My work involves accessing secure areas, with armed guards..
They, being somewhat paranoid, like to have all vehicles turn off the
headlights, at night, when approaching the gate.



My Kodiak has daytime running lights that are a slightly dimmer
illumination of the low beam lights. I need to have a means
of disabling that cct, to allow me to approach the security gates,
without getting shot - I have to do so, in 4 days time...



I have thought of a way of cancelling the lights using a relay or two, but there may be an easier way that you guys know of???



Mylash

Obviously nobody knows a way to do it.. The switches, relays and
sockets arrive tomorrow, (wed) so I will be trying things out on
Thursday. I still have not found any dealer willing to talk
about anything to do with my truck.. It is the weirdest thing - nobody
seems to know anything about Medium Duty trucks.

I'll check my owners man. tomorrow and get back with you, in the relay center of your vehicle there is a DRL relay, pull it and no more day time headlights.

Mylash,



Don't know mucha bout Kodiaks but the light duty trucks have a switch
that you can turn off the DRLs, just set it momentarily to off, then to
turn them back on, momentarily back to off again.



You could just add a simple switch on both sides of the DRL relay that
will short the relay causing it to turn off. That is probably the
easiest way to do it if there isn't an in cab headlight control.



Dennis

Thank you for the suggestions.. I need to get a manual for this vehicle
- the idiot guide that came with it tells me how dangerous everything
is, not how to make anything work.. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif..
I have managed to get a rough and ready fix to the problem, by
disconnecting the switch on the parking brake, and shorting the
contacts of the plug. This turns out the DRL, but also displays the
parking brake warning light on the dash. I will try to find the relay,
or wait for further help on that, to make a better solution, but at
least with the r&r solution I can use the truck in military
circles....



As far a switch to turn them off in the cab... I got the fleet version,
with exterior upgrades.. there are NO switches for anything in the cab..http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley19.gif
When I can find suitable documentation on everything I will be adding
many switches for many things.. I need to find out where the 4
plugs behind the empty switch panel go to...



Mylash

There must be a switch for the lights. . . ?



If you take a picture of the underhood fuse block diagram (the one that shows what is what), we can help you more.



Dennis

There is: Light switch, rotary having 3 positions.a dome light
defeat switch. a panel light dim roller, an Overdrive off switch, and a
clearance light flash switch.



I cannot take any photos yet - my camera is in Indiana, and I am still
in Tennessee.. I have read the guide that came with the truck,
and there is nothing about lights in it.



Removing the DRL relay disables the low beams entirely.. But at least I found the relay board. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif



I need to find a schematic for the truck - anyone any idea where to get
one from? There are many empty plugs, in the harness all over the truck
- presumably there is only one harness but many equipment levels.



I am going to have a lot of fun getting this truck to where I want it to be.



Mylash

You might try to find out some more information on this site:



GM Upfitters (http://www.gmupfitter.com/publicat/md_2005.htm)



They have some electrical stuff in at least one of the pubs here, but
since I don't really know what you have (I'm pretty dumb about medium
duty stuff), you might be able to find it yourself.



Dennis

To the best of my knowledge, DRL's only operate in DAYLIGHT hours.



Are you subject to being shot during the day?



At night, simply switch your headlights off. Doesn't doing this turn everything off?



Or will you also get shot at if approaching un-illuminated?





Mind us asking what it is that they are guarding?

To the best of my knowledge, DRL's only operate in DAYLIGHT hours.



Are you subject to being shot during the day?



At night, simply switch your headlights off. Doesn't doing this turn everything off?



Or will you also get shot at if approaching un-illuminated?





Mind us asking what it is that they are guarding?






Kodiaks are different beasts.. GM, for whatever reason, chose not to
put a light sensor inline with the DRL. They run anytime the truck is
on. The only time they are off, is if the parking brake is set. I
have shorted the plug to the brake switch, and now have no DRL, but it
is an unsatisfactory fix - the very bright brake warning light is
illuminated all of the time. Not good.



The requirements to gain access to the bases I go to are.....



No lights at all on, when approaching, day or night. Speeds of 10 mph only, interior lights on in the cab, at night.



I have no clue what they are guarding.. and probably wouldn't tell you if I did. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif



Mylash

I have no clue what they are guarding.. and probably wouldn't tell you if I did. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif



Mylash





I'm pretty sure they are guarding against an attack by Mylash, a "Headlights ON" Kodiak Drivin' Romainian. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif



Thats my story, and I'm sticking to it! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif

You could add a switch in to the e-brake plug, and then throw it just
when you want to enter base. That would turn off the lights and
also let you run with them on at all other times, and eliminate the
e-brake warning light at all other times except when entering compound.



Dennis

Can't you just set your parking brake slightly (one click) and then turn headlight switch to parking lights only.



Either that, or ask the trigger happy guards to show YOU how to make your truck compatable with THEIR rather rediculous rules.

Parking brake is not a ratchet controlled thing in the Kodiak.. it is
either on, or off.. It is not up to my customers to make my delivery
vehicle compliant with their regulations.

Inside the housing for the hand brake there is a micro switch that truns on the dayligth ligths just add a switch there to turn off the ligths I did this on my truck as it sit runnig and I do not need the lights on. The switch is under a white plastic flap I also use it to tell trucks it is ok to get in frount of after they pass.

Thank you, I got an email from an Indiana GM dealer this morning,
telling me of that mod.. I had already removed the plug and stuck a
clip down it to turn them off. The switch is a good idea - I have an
illuminated switch that I will use for that purpose..



I am also going to change the dual headlights system somewhat, to allow for dual low and high beam lights.



I am also going to find some way of controlling the bed marker lights,
and trailer lights with the cab roof clearence lights flasher
switch... I will keep the two clusters with the reverse and brake
lights on the main light cct, but will be able to flash my rear marker
lights when thanking drivers who let me in, rather than turn off all
the lights.. can be a little worrisome in certain situations doing
that... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif



This truck has proved very useful in one special way.. It got me an
excuse to go to Radio Shack - the world's largest toy store....



Mylash.