headlight gremlin
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Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 63
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From: Miami, Oklahoma
headlight gremlin
Car kept in a garage. Had a battery tender on it but it did not keep the battery up even though battery was new. Hooked up floor charger on lowest setting (the needle on the meter does not move) and it starts right up and does something weird. As soon as it starts the headlights come on, doors open etc. Hi & Lo seem to work. When I turn the motor off the doors close if I move the stalk switch.
Ideas? Since the car is in the garage could it be something as simple as some sort of light sensor thinking it is dark outside?
If I can find it again I will print out the wiring diagram for 99 headlights I saw in another thread.
I don't have any way of knowing what options this car originally came with.
Ideas? Since the car is in the garage could it be something as simple as some sort of light sensor thinking it is dark outside?
If I can find it again I will print out the wiring diagram for 99 headlights I saw in another thread.
I don't have any way of knowing what options this car originally came with.
Last edited by DJ99; Dec 22, 2025 at 08:21 PM. Reason: Additional info.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,212
From: Temple Texas
The VIN decoder here might tell you what options it came with https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/vindecoder.php
Low battery does all sorts of crazy stuff. I would address that first. Then pull the codes and investigate further.
Low battery does all sorts of crazy stuff. I would address that first. Then pull the codes and investigate further.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 63
Likes: 8
From: Miami, Oklahoma
Thanks! I will try the vin decoder.
So, the previous to me using my floor charger low battery could have done something weird? Interesting. I replaced the trickle charger because, even with it plugged in, the brand new battery went dead.
I guess there are so many bad grounds on this car that the trickle charger the guy who sold me the car gave me, that it just could not keep up.
The trickle charger could be OK just does not have the power the floor charger has even on its very lowest setting.
Are there any workarounds for this kind of thing?
What about a "dead man" switch at the battery? That won't fix my headlight problem, of course. I get that.
So, the previous to me using my floor charger low battery could have done something weird? Interesting. I replaced the trickle charger because, even with it plugged in, the brand new battery went dead.
I guess there are so many bad grounds on this car that the trickle charger the guy who sold me the car gave me, that it just could not keep up.
The trickle charger could be OK just does not have the power the floor charger has even on its very lowest setting.
Are there any workarounds for this kind of thing?
What about a "dead man" switch at the battery? That won't fix my headlight problem, of course. I get that.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 233
From: Placitas NM
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
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Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 63
Likes: 8
From: Miami, Oklahoma
Thanks for the tip! I am pretty new to this car. I will try to find an option for "twilight". The video did not mention that specifically, I will check again.
Additionally this car has "been around the track a few times" with numerous owners I think and at least two motor rebuilds along with the ProCharger.
Believe it or not, the actual instrument cluster has been changed.
Additionally this car has "been around the track a few times" with numerous owners I think and at least two motor rebuilds along with the ProCharger.
Believe it or not, the actual instrument cluster has been changed.
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Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 63
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From: Miami, Oklahoma
Many thanks for your suggestion. I did not know about the DIC at all. The video showed a lot of it; I went to the car, put the key in, (with one battery charger lead disconnected, of course) and nothing till I turned the key on. Then the Options button produced messages and I found "Twilight" and it was "ON". Did not know how to turn it off so tried "RESET" and that worked, the headlights went down! I tried turning the headlights "ON" and they went on with open doors, high beam and low, so all is OK. Boy am I pleased!.
It's great when something so simple, which was a real head scratcher for me, is actually so simple.
I don't have an actual factory manual, just a bunch of pages I got off the internet. Maybe I should look those over some more,
Again a big "Thank You" from an old codger who never had a DIC before.
It's great when something so simple, which was a real head scratcher for me, is actually so simple.
I don't have an actual factory manual, just a bunch of pages I got off the internet. