Daytime Driving Light (DRL) Module

[idahjo]

Well, I'm stumped

Have a 1998 Chev K-1500. The daytime driving lights work intermittently. The battery has a slow drain and will go dead in a couple days of being parked. It is a NEW high-end battery. Suspect that the DRL is the root of the evil and probably replacing the module just may take care of the problem. The part looks like so:
Where this bugger resides is the best kept secret on planet earth. Anything I have seen about it says the DRL is a black-finned unit about the size of a pack of cigarettes above your right knee, under the dash. Found it (inaccessible as it is to remove to examine) but, it doesn't appear to be the thing... from what I gather it is a voltage reducer for the DRL to drop the low-beam headlight filament voltage 2 volts. Where would this da#@mn thing plug into anyway?
Thanks for any help you can provide

[ChevLoRay]

Pull the fuse. Should render them inoperable. The green light will still come on, but the headlights won't. You "Okies" don't have to have operable DRL's do you, to pass inspection? Oh, Okie isn't a bad term.

Check out this thread.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=drl+fuse

Oh, the fuse you want to pull is Nr.15.

[1badgmc]

Yep yep. Magical fuse 15. That fuse was pulled on my Suburban before I drove it off the dealer's lot.

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

You "Okies" don't have to have operable DRL's do you, to pass inspection? Oh, Okie isn't a bad term.

Okies don't even have inspections! Lucky dogs.

[idahjo]

Thanks for the directions to the (magical)#15 fuse.

Still, no one has answered where the DRL chip in the picture can be found??????

[ChevyTech]

Look at the illustration at this link. #2s the DRL module.
It is for a 1996 and I am not sure if it is the same.

http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl638d.htm

[Restrorob]

Interesting thread, Think I'll pull this "magical" #15 fuse for my non-working DRL's and see if my long sought after drain disappears.....

[idahjo]

Originally Posted by ChevyTech

Look at the illustration at this link. #2s the DRL module.
It is for a 1996 and I am not sure if it is the same.

http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl638d.htm

I [think] the #2 plug goes into the aluminum-finned heat sink for the DRL system. Other things I have managed to scrounge up indicate that part is a voltage reducer for the low beam filaments in the DRL mode....thus: heat dissipation. Be nice if the thing could be [reasonably easily] removed to see if that chip plugs into it, but I really do not think so.... enough to skin my knuckles unnecessarily.

RESTROROB; Removing the #15 fuse did disable the Daytime Driving Lights but the battery drain still persists here also. Actually, removing all of the fuses apparently still allows the slow-drain to continue.

[Boog]

I know you have a new high end battery but that doesn't guarantee it's good. Have you had it tested? Just sayin.
With all the fuses removed and it still goes down..
I suppose there could be a stuck relay somewhere. Or even a bad voltage regulator. Have the alternator tested.

[idahjo]

Originally Posted by Restrorob

Interesting thread, Think I'll pull this "magical" #15 fuse for my non-working DRL's and see if my long sought after drain disappears.....

Maybe I can help your battery drain problem. This was actually my fathers rig... we gave up on it and he just took it to the dealer to see if they could fixit.

Mechanic said that this year model of RADIO has a habit of developing an internal short of some kind that causes the drain. He disconnected the radio and said that would take care of the problem. Seems it is a COMMON PROBLEM

GOD bless 'Government Motors' (Never Again!)

[Restrorob]

Thanks, The truck is put away for winter but I'll check it more when I get it back out.....

[steves1967]

On my 97, there is a bump on the dash, about where your right shin would be, the DRL module is right behind it. Just unplug the module and no more daytime running lights! The little green light on the dash still turns on, but the DRL's dont come on. I did this because I added HID's.

[Jugie]

Don't know if you found your DRL module location yet.
I have a 1996 GMC 1/2 ton and also had a real problem finding it.
On my truck it is located just to the left of the steering column taped on top of the main wiring harness just rear of where the harness splits into a Y
The board is located inside the grey plastic connector box, also mine was covered with a grey/charcoal foam that also looked like a foam tape.
This is all original as I've owned the p/u since new, hope this helps somebody

[idahjo]

Thanks for all of the help guys. None of it was the problem. Get this:
After trying everything suggested and some things that weren't it was taken to a Chevy dealership with a savvy technician. He said that the factory installed radio/disk deck installations had a quirk that could develop in them that would drain the battery. The radio/disk decks were disconnected and the problem was SOLVED. Suggested either go without the noisemaker of buy an after market unit.