Midlyf

Strangest thing.

I replaced the headlight gears in the headlights successfully, but now when I run the car, the side lights and taillights are on as if I were driving at night.

All this happens with the light switch OFF, ignition switch ON. It seems like the only lights that are doing what they're told, are the headlights, which do remain off and stowed with the light switch in the OFF position.

Turn signals, brake lights, reverse lights, headlights, all work normally.
The headlights "go up" and turn on when they're switched ON, and retract and turn off when switched OFF.

Has this ever happened to anyone?

Right now, I've disconnected the battery, wondering if powering down the computers may correct this.

Fire away........and thanks in advance.

dadaroo

Not sure how your work on the gears could be related. Could just be Murphy doing his thing. No good deed goes unpunished.

My first thought would be a problem with the Multifunction switch.

Second, something funky with Twilight Sentinel. If you have TS, make sure it is turned OFF and see if that makes any difference if it was ON.

Not at home with all my info now but will ponder this more later.

Midlyf

Appreciate it. My car is unfortunately one of those Canadian builts where the gov't knows better than I how to operate my lights. But I digest! :-)

The TS system cannot be turned off on this model, but I did remove a relay from the floor board some time ago. Until now, that was doing the trick just fine....you could turn the car on in the garage, and the headlights would not come up. Same holds true right now, except now, the side lights and taillights are on.

I don't recall the side and taillights being a part of the TS system.

BTW, I did disconnect the battery and rebooted the computers...no change. Ugh.

Midlyf

I've also done a dic diagnostics run and it only came up with LDCM and RDCM codes with "H" 's on them, which I think just means they're old.

Also, for the heck of it, I started the car, and tried shining a flashlight on the TS sensor to see if the side and taillights would go out...no joy.

dadaroo

I looked at my 2001 FSM. Pulling the relay you did to disable the TS for the headlights does not keep the TS signal from activating relay 43 for the other lamps.

Both of these relays are intended to activate all these lights via TS when the Multifunction switch is OFF.

It would seem your car is working as designed. Let me know if you disagree or have more questions.

Does it not make sense that all these lights should be on if you have the headlights on whether by TS or the MF switch? If you disabled the headlights from TS, you should still have TS activate the others via the separate relay.

Midlyf

dadaroo

Pictures helped. OK, here are the possible causes as I see it.

Ambient light sensor is failed so it always activates TS

Relay 43 contacts are closed and do not open (relay failed). Can be verified by swapping another relay in it's place.

BCM has failed and sending a false TS signal.

Multifunction switch failure.

If you put the headlight relay in and in bright light only the park/side lights are ON (headlights OFF) I would say the sensor is good and the BCM is working. This would indicate the relay or the MF switch. If swapping the relay does not fix it then I say it is the MF switch.

Midlyf

You are exactly correct!

Ok, so, what I did was, to get control of my light switch again, I removed relays 43 and 44, which operate the headlights and body lights via the twilight sentinel, after making sure the light sensor still worked, which it did.

That took care of the headlights and the rear body and tail lights, but the front yellow lights are still on, as in my first picture. Is that just "normal" or do I need to take out some more sentinel relays?

Thanks much for all your input.

Lee DeRaud

The Canadian version still has daytime running lights, right? I'd go with "normal".

dadaroo

The front lights are the Daylight Running lights. The same bulb filament if also the turn signal. These should go off when the headlights are ON.

Here is what the Owners manual says:

Exterior Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully
functional daytime running lights are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make the front turn signal lamps
come on when the following conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off and

the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only the front turn signal lamps
will be on. The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t
be lit up either.
To idle the vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in OFF. Then start the
vehicle. The DRL, headlamps and parking lamps will
stay off until you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.

Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions. Mr. Sam