today.  Thanks, and my 99 Grand Vitara thanks you as well.

greatwhite
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: sevenones12 on April 30, 2007, 09:29:37 PM
how'd the operation go guys? i want to try, but I'm vervous, if I get verification from you two, I'm for sure doing it.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: Jeff@TireBalls on May 16, 2007, 06:13:48 PM
I did it and it worked perfectly. I will add that this is much easier to do if you remove the panel below the steering column. It is only attached by 3 screws. This way you can see the plug that you are working on. The box you unplug it from is silver.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: biker on May 16, 2007, 08:26:54 PM
on my older trackers I just pull the park brake up one click and that shuts off the DRL, does that not work on the newer ones?
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: zukiowa on May 17, 2007, 10:41:18 AM
yeah it works thats what I do when I'm working nights to not blind the neighbors but i still had to unplug the auto regular lights cuz once they turn on they dont reset until the key is shut off
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: sanco on June 10, 2007, 01:18:39 PM
hey guys i know this might be a little late and old post but just thought id give some pics of exactly what everyone is talking about

(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u232/sanco2k05/DSCN1941.jpg)

as you can see the cable is disconected from the silver box, and you can see the steering column right next to it.  when you do this you will still have autolights, to disable that too you need to just remove the connector from the sensor on the right side of the dash

(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u232/sanco2k05/DSCN1940.jpg)

this whole job takes less than 5 minutes and its super easy to do!!!
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: sanco on June 10, 2007, 01:20:31 PM
o and one more thing, depending on what GV you have the box might also be black instead of silver!!! but location and everything else is the same
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: hotdog on October 23, 2008, 06:59:51 PM
I unplugged this connector and it took care of my day time driving lites,but know my inside lites over head will not come on.So is there something else I need to jump on the connector to make them work?
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: hotdog on October 24, 2008, 09:31:16 AM
I plugged the connector back in today and the over head lites started working again.So they have to be routed through this box. Know it's unplug it and do away with the driving lites and I don't have over head lites when I open my door,or leave it plugged in so I have over head lites and put up with the driving lites. Thanks for any help.

Also my Tracker is a 99 model.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: IanL on October 26, 2008, 07:30:25 AM
According to the wiring diagram, your experience does not make sense.  The only common factor between the overhead lamps and the DRL controller is that they use the same grounding points.

The only explanation I can come up with is that the designers did something stupid, and routed the overhead lamps grounds thru the DRL Controller.  If that's right, you can open up the lamps switch and ground the terminal to which the black wire is connected to overcome the issue.

An alternative explanation could be that you have disconnected at the wrong place, but the above cure should still work.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: hotdog on October 27, 2008, 01:10:02 PM
According to the wiring diagram, your experience does not make sense.  The only common factor between the overhead lamps and the DRL controller is that they use the same grounding points.

The only explanation I can come up with is that the designers did something stupid, and routed the overhead lamps grounds thru the DRL Controller.  If that's right, you can open up the lamps switch and ground the terminal to which the black wire is connected to overcome the issue.

An alternative explanation could be that you have disconnected at the wrong place, but the above cure should still work.

Thank you for your help,I will try grounding the switch.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: Frank84 on February 23, 2009, 05:34:13 PM
Reviving an old thread to add info...

Someone said in one of the posts that they lost their dome lights when they unplugged it - that is normal if you have a Tracker.  I believe this is one spot where the Chevy differs from the Suzuki.  The DRL Control Box is located in the same place on both vehicles and the Chevy's is silver as well (at least on my '01) but that is where the similarity ends.  Mine had 12 pins not 9 and the connector was facing the driver not coming up from the bottom.

I disabled mine by cutting the "Red with White" wire which is not the same as the "White with Red".  You need the one that is mostly Red with a small White stripe.  I just cut mine but you could get as fancy as you'd like.  I left wire on both sides in case I ever want to re-solder it or perhaps even run it to a switch on the dash.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: Rally_T-115 on February 24, 2009, 09:12:37 PM
Hi, old threads are OK, I don't understand why some forums hate bringing them back if it's still a relevant subject.

Anyways, I discovered a strange quirk with the automatic headlights on my '99 GV that I kinda need to solve.

I myself DO NOT mind the DRLs themselves (what causes ONLY the lowbeams to run in broad daylight with the parking brake off, the DAYTIME running lights).  They are so common up here that my brother was pulled over in broad daylight because his headlights were OFF in his 1990 Lincoln.  Also I find people up here tend to flash you to let you know your lights aren't on.


