1997 C3500 headlight question

yeeolde48 · 01-22-2006, 04:40 PM

Hi All, I just bought a 1997 C3500 Crew Cab Dually (454). When I turn the ignition on, the headlights come on, and stay on all the time. They go off if I put the parking break on. Does anyone know if there is a switch to turn them off, before I splice into the wiring and put in an extra switch in. I do not like driving around with headlights on all the time. Thanks.

shopratles · 01-22-2006, 04:57 PM

Don't know how to stop them from coming on without applying the parking brake, but if you figure out how please let me know. I have a 1999 Chevy truck with lights on all the time and would love to find out how to shut them off also. Good luck.

vanhal · 01-22-2006, 06:08 PM

well hello, i see you have a canadian truck we call them daytime running lites and are on a lower power then your regular lites. when they are on you do not have your tail lite on so at night you still have to turn on your lites .
in canada it is the law and it will be in the u.s.a. soon too you will get used to them ok ...............pete

scottie · 01-22-2006, 06:33 PM

yeah, its not just canada... most US production cars 97 and after come with daytime running lites. its a good thing to have and i personally appreciate people who have them especially during sunrise/set. im pretty sure theres no shut off switch, though.

chevyguy · 01-22-2006, 06:44 PM

Thay are a good idea, it is a proven fact that they make you more visable to other motorists. Thats why your insurance company gave you a little break for the year

72'CaminoKid · 01-22-2006, 06:56 PM

i know how to turn them off.... you just out ur parking break pedal about 1/4 to 1/2 the way down, there is a VERY faint click that you can feel. if you look on the dash while doing it, you will see the headlight indicator ( not to be confused with the bright light indicator) turn off, and the parking break indicator on..... this turns your 24/7 headlights off, and doesnt turn the parking brake on.... when you do it, make sure you've got the pedal down enough so it's not right on the border of on and off, or they may click back and forth..... just let me know if ya need a little more help

Beaver3000 · 01-22-2006, 08:31 PM

I have a 1997 GMC c1500 with the same feature on my truck. It doesn't bother me to have my headlights on during the day. As long as people see me, I am happy. I don't know why you would want to turn them off.

scottie · 01-22-2006, 08:45 PM

Yeah, my truck was made before running lights, but i still drive around with my parking lights on all times of the day.... i know especially from driving around for work between 4-6 am a lot of people dont have lights on because the sun is rising, but it can be really hard to see them.... id suggest if you have daytime running lights not to disengage them

Beaver3000 · 01-22-2006, 10:09 PM

I like when people drive with their headlights on in the morning even around 7 o'clock especially if my rear window is fogged up from the weather. I don't have anything to defrost it so the only way to tell if someone is back there is if they have their headlights on.

01-22-2006, 04:40 PM	#1
yeeolde48 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4	1997 C3500 headlight question Hi All, I just bought a 1997 C3500 Crew Cab Dually (454). When I turn the ignition on, the headlights come on, and stay on all the time. They go off if I put the parking break on. Does anyone know if there is a switch to turn them off, before I splice into the wiring and put in an extra switch in. I do not like driving around with headlights on all the time. Thanks.

01-22-2006, 06:08 PM	#3
vanhal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 102	headlites well hello, i see you have a canadian truck we call them daytime running lites and are on a lower power then your regular lites. when they are on you do not have your tail lite on so at night you still have to turn on your lites . in canada it is the law and it will be in the u.s.a. soon too you will get used to them ok ...............pete __________________ I am gm all the way ....... black 98 Z71 3 door short box 5.7

01-22-2006, 06:33 PM	#4
scottie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Florida (Palm Beach), originally from south of BOSTON Posts: 644	yeah, its not just canada... most US production cars 97 and after come with daytime running lites. its a good thing to have and i personally appreciate people who have them especially during sunrise/set. im pretty sure theres no shut off switch, though. __________________ im a straight shooter with upper management written all over me

01-22-2006, 06:44 PM	#5
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,370	Thay are a good idea, it is a proven fact that they make you more visable to other motorists. Thats why your insurance company gave you a little break for the year __________________ Friends dont let friends use body lifts USMC 92-96 USCG 98 to present

01-22-2006, 06:56 PM	#6
72'CaminoKid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,756	i know how to turn them off.... you just out ur parking break pedal about 1/4 to 1/2 the way down, there is a VERY faint click that you can feel. if you look on the dash while doing it, you will see the headlight indicator ( not to be confused with the bright light indicator) turn off, and the parking break indicator on..... this turns your 24/7 headlights off, and doesnt turn the parking brake on.... when you do it, make sure you've got the pedal down enough so it's not right on the border of on and off, or they may click back and forth..... just let me know if ya need a little more help __________________ 99 suburban xlt 96 silverado 91 wrangler (my baby ) 08 Honday shadow 750 (my mistress)

01-22-2006, 04:57 PM	#2
shopratles Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 172	Don't know how to stop them from coming on without applying the parking brake, but if you figure out how please let me know. I have a 1999 Chevy truck with lights on all the time and would love to find out how to shut them off also. Good luck.

01-22-2006, 08:31 PM	#7
Beaver3000 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Yuba City, California Posts: 393	I have a 1997 GMC c1500 with the same feature on my truck. It doesn't bother me to have my headlights on during the day. As long as people see me, I am happy. I don't know why you would want to turn them off.

01-22-2006, 08:45 PM	#8
scottie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Florida (Palm Beach), originally from south of BOSTON Posts: 644	Yeah, my truck was made before running lights, but i still drive around with my parking lights on all times of the day.... i know especially from driving around for work between 4-6 am a lot of people dont have lights on because the sun is rising, but it can be really hard to see them.... id suggest if you have daytime running lights not to disengage them __________________ im a straight shooter with upper management written all over me

01-22-2006, 10:09 PM	#9
Beaver3000 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Yuba City, California Posts: 393	I like when people drive with their headlights on in the morning even around 7 o'clock especially if my rear window is fogged up from the weather. I don't have anything to defrost it so the only way to tell if someone is back there is if they have their headlights on.

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