Easiest way to disable Daytime Running Lights DRL on 2011 Pilot

[ogre297]

To disable the Daytime Running Lights on the 2011 Honda Pilot and probalby 2009 and 2010 Pilots as well)

1 Locate the interior fuse box next to and above the brake pedal

2 Remove fuse #18 "Daytime Running Light Main" (20 Amp) to disable the main DRL control unit - this will light the "DRL" idiot light on the dash any time the DRL would have been on

3 Remove fuse #37 "Day Light" (7.5 Amp) to disable the "DRL" idiot light on the instrument cluster

Done! no re-wiring, no resistors, no power draw, no idiot lights,
and easy to put back to factory if you want to.

[NYHusker]

And why would you want/need to do this?

[1YESfan]

With all the idiots preoccupied or multi-tasking while driving I think this "safety" feature is a pretty good idea to keep as is.

[NYHusker]

I went to a AAA Driver's Safety/Defensive Driving course, and they showed us documentation that had proven vehicles driving with headlights on makes a vehicle visible 5 miles sooner than a vehicle driving with no lights on.

I've been driving for 21 years (wow that makes me feel old seeing that in writing!) and have only been in two accidents in my life, one when I was 16, and one about 3 years ago. Personally, I'd like to do whatever I can to decrease the odds of being in any more!

I just cannot fathom any reason why anyone would want/need to disable daytime running lights. Especially because the Pilot uses separate bulbs for DRL, so they aren't even wearing out the regular headlamps!

[mike_engr]

I wonder if disabling "a safety" feature might make you (more?) liable if you ever end up in court after an accident? Just wondering....

[ogre297]

Originally Posted by mike_engr

I wonder if disabling "a safety" feature might make you (more?) liable if you ever end up in court after an accident? Just wondering....

I am not responsible for the legality of disabling the DRL's or anyone else actions for that matter. But to the best of my knowledge DRL's are not legally required in any state (sorry Canada, you guys are stuck with them).

Some people suggest that the widespread use of DRL's since around 1998 has decreased the practical visibility of motorcycles since they used to be the only vehicles on the road that used DRL's.

Some people just don't like DRL's. If you like them then leave them alone. If you don't, here's a simple solution. But thanks for the complaints anyway.

[jkdempz]

^^^Bingo! Your Police Report will document if your lights were on or off.

[br1522]

To the OP:

Thank you for the info. Any idea if this "daytime" fuse is used for anything else? maybe the daytime "light" sensor for the auto headlights? Does your auto headlights still work?

The debate wether or not this should be done should be in different thread considering that OP is merely providing info of a technical nature that is not illegal if done in the USA- in fact, some other manufacturers (such as toyota) provide a switch to turn DRLs off if you feel free to do so.

[mike_engr]

OK. no offense intended. OP thanks for the technical info.

[Arizonaadam]

You are going to catch "what for" heat when you post just about any "mods" on this board. Regardless, I'd like to turn off the seat belt chime if you can figure that one out

[ogre297]

Originally Posted by Arizonaadam

You are going to catch "what for" heat when you post just about any "mods" on this board. Regardless, I'd like to turn off the seat belt chime if you can figure that one out

Thanks. As far as the seat belt chime is concerned, i believe the chime also alerts you to when you are driving with the parking brake on. Now i don't like to discriminate against idiots, but i like this chime because i know people who frequently do this, so i'll live it for now.

So that leaves 2 relatively simple solutions:

1 disconnect the chime/buzzer, which also alerts you to the parking brake being left on while driving, doors open, and lights on after turning off the truck

2 short the 'belt latched' wires that go to the front seat buckles. Although this would solve the stated problem, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND AGAINST IT!! The SRS Airbag system also uses this indicator to determine how to fire the dual threshold airbags. Suppose you do this mod, aren't wearing your seat belt, and have a moderate to severe front end accident. the driver and passenger airbags are going to FIRE on the high stage, not on the low stage as they should for someone not wearing a belt. THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY DO SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE TO YOU AND YOUR PASSENGER. I am not an attorney, but i would assume an injured passenger or driver would have a civil case against an owner who did this mod that ended up being the proximate cause of injury above and beyond what they otherwise would have sustained.

Bottom line: Do what you want. If it were me, I would disconnect the chime.

There is one other possible solution that is better, but it requires a bit more digging...

[hondapilotjim]

Originally Posted by ogre297

I am not responsible for the legality of disabling the DRL's or anyone else actions for that matter. But to the best of my knowledge DRL's are not legally required in any state (sorry Canada, you guys are stuck with them).

Some people suggest that the widespread use of DRL's since around 1998 has decreased the practical visibility of motorcycles since they used to be the only vehicles on the road that used DRL's.

Some people just don't like DRL's. If you like them then leave them alone. If you don't, here's a simple solution. But thanks for the complaints anyway.

i ride a motorcycle and feel DRL should only be allowed on them. too many morons on the road who can not judge speed and distance of bikes.(or any vehicle for that matter) then they pull out in front of you. you should have your license taken away for a MINIMUM of 5 years if found at fault for any "ACCIDENT" let these people use public transportation instead. what if an airline pilot had "one little accident?"

[br1522]

I tried this on a 2012 Touring. The circuit seems to be different than the OP's 2011; when I removed both fuses (#18 "Daytime Running Light Main" and fuse #37 "Day Light"), the DRL's turn off & there is no error light/message, HOWEVER the high beams do not work at all.

For the 2012, just remove fuse #37 "Daylight"- this disabled the DRL's, I got no error light/message and the high beams work fine. I also made sure the auto headlights work too.