Head light switch OFF mod

[VVTL-I]

Hi all
First the standard disclaimer: if you break your switch, I am not responsible. You should really buy another switch first in case something bad happens. I ordered my switch from chevroletonlineparts, their PN 95297028 . It was about 30 bucks. I don’t know if this is a GM part number or not. This was their listing for a 2016 Sonic RS. This mod worked for my 2016 Sonic RS with factory fog lights. For any other Sonic application, I have no clue..
I got this idea from reading another post here about forcing the head light switch into the off position by merely taking apart the switch and removing a spring. I purchased the switch and took it apart, looking for the magic spring to remove, but none was visible.
After looking at the innards of the switch assembly, I realized that the switch rotated back into the DRL Auto position by a cam action, caused by 2 spring loaded steel detent pins, and the molding of slopes into the switch knob rotation assembly .
To prevent the switch from camming back into the DRL position, I carefully used a Dremmel to add 2 notches into the switch knob that lined up with the OFF position of the switch body. That way when the switch was rotated into the off position, the detent pins would catch the Dremmeled in notches, and hold the switch into the OFF position. Turns out this actually works quite well.


Start by using a small flat blade screw driver to un do the 5 tabs on the switch cover and remove the cover

[/URL] [/IMG]

Once the cover is removed, the knob can be pried off the switch body. There are 4 tabs that hold the knob into place. I used 2 screwdrivers to pry back the tabs, and carefully pried up the knob assembly. Go slowly, there is a lot of friction holding the knob in place along with 2 clips that hold the fog light button in place.

[/URL][/IMG]


Detent pins visible inside the switch housing

[/URL][/IMG]


Turn the knob over. I used the switch lubrication goo as a location guide for where to dremmel in the notches for the OFF position

[/URL][/IMG]

Using the tip of the screwdriver, I scribed in a reference line for where to dremmel in the indents, and wiped off the goo.

[/URL][/IMG]

Next the tricky part. Using the appropriate bit for your dremmel, carefully notch the inside of the knob. I mounted the knob gently in a vice to hold it, and made several passes with the grinding wheel, slowly removing plastic with each pass. This part of the switch has very thin plastic, so don’t go too deep with the notches or you will go thru the switch..

[/URL][/IMG]

One side done:

[/URL][/IMG]

When you are done, the inside of your knob should look like this:

[/URL][/IMG]

I wiped out the plastic debris, then used a cotton swab to re distribute the left over grease into the newly Dremmeled dimples. Re assembly is in reverse order. Line up the knob so it can be pushed into the spot where the detent pins are in line with the DRL Auto position and push the knob all the way in.

[/URL][/IMG]

Then push in the fog light button.

[/URL][/IMG]

Then put on the top switch cover

[/URL][/IMG]


Rotate the switch to all its positions to make sure nothings is screwed up. If you were successful, the switch should now latch in the OFF position.

[/URL][/IMG]


Congratulations, you should have a head light switch that you can use to actually keep your lights off with.

 

[MaD]

Wow awsome write up!!! Next will be how much are you going to charge for doing this awsome upgrade?!? I'm sure I won't be the first to ask [emoji41] [emoji106]

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[Stew]

Way cool! I read about someone doing that over on cruzetalk and mentioned it over here once or twice but haven't done it myself. It looks like there's a little more to it than I would've expected but it looks like you did a great job

 

[VVTL-I]

Thanks for the positive responses! i have gotten a lot of good ideas by reading this forum. I thought maybe i could give something back to the community.

I may mod a couple of these switches and sell them. I will see what the interest is..

The last thing i may attempt is to mod the switch so the Fog light button only turns on the fogs, not the fogs and parking lights. I think its doable.

 

[Llia]

Life saver

 

[sw2low]

Im bummed pictures dont show up anymore. I despise the normally 'on' setting.

 

[Natesriv]

does it affect the auto lights at night time?

 

[2014 Blue RS]

I'm sure it would. That's why I didn't jump on this mod

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[brainpause]

Why in the heck would you want to do this mod? It is safer to have your headlights or DRL on at all times.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[SouthFLSonic]

Why in the heck would you want to do this mod? It is safer to have your headlights or DRL on at all times.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

People who have aftermarket lights and such don't want the drl running reduced power and burning up their lights and ballast prematurely.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[brainpause]

Ok....to each his own. I'd rather be seen more easily and not be pulled out in front of and stuff like that. I'm an old codger I guess.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[SouthFLSonic]

Ok....to each his own. I'd rather be seen more easily and not be pulled out in front of and stuff like that. I'm an old codger I guess.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

The DRL just draws less power than headlights full on so if you spent money on nicer bulbs to see at night you'd be doing it more often if you run them on DRL. Pulling the fuse just negates this features auto on ability. You could still just turn the switch yourself for full brighter headlights and be seen better.

If your main use is for others to see you better then you should just turn your headlights on because they will be brighter than the DRL is and prolong your bulb life.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[VVTL-I]

Hi All . I have not been on here for a while. I will try to get the pictures back up, or re post this thread again. This mod does not affect the DRL mode. If you want DRL to operate, just leave the switch in that position. All this mod does is allow the head light switch to remain in the 'off' position so you can actually leave the head lights off if needed.

 

[Calrebel]

So I just did this mod from this tutorial and I have 2 add on pieces of advice for people attempting it.

#1, you are dremel-ing into just below the apex (highest point of the slope) on both sides and rolling the dremel up into the apex point of the plastic, that's the sweet spot. I went too conservative above the apex down into the apex so I had to do a second cut to fix it. The plastic is extremely thin where you are going to dremel, there is no plastic to cut into because there just wasn't any in the original mold design so go sparingly. Go for a steep drop off but watch you don't cut through to the outside. I can see light pass through my plastic but I didn't break it and it holds grease.

#2, reattaching everything my switch pushed the under connector (which attaches to the electronic board to signal the switch's selected position/mode) out of sequence. When I reattached the entire reassembled switch back into the dash the low beam lights stayed on constantly no matter what and the door chime stayed chiming rapidly. I had to open the back black cover, remove the green board, and reattach the moving electric contact to the switch guides, sandwich it back against the control board, and put the cover back on. Once I put it all back together after that bam, problem was solved.

VVTL-I, thanks for guide, maybe I'll see you around norcal.