Guide: How To Disable Daytime Running Lights (instructions)

[TimPro]

I live in the US and when I did the series of instructions on my 2017 years ago, it worked perfectly and displayed only my thin DRLs (pictured) and my rear parking lights when I had the parking lights on. If I had the knob turned to OFF, everything was off. The video game cheat code makes the lights knob in the car function correctly to whatever you turn it to, instead of the headlights always being on no matter what. In five years of having that car (a drunk driver ran into me and totaled it a couple weeks ago), I was the only one I ever saw driving around with only the thin lights illuminated, or with all lights turned off.

If you had it turned to auto during the day time, what lights were on? Any?

 

[vrsick]

My previous vehicle had the same permanent DRL. I was able to disable it with an after market relay switch. It would be nice if that was available for the Mazda.

 

[ADS-B]

I've mentioned it somewhere on this forum before but I can't find it so here I am. Some of us took the easy route: rather than fiddling with the light stalk and the brake pedal and emergency light switch, I removed the DRL relay. Cons: you have to manually turn the light stalk to the parking light position

. Pros: You have tail lights on at all times. For low beams, you move the light stalk from

to

.

 

[N7turbo]

Doing the unlock code does the same thing. You use the parking light option, which includes the ugly amber lights and tail lights.

 

[noeffort]

Procedure no go for my 23 Turbo Signature... no DRL fuse either.

 

[N7turbo]

Procedure no go for my 23 Turbo Signature

Try again, it works on 2023 models.

 

[ADS-B]

Procedure no go for my 23 Turbo Signature... no DRL fuse either.

There should be a relay in the relay box located in the engine compartment, LH side, forward of the car battery.

 

[noeffort]

Thanks!!! Just checked and there is a fuse where you said.... I checked before and thought it wasn't there, maybe to many tequila shots that day!

 

[noeffort]

Try again, it works on 2023 models.

Thanks!!!! I did the procedure and it worked, DRL off! Couple months ago the procedure I was using said no more that 5 seconds between and tried multiple times with no luck. Procedure posted on this thread stated no more that 2 sec. and on first try it worked....

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

After all these years... finally did this on my '15. I had a flickering LED bulb so wanted to shut it down.

I have the Bi-Xenon HIDs in mine and stock had the halogen bulbs for DRL that were replaced with LEDs a decade back.

 

[Drocca92]

The instructions worked. Biggest difference after a few tries was to go through the steps as fast as possible through until completion. Now I get to choose my lighting based of the stock switch indicators. Verses the default setting of lights on all the time with little differences in any setting on the stock switch when driving.

 

[Drocca92]

The instructions worked. Biggest difference after a few tries was to go through the steps as fast as possible through until completion. Now I get to choose my lighting based of the stock switch indicators. Verses the default setting of lights on all the time with little differences in any setting on the stock switch when driving.

BTW - Completed on 2025 Mazda CX-5 (2.5 S Premium Plus) NA

 

[MyFirstMazda]

I changed mine so long ago I don't remember how to set it back, not that I will set it back.

 

[kendel7]

Having DRL's is one of only two discounts my insurance company offers for safety features. The other discount they offer for is automatic seatbelts, a feature that hasn't been built into a car since the mid '90s. I love USAA, but they seriously need to catch up on more modern safety features, and offer a discount for them - BSM, SCBS, Anti-lock, Traction control, etc. are all items for which I should get a discount.

Just my two cents though - I can not fathom why someone would want to disable DRL's.

Probably to prolong bulb life.

 

[stickerbush]

Probably to prolong bulb life.

Is that why DRLs are turned off when car not moving? Seems like turning them off and on at every stop/go could have some consequences with bulb longevity due to warming/cooling cycles.

 

[chickdr]

Is that why DRLs are turned off when car not moving? Seems like turning them off and on at every stop/go could have some consequences with bulb longevity due to warming/cooling cycles.

Huh? What cars shut the DRL's off when the car isn't moving? Maybe I just haven't noticed it. They stay on while cars sit still at a red light. Do you mean while the car is in park?

 

[N7turbo]

Huh? What cars shut the DRL's off when the car isn't moving? Maybe I just haven't noticed it. They stay on while cars sit still at a red light. Do you mean while the car is in park?

The '24 Miata does. When I am coming to a stop I can see in the reflection in the car in front of me that it reverted to the parking LED accents. As the car starts moving, I can see the main bulb come on.

I wish the CX-5 got this logic, but they stay on until you flip the switch again.

 

[RedBaron]

I think he means it's when the car is in park (or handbrake is on for other manual cars), not just when stopped.

 

[stickerbush]

I think he means it's when the car is in park (or handbrake is on for other manual cars), not just when stopped.

I did mean the DRLs go off when the car is stopped. That is my recollection of how my 2024 CX-5 Peferred. I checked the manual and it says the DRLs turn on "when the car is driven". I don't know if it matters but I normally have my headlight switch set to Auto. I will re-confirm but it will be a week or so before I am able to do so.

 

[N7turbo]

They don't turn off until you turn the knob to park. Then back to auto, and they will turn on again when you cross a few mph.

If they changed this for 2024, then that's great. I assumed the new Miata lights are unique to the platform and that functionality wouldn't carry over to the other models. 2024 is a refresh for the MX-5 with new lights. The CX-5 already got its update in 2022 so I don't think anything is changing until the 2026/2027 model arrives.