How to disable daytime running lights on the passat or jetta
Difficulty: 1/5
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Introduction

Disabling the daylight running lights (DRL).  If you have the cold start chirp, disabling the daytime running lights will help take the load off the alternator and somewhat reduce the likelihood of the cold start chirp.  The cold start chirp is caused by a worn harmonic balancer pulley.  See 1000q: cold start chirp fix to see the proper solution.

Procedure (passat)

Open the hood and find the DRL plug.  Unplug it, that's it!  I suggest taping it in place.

General location under the hood marked with a green arrow.

Close up of the plug.  It has a yellow wire.  Just squeeze the metal clip with your fingers and you can pull the plugs off.

Procedure (jetta)

If your DRL turns off when you pull the handbrake, find relay 173 underneath the dash and remove it.  You could also disable the DRL at pin 15 on the headlight switch.  Use some thin feelers or spark plug gappers to feel around the headlight switch trim and release the latch.  A screwdriver can damage the trim.  Remove the light switch and pull the yellow wire's pin (instead of cutting the wire) but the relay solution is faster and less likely to damage the pin or trim.  The yellow wire is pin 15.  Use electrical tape over the exposed pin or wire.