A little back story first....

I picked up a bargain priced high mile 99 C5 coupe last year and haven't driven it since the test drive so I have limited experience behind the wheel. My intention from the begging was to fix it up some starting with an interior refresh. Well due to some unforeseen circumstance I have had many delays getting to the point I am at now.

I have two issues that I don't think are related but I am including them together just in case:

1) The chime that sounds for your seatbelt, door ajar w/key in, headlight left on, etc. doesn't work but I can hear a relay clicking to the same rhythm as what the chime should. From my research this is the IPC that controls it and is likely faulty needing repaired or replaced. Does anyone know who could repair this? I would rather go this way than trying to source a replacement but will do whatever is necessary. Please let me know if you disagree with my conclusion. I also know some people will comment that they hate the chime and wouldn't fix it but I guess I am weird and actually appreciate the reminder. What can I say other than I have been conditioned over the years to rely on it.

2) My HUD is dim during the day but appears normal at night. I have tried the dash dimmer switch and it works correctly and dims all the interior lights for the climate, radio, door controls, etc. but doesn't affect the HUD. The dimmer switch on the HUD controls seems to work correctly going from off to a nice visible level for night time driving. Unfortunately this level of brightness makes it barely visible during the day. Turning the headlight or driving lights on/off does not alter the brightness level which I assume it should. Basically it appears that the HUD is stuck in a nighttime only mode. I have read countless threads about bad dimmer switches, projectors going bad, lenses that move, but none of these scenarios seem to match my situation.

Is there any chance that either of these are related since they are both related to the gauge cluster? Please feel free to help weigh in on either problem. Also for clarification I have the interior gutted right now and the cluster removed.

Thanks in advance to helping out!

 

 

I don't think anything is wrong with your hud. Mine is great at night but is hard to see on bright days. I just think that is how it is.

 

I am selling my IPC from my 99 although it doesn't have HUD but I think they are all interchangeable as the spots are there for the controls....just in case you decide to go that way..good luck

 

Is it possible that the car didn't come with the HUD and so the windshield would not have the special film I think the HUD equipped cars do? Maybe the previous owner added the HUD.

 

Could be possible but I doubt it. My 04 came equipped with HUD and there is a noticeable difference when it used during the day and at night. I do believe that's normal

 

Thanks for the information. It sounds like the HUD should dim when you turn on your headlights if I read this correctly. Any ideas what would prevent this? Also how would I verify if I have HUD glass? Thanks

 

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Look on the passenger side lower corner of the windshield & you should see the AP logo with the words "HUD Solar Ray" if it's an OEM HUD windshield.

 

There is an AMBIANT LIGHT sensor on the IPC. Look in your owners manual and it will show you where it is. COVER & UNCOVER it to see if it makes a difference in the lighting. It should. When you cover it, the lighting should DIM and uncovered should get brighter.

Bill

 

Will do, thanks for the info!

Good information and good call, I will give this a shot and see what happens. Thanks!

 

and it's even worse when wearing polarized sunglasses.

 

IMO I think you're on the right track.

If you can find someone with a tech 2 they can select IPC special functions and command all IPC chime functions.
If the chime doesn't sound, the recommendation is to replace or hopefully repair the IPC. The fact that the relay is clicking would seem to indicate that the BCM is sending the signal to the IPC to sound the chime, but the relay, chime, or circuit between the two is bad. I don't know if anyone repairs them but that's not to say somebody doesn't.

 

Thanks everyone for the ideas and help so far. I did verify that the windshield is the correct HUD glass so I can check that one off the list. I am dealing with a weak battery right now so I need to get a decent charge on it to test the ambient light sensor and determine if that is working.

 

I found that out today. With polarized sunglasses, the HUD nearly disapperars.