So the DRL were not working at all unless i reached under the dash and touched the wiring going to the diode.
I added dielectric grease b/c i thought it was an intermittent connection but that did not help.
I replaced the diode with one from a boneyard and they work fine now. There is only one bolt holding the diode up.
Just posing to get the word out if anyone else is have DRL trouble.