How to Disable DRL in 2009 Malibu

[Lt. Zed]

I haven't seen this topic and it seems too easy, but just for anyone's edification, disabling daytime running lights in this car is cake easy. The patient is a 2009 LTZ with no mods at all. I followed suggestions on the Solstice forum to no avail. So a quick purusal of the HHR forum showed the most obvious solution which does work.

Simply remove Mini-relay #48 (it's labelled "DRL") to disable DRLs. Auto-headlight functionality does remain and no warning lights come on in the dash.

Removing the badging on my car was even easier as I didn't even need to heat the badges to soften the glue. Use a little windex to clean the area around the badges. To avoid a case of tennis elbow, use nail polish remover to get rid of the glue that's left over. Then, wax the whole area and it's like they were never there. Takes about 15-20 minutes, tops.

Lt. Zed

2009 Malibu LTZ
No badges, No DRLs

Boston Born, Boston Raised, Boston Driven.

[pamalibu]

has anyone tried this on a 2010 model pulling the fuse or relay doesnt work. any suggestions
-T

[Starship]

Are your parking lamps and taillamps on as well? I'm wondering if you have a light sensor problem. Also, if you weren't the original owner, you wouldn't know of any wiring modifications.

[pamalibu]

No the parking lamps are not on. And I bought the car from an old couple the car had a 115 miles on it when I bought it.

[DrivenDaily]

Unless GM made major changes to the 2010+ models, pulling either the DRL fuse or relay (or both) will disable the DRLs without affecting any other systems.

For the DRLs to turn on the key needs to be on, it needs to be light enough out to keep the headlights from turning on, Auto Light On needs to be enabled (don't turn headlight switch to Cancel position), and the gear selector needs to be out of Park. It's okay to set the parking brake.

Next step after ensuring that the above conditions are all true is to lift the hood, remove the large battery cover, remove the fuse block lid, and pull the DRL fuse, relay, or both. DRLs should turn off.

If they're not on to start with then you may have another issue. Restore the car to original and take it to the dealership. If they determine that someone has altered the car then you might have no recourse. Otherwise they should be able to fix it so it's working like it was designed to. After that you can disable it, knowing that you can put it back if you decide to sell the car.

[johnny_blazer]

Any other suggestions to disable the DRLs?

I have a 2010 LTZ also, pulled the DRL fuse and relay and the stupid DRLs still come on.

[elcompaLalo]

Aren't there two DRL fuses? I did this so long ago I can't remember.

[DrivenDaily]

I checked on my '11 just to be sure. It's exactly the same as on my '09 that I had. So if the DRLs are still coming on even after pulling either the fuse or the relay or both, then either the DRLs have been rewired from factory, there's a short somewhere, it's dark enough out and the headlights are actually being energized, or you pulled the wrong components.

When I pulled fuse 46 the relay clicked, signaling that the fuse supplies power to the coil of the relay as well as to its contacts, and the DRLs turned off. When I pulled the relay (with the fuse installed) the DRLs turned off.

Check again. The way they've drawn the fuse block and the way they're numbered can be confusing.

[tomx20]

Originally Posted by Lt. Zed

Simply remove Mini-relay #48 (it's labelled "DRL") to disable DRLs. Auto-headlight functionality does remain and no warning lights come on in the dash.

So, you are saying when you pulled the DRL Fuse, the DRL's did not come on anymore, but the lights still automatically came on at night??

Originally Posted by Lt. Zed

Boston Born, Boston Raised, Boston Driven.

Haha, I like that; me too.

[flrdotcom]

i have the same question as tomx20 - you are saying when you pulled the DRL Fuse, the DRL's did not come on anymore, but the lights still automatically came on at night??