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Headlight Issue! Need Help!

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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 06:52 PM
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Default Headlight Issue! Need Help!

I have an electrical problem that has developed this year in my 2001 C5 Coupe. I have about 25K and when I turn the ignition (and not the lights) on the headlights flip up. I cannot flip them down immediately either. In a couple of minutes, I can turn them on and off and they will flip down. This seems to only occur when the car is cold. I rarely drive at night, so I do believe that the plastic tabs inside the headlamp area are still in good shape. What gives?
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 06:55 PM
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Is the twilight sentinel set to on?
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 08:47 PM
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Along with the twilight sentinel, is the car in a garage at the time?
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 09:18 PM
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The car is in the garage when I start it and the lights pop on. A dumb question, What is the twilight sentinel and where is it located. Thanks
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 10:00 PM
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The twilight sentinel was an option on lots of cars. You'll find the settings in the DIC Controller in the "Options". If you have it, there will be an option to turn it on and off in there. If that option is there, you have it. With that option turned on, the headlamps will turn themselves on and off, along with opening and closing. Its designed so that at night when you go get into your car outside somewhere, the lights come on and raise automatically, therefore never having to touch the headlamp switch itself. They will also shut themselves off after the "Delay" time you also specify in the same "Options" area.
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Jack R. Stein
The car is in the garage when I start it and the lights pop on. A dumb question, What is the twilight sentinel and where is it located. Thanks
Does it do it when outside in the sunlight?

If not then it's the Twilight Sentential as other people have said. If it's a Canadian car the feature cannot be disabled though Options.

I doubt that's the case (Canadian car) though since you say you have had the car several years and it just started doing it.
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 10:54 PM
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Thanks, I will check to see if the twilight sentinel has been activiated. It just started doing this, but I will have to check to see if I enabled it without realizing.
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Old Jan 23, 2009 | 11:05 AM
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First rule of thumb for any vehicle is "read the manual". This is especially true for a Vette as there is valuable information in the manual for first time Corvette owners. Like everyone has said, sounds like the Twilight sentinel is doing it's job!

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