HeadLight Problem at Night
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
HeadLight Problem at Night
Last night I got in my car it was around dusk time and started the car. The inside lights came on, but the headlights did not pop up (they are on automatic). It was somewhat dark so I turned on the switch, but still the lights did not pop up. I then stopped the car, turned it all off, and restarted and the headlights popped up.
I have a 01 6MN so the lights do not come on until I release the emergency break. I was thinking that had something to do with it, but was wondering if anyone else experienced this problem.
Thanks
I have a 01 6MN so the lights do not come on until I release the emergency break. I was thinking that had something to do with it, but was wondering if anyone else experienced this problem.
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 1
From: Deerfield beach Fl
Lights probably came on but just did not pop up. I 've had that happen, turned off car, restarted, problem solved, very infrequent. As for the emergency brake, I think that is only an issue when you have it setup to automatically turn on the headlights when it is dark out and you start the car. Note that these are not auto headlights, its just a one shot deal from what I can tell, start car in dark, release break, headlights pop, they will not go off when it gets light out, nor will they turn on when it gets dark if the car was not started in the dark, pretty stupid if you ask me. My grandmothers car has automatic headlights and it is an 87.
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
Last night I got in my car it was around dusk time and started the car. The inside lights came on, but the headlights did not pop up (they are on automatic). It was somewhat dark so I turned on the switch, but still the lights did not pop up. I then stopped the car, turned it all off, and restarted and the headlights popped up.
I have a 01 6MN so the lights do not come on until I release the emergency break. I was thinking that had something to do with it, but was wondering if anyone else experienced this problem.
Thanks
I have a 01 6MN so the lights do not come on until I release the emergency break. I was thinking that had something to do with it, but was wondering if anyone else experienced this problem.
Thanks
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by robl45
Lights probably came on but just did not pop up. I 've had that happen, turned off car, restarted, problem solved, very infrequent.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 7,825
Likes: 0
From: Manassas VA
My lights come on when it's dark or I drive into a very dim-lit garage. They automatically go off when the light level is bright enough. They will not go off manually, as long as the automatic "twilight on" is set. I've never had the problem of them not coming on if I turned them on manually though... yet...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 1
From: Deerfield beach Fl
hmm, can anyone else confirm this? My lights do not work like that, they only come on with the twilight sentinal if its dark out when I start the car, they do not go on and off depending on the light conditions after the car is started. I'd think it was a bad sensor but it knows when I start the car that it is dark or light out.
Originally Posted by wit2pz
My lights come on when it's dark or I drive into a very dim-lit garage. They automatically go off when the light level is bright enough. They will not go off manually, as long as the automatic "twilight on" is set. I've never had the problem of them not coming on if I turned them on manually though... yet...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by robl45
hmm, can anyone else confirm this? My lights do not work like that, they only come on with the twilight sentinal if its dark out when I start the car, they do not go on and off depending on the light conditions after the car is started. I'd think it was a bad sensor but it knows when I start the car that it is dark or light out.
If I remember correctly my lights will come on when I am driving and it is dark and will shut off when the sun comes up. I can verify this tomorrow morning when I leave to work. The garage should be dark enough to set the lights to on and if the rain holds out it should be bright enough outside to turn them off.
I will let you know...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 7,825
Likes: 0
From: Manassas VA
I just checked the manual. On my 2001, and I would assume on other years with the same options, you can adjust the delay time for the lights to pop up and go down. Go into OPTIONS, select TWILIGHT SENTINEL ON, press OPTIONS again, and you get the screen where you can adjust the delay time. Press the FUEL button to increase the delay time, and the GAGES button to decrease it. Each bar is in 12 second increments. If it's set to no delay time, like mine is, you'll see your lights go up in the dark, and down in the light. Mind you, it won't be erratic, you have to be in the dark, like a parking garage, for about 10 to 15 seconds before they'll come on, and out in the light for about 15 to 20 seconds for them to go off. Hope this helps.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 0
From: monroeville pa
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Let me tell you when i went out to visit my son after i had the car for a few months it was dark out when i left his house i got into the car started it up and no lights i thought ok this can"t be right so i put them on by the switch.Go home and looked up why the headlights did not go on in my manual.Who was the nut who came up with the idea that you put the brake down and the lights go up and on. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 0
From: arlington tx
Originally Posted by charlene
Let me tell you when i went out to visit my son after i had the car for a few months it was dark out when i left his house i got into the car started it up and no lights i thought ok this can"t be right so i put them on by the switch.Go home and looked up why the headlights did not go on in my manual.Who was the nut who came up with the idea that you put the brake down and the lights go up and on.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 0
From: monroeville pa
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
i had older corvettes and the lights did not go on when you put the emergency brake down.Yes i read in the manual they made them that way so you can idle with them off.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,968
Likes: 24,705
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Never had this problem. My car has the twilight feature too and they automatically come on when the light level is low enough and goes off when it gets bright enough outside. They will only work when the e-brake is released.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by robl45
hmm, can anyone else confirm this? My lights do not work like that, they only come on with the twilight sentinal if its dark out when I start the car, they do not go on and off depending on the light conditions after the car is started. I'd think it was a bad sensor but it knows when I start the car that it is dark or light out.
Drove the car out of the garage this morning and the lights were on. About 1 min. later down the road they turned off. Seem to work for me...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 1
From: Deerfield beach Fl
Mine are not working like that, anyone have any idea how to test them? Where is the sensor? I'm assuming I can cover it up to simulate darkness. The sensor seems to work because they pop up in the dark but then when it is light they do not budge, something seems screwy. Need to diagnose.
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
Drove the car out of the garage this morning and the lights were on. About 1 min. later down the road they turned off. Seem to work for me...
