HID with DRL on Yukon

[Erebos]

Hi guys,

I'm about to switch out the factory bulb with the HID bi-xenon kit this coming weekend. I have seen a lot of post discussing about removing the fuse to disable the DRL, but I was wondering if this is necessary? Is the DRL and the low are the same?

Can you have the DRL running as it was after the HID mod? Provided that you do the whole harness wire and everything instead of just swapping out the bulb with the ballast only. I am bit unclear on what would happen to the DRL after the HID installation.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Modded]

Yes you can just get a relay and run the DRL/lows w/o removing the sensor fuse. The only issue with that is that your HIDs will always be on as long as the truck is. Expect them to last nothing over a year.
If I had a yukon I would just run some wire to the fogs off the light connector pins on the back of the headlight on the Yukons and just use my fog lights as DRLs.

 

[zach2011]

Agreed. Plus, fog lights as DRL's sound sick!

 

[SLT Kon-Man]

I agree that the fogs look better as DRL's on the Yukon, I've been using mine that way since buying the truck new 3 years ago, looks even better since installing the DDM 5600K HIDs in them, I also pulled the fuse for the DRL a long time ago, got tired of instinctively turning the light switch every time I started the truck to turn the DRLs off.

 

[Erebos]

Thanks guys for the info. I was going to do the same as Kon-Man said and manually turn the DRL off but I guess after awhile it will be annoying, too bad they don't have the option to permanently turn off other than removing the fuse. I guess I'll go with the fuse route for now until I have more time to rewire the wire down to the fog.

 

[Erebos]

Finally, got the HID installed this weekend. Man, you guys didn't warn me about how much of a pain it was to remove the headlight. Anyhow, after figuring out how to remove the headlight, everything was a breeze. The new lights are super bright. I had the 6000K on my old truck but this time I decided to get more brightness so I went with the 4300K and boy, it's nice and bright!! I've decided to go with the pull the fuse option for now.

 

[Bryansan]

Glad it turned out well for you. I'm going to do the same thing me thinks. I want to put the HID's in the lows/fogs though. I'm guessing I'll have to pull the fuse though for my DRLs.

 

[Erebos]

If you have a Yukon, you really don't have much of choice if you want to change only low or high, the Yukon uses the same bulb for low and high . I wish it could be separate, but I went with the Bi-xenon from one of the sponsored vendors from the vendor list (HIDGUY) and it looks great.

 

[lakaw]

I agree that the fogs look better as DRL's on the Yukon, I've been using mine that way since buying the truck new 3 years ago, looks even better since installing the DDM 5600K HIDs in them, I also pulled the fuse for the DRL a long time ago, got tired of instinctively turning the light switch every time I started the truck to turn the DRLs off.

Can you provide me with direction on the wiring for this? Also, does this make the fog switch useless, or can you still use it to turn the fogs on when DRL are off? I'm going with the DDM 35W 6000k Hi/Lo's and the SpencerHID 25w 6000k fogs.

 

[vietcu]

I agree that the fogs look better as DRL's on the Yukon, I've been using mine that way since buying the truck new 3 years ago, looks even better since installing the DDM 5600K HIDs in them, I also pulled the fuse for the DRL a long time ago, got tired of instinctively turning the light switch every time I started the truck to turn the DRLs off.

A little confused in your comments. If you pulled the fuse then the DRL isn't going to be on during the day right? Are you using them as night time lights then with you pulling the fuse on the DRL, that way when the sensor goes off when it gets dark both your LO and your FOG comes on? Thanks. I am in the process of doing a retro to my lights so just curious about your statement.

 

[cu005588]

Fog as DRL would be really slick.

 

[lakaw]

Yes you can just get a relay and run the DRL/lows w/o removing the sensor fuse. The only issue with that is that your HIDs will always be on as long as the truck is. Expect them to last nothing over a year.
If I had a yukon I would just run some wire to the fogs off the light connector pins on the back of the headlight on the Yukons and just use my fog lights as DRLs.

Although I replaced my fogs with HID's as well. I would still like to know how to do this (plus the fog bulbs are a little easier to get to). Do you know which pin controls the DRL's?

 

[manzgator]

I'm trying to play catch up on all of the technical details. Being a newbie sucks.

Questions apply to 2010 Yukon

1) From the previous posts it appears that when you upgrade to HIDs and you do NOT want your DRL on you have to pull the fuse, is this correct? Once you do this you just have to manually turn on your headlights?

2) Is there a cost/benefit on where you get your conversion kit from (HIDGUY v. SpencersHIDs)? Pricing seems similar with HIDGUY about $30 less?

3) Is there a thread "for dummies" on the step-by-step install process?

Thanks in advance, guys. I really want the upgrade, but I don't want to invest and have them running all day long. I'll keep searching for information as well.

 

[OklabyGodhoma]

If you run HID's then you disable the daytime running lights by pulling the fuses under the hood. The reason is the daytime running lights are powered at a lower voltage and your HID's will either work (sometimes) or just have one start or sometimes both will fail to light. Pulling the fuses does NOT disable the automatic feature so when the sun is going down your light will function as they always have.

Yes, I learned this the hard way even though I had read the posts.....but I learned.

May I suggest DDM Tuning for your lamps.....I got my 5K, 55 watt setup from them with the high/low lamps as well for $65.00 with lifetime warranty. No brainer there.

 

[lakaw]

I purchased my hi/lo HID kit from DDM as well. I bought my fog HID's from SpencerHID as he has the 25w ballasts and that will ensure me that I won't have any melting issues with my fog enclosure. If you plan on upgrading your fogs, I would recommend you upgrade both at the same time. Although it's not as difficult as it may seem to pull the front clip, you'll be saving time by doing both.

I pulled my DRL fuse as well. I think I pulled #33 (Black box under the hood on the drivers side).

Here is the thread I used to guide me when I did my upgrade. Some of the pictures are a bit blurry, but you'll get the idea.
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=470

 

[manzgator]

You both nailed it. Thanks for the input. I'm going to order asap and post pics when complete. Stoked!

Actually, I see that Lea, you have the 55 Watt 5000K and Lance you have the 35 Watt 6000K. Is this just personal preference on the color of the bulb? Also, on Bulb Type there are about 20 different types ranging from H1-H16, 9004, etc. Which type should I get for the Hi/Lo kit for a Yukon?

Thanks again, guys.

 

[lakaw]

You both nailed it. Thanks for the input. I'm going to order asap and post pics when complete. Stoked!

Actually, I see that Lea, you have the 55 Watt 5000K and Lance you have the 35 Watt 6000K. Is this just personal preference on the color of the bulb? Also, on Bulb Type there are about 20 different types ranging from H1-H16, 9004, etc. Which type should I get for the Hi/Lo kit for a Yukon?

Thanks again, guys.

Yes wattage and color are personal preference... You'll need the H13 hi/low kit. I added the harness for $12.50, but I'm not sure I needed to, since the kit ships with a harness included. Needles to say one harness worked, while the other would not (wromg connectors). I'm not sure which harness was the correct one, so hopefully someone will chime in and offer up some advice. Or better yet, you may want to contact DDM directly for clarification.

 

[OklabyGodhoma]

When I ordered mine from DDM I called first and they told me I did not need the harness for my 2007 Yukon XL. If a different model or year I wold make the call just to make sure. They were great to talk with and very friendly and helpful.

 

[Bryansan]

I ordered my H13 HI/LO kit from DDM and addes the harness as well, although as Lakaw said, I'm not sure it was necessary. You NEED the harness to install them, but I'm not sure if the corresponding harness comes with the hi/lo kit default. You do NOT need a harness for the fog bulbs, not do you need to pull the front clip. Just turn your tires and take off the 2 screws (7mm??) and a 2-3 clips, and you got really easy access to the fogs just by moving the plastic out of the way. Mine took 20 minutes to install (fogs) and you just stick the + - spade connectors into the factory cable.

 

[lakaw]

...nor do you need to pull the front clip...

The reason I pulled mine was to get full access to the fogs for install and to find an optimum location for the harness run from the right to left across the front end. I had full access to clean the areas inside the bumper where I mounted the ballasts(double-sided tape). It's only a few more screws(14?) to remove the clip...