I know they're not for everyone, but I just tried to have my dealer enable the DRL (Daytime Running Lights) on my 2012 Citadel. On a Challenger forum I found a tip on how to tell them to do it. The mechanic said that when he tried it, it threw codes indicating some relays were missing. He believes that when you have HID's, then to turn on DRL you need the relays. Anyone else run into this on a 3G Durango with factory HID's? Anyone bother to add the relays? My backup plan is to do what I did on my 2G Durango and Charger - cover up the light sensor on the dash and put headlights on automatic.

 

good luck with it...i usually try to go the other route and disable the DRL's on cars

 

You've brought up an interesting point. My previous truck (and most vehicles on the road today) have the daytime running lights. Being my first-ever Dodge, I was perplexed at the fact that the DRLs aren't even an option available in the EVIC menu. If you figure out how to do this, please come back and let me know. I'll be taking the D to the dealer to have the A/C problem fixed in a couple of months (the known remote start issue), so if they can activate the DRLs via your explanation, I'll certainly ask to have them do it.

 

If you don't have HID's then the dealer just needs to use their StarScan or StarMobile tool thus;

StarScan or StarMobile:
ECU View --->
TIPM/CGW --->
Misc Functions --->
Enable DRL - follow prompts.

They didn't say they were going to charge me, so I suspect they weren't - though others on forums report dealers charging $30 to $500. I had it in for some other work and they were checking codes anyway. The reason the EVIC can't set it is that DRL's are required in Canada and they don't want citizens disabling it there. Seems to me they should just have it on if country is set to Canada, and settable by the user in the EVIC if not Canada. Now with HID's, I suppose they save some money in the US by omitting the relays.

I'm puzzled about the HID related relays since the DRL's use the parking lights on high (turn signal filament), and not the headlight. When you use the turn signal then it disables the DRL on that side so it flashes bright/off as usual. Perhaps when you have the headlights on, the parking lights are on bright so then they need relays to turn the headlights back off when DRL is on.

 

My D has the factory HIDs, so based upon what you've written, the dealer scanning tool won't help my situation. If you and your dealer happen to figure out what relays are needed and where they go, please advise and I'll talk to my dealer and have it done. I'm one of those few people that actually prefer to have DRLs.

 

Will do. I tried the electrical tape trick tonight and it works fine, except that since it dims the dash when the headlights are on I've had to turn up the dash brightness so I can see it during the day. That means it will be superbright at night.

 

there is a relay on the wk2 Jeep...could be the same as the wd durango

 

The 2011 owner's manual specifically calls out a DRL bulb (3157K) separately from the high beams and marker lights. If that's the case, then it isn't just missing relays, but likely these bulbs too. The 2012 manual explains that the DRL bulb will extinguish if the turn signal on that side is used, so definitely it's own bulb.

I also found on a build sheet that the DRL option (LM1) is $40 so relays and bulbs makes sense.

Any Canadian owners out there that can provide info or pics?

 

According to others that have DRL, it uses the parking light high filament and not the headlights. I'm starting to believe that DRL uses the headlight circuit but uses relays to turn off the headlights while leaving the parking lights on.

The 2012 Durango manual does not call out any DRL specific bulb;

Exterior Lights Bulb Type
Headlamp – High Intensity
Discharge (HID) . . . . . Service at Authorized Dealer (**)
Headlamp (Low Beam) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . H11
Headlamp (High Beam) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9005
Front Park/Turn Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 7444NA
Front Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . PSX24W
Front Side Marker Lamps . . . . . . . . . . ... . W5Wor 194
Rear Turn/Stop/Tail Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3057
Liftgate Tail Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Backup Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 921 (W16W)
Rear License Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W5W
Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) .... . . LED (*)

 

I asked the dealer to enable DRL last time I had my 2011 D in. The young service writer first told me it's already enabled by law(US), but I never noticed it and most cars on the road don't have them either. When I got it back they were working and use the low beam headlight at low intensity.