I also don't mind the automatic headlights - what uses the sensor on the dashboard to turn your parking lights and instrument cluster on when it gets dark - I really LIKE that.

Now the 9003 bulb (aka HB2, aka H4) has two filaments and very likely that bulb is NOT designed to have BOTH filaments burning at the same time.  But that is exactly what happens if you activate the high beams while the headlights switch is OFF, and the automatic headlights are ON.  It possibly overheats the bulb and pulls too much current through the common terminal - possibly melting insulation, etc.

If you manually turn on the headlights with the switch, this problem goes away - hit the high beams and the low filaments go off, and vice versa. 

I'd like that to happen with the auto lights.  Find a way to ensure the low filaments go off when I turn on the high beams, even when the headlight switch is off.  The reason is because I have wired a set of large fog lights through a relay and switch to the low beam circuit, and I want to make sure that when I turn my high beams on, the fogs go OFF like they should - but because the low beams stay ON with the auto lights, my fogs stay stuck on too.  When I tested these in the shop with the key off and just manually using the headlights switch, everything worked perfect.  But then at night when the automatic headlights were activated, this problem popped up.


I hope everybody was able to follow along with my explanation alright.  The aftermarket light set is actually a bit more complicated and perhaps I'll explain later - its actually a set of rally lights with different modes I can switch between, very cool - and it all works exactly the way I want if I turn the headlight switch on manually - It's just when I let the auto lamps run the lights that this problem happens and I really would like to stop it.

James
PS:  Please don't say "just turn the headlight switch on".  :P
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: IanL on February 25, 2009, 01:08:01 AM
I think what you want is simple to achieve, using one relay.  You have to remember that the headlamps are always "hot", so the switching is done on the ground lines.

The relay operating coil should be energised when the high beams are on, so take the positive from the lamp supply (White/red stripe) and the ground on the Red wire (high beam ground) from either lamp.

Now the point of the relay is to switch off the low beams when the high beams are on, so cut the ground to the low beams (Red/white stripe), and wire the cut ends through the relay switch contacts, using the "normally closed" contacts.  Then the low beams will always work, unless the high beams are powered.

Just one thing - you have to cut the Red/white after both the lamp wires have joined together, or you will only switch off one side.  The join may be buried in the harness, so you probably have to get at it where the single wire goes into the DRL Controller, under the dash.

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: beercheck on February 25, 2009, 08:14:17 AM
I think what you want is simple to achieve, using one relay.  You have to remember that the headlamps are always "hot", so the switching is done on the ground lines.

The relay operating coil should be energised when the high beams are on, so take the positive from the lamp supply (White/red stripe) and the ground on the Red wire (high beam ground) from either lamp.

Now the point of the relay is to switch off the low beams when the high beams are on, so cut the ground to the low beams (Red/white stripe), and wire the cut ends through the relay switch contacts, using the "normally closed" contacts.  Then the low beams will always work, unless the high beams are powered.

Just one thing - you have to cut the Red/white after both the lamp wires have joined together, or you will only switch off one side.  The join may be buried in the harness, so you probably have to get at it where the single wire goes into the DRL Controller, under the dash.

Hope that helps.

According to everything I've seen on this, just before you're about squeeze the cutters on the red wire, you need to change your mind at the last possible second and cut the blue wire instead. 

Either way, though, it was nice knowing you.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: Yankee-Tim on February 25, 2009, 09:43:20 AM
Low-uck, no-tool option?

Pull the E-brake handle up 1 click, enough to disconnect the e-brake switch but not engage the parking brake.  DRLs go out.  Well, at least they do on my '00 GV.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: beercheck on February 25, 2009, 10:25:14 AM
Low-uck, no-tool option?

Pull the E-brake handle up 1 click, enough to disconnect the e-brake switch but not engage the parking brake.  DRLs go out.  Well, at least they do on my '00 GV.

You didn't read the whole thread, didja.
Title: Re: 2000 Tracker Day Time Running Lights
Post by: IanL on February 25, 2009, 01:54:02 PM
According to everything I've seen on this, just before you're about squeeze the cutters on the red wire, you need to change your mind at the last possible second and cut the blue wire instead......

"Oh ye of little faith........"  ;)