Quick Car Show Question?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 21
From: Denville NJ
Quick Car Show Question?
What's the best way to turn all the power off on my '01 Z so open hood / doors / trunk don't drain the battery? Is there a built in timer that already does this or do the lights stay on forever? Thanks for any help and tips on what I can do. Show season in the Norteast is quickly approaching and i want to be as ready as possible 
Have a Great Week 
Have a Great Week
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 21
From: Denville NJ
Thanks for the reply. I'm aware of the timer when all is shut. I'm asking what happens if you leave the hood and trunk open, do the lights stay on indefinately or is there another timer? If no other timer, I may have to buy a battery kill switch.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Rio Rancho NM
There is one even if left open I believe it's 15mins
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Melting Slicks
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The lights will shut off after 10-15 minutes (I never actually timed it) with the hood & trunk open; however, the timer will start all over if you open the doors after the lights shut off.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Denville NJ
That's what I used to do on my '86, simply unpluged the leads to the underhood lights. I'm just not sure how many other lights go on when the hood is opened. If I unscrew the hood lamp, do the other lamps stay on and for how long. I guess I'll have to use the trial and error method until I figure it out. thanks for you reply.
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Your car has a timer built into the courtesy and other lights to where after 15 minutes they will automatically shut off when the car is not running. Works very well to keep the battery from being discharged.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,725
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From: Warrington Pa.
Just try this at home, open hood and doors and hatch. Have a beer and clean two wheels...Look up and you'll see that ALL the lights are now off. Now close the hood, open the hood..... have an other beer clean the remaining two wheels look up again....Lights out. I didn't want you to waist time just sitting there staring at your watch, Oh your wheels look great
Now close the hood, open the hood..... have an other beer clean the remaining two wheels look up again....Lights out. I didn't want you to waist time just sitting there staring at your watch, Oh your wheels look great
Last edited by Bill Vett; Mar 30, 2010 at 05:22 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: GRAYSLAKE IL
Oldtimer
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The lights will go out because of the timer however, if you open the door, trunk after the lights go off it starts all over again. I disconnect the hood lite for shows. You can find the connection on the passengers side under the headlight bucket or there abouts...
Safety Car
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From: Anchorage Alaska
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As far as the underhood light goes, I just unclip the wire that runs to it. It's located near the right side headlight, down by the radiator shroud. Blue clip, very easy to unsnap.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Severn Maryland
MD Events Coordinator
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Just try this at home, open hood and doors and hatch. Have a beer and clean two wheels...Look up and you'll see that ALL the lights are now off. Now close the hood, open the hood..... have an other beer clean the remaining two wheels look up again....Lights out. I didn't want you to waist time just sitting there staring at your watch, Oh your wheels look great
Now close the hood, open the hood..... have an other beer clean the remaining two wheels look up again....Lights out. I didn't want you to waist time just sitting there staring at your watch, Oh your wheels look great
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 818
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From: Senecaville Ohio
I show all the time. Timers will shut all hood, trunk, door, and interior lights down after 10 minutes or so. If you open anything, it will start over. I do it all day at the car show. Never a problem though. My husband made me these door props we painted MSG for shows. It will actually shut the door lights off because a screw hits the right spot to make it think it is shut. Oh, I like the beer idea on cleaning. Although, at the shows, can't have it. Bummer. Makes losing easier on you...
Laurie
Laurie
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Orange County, CA
In addition to the above suggestions of just letting the time shut off the lights, you could also replace the existing interior lights with LED lights that draw a fraction of the power of the regular lights. Even if LED lights were left on all day, it probably would not be much of an issue.
Instructor
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From: Glen Cove New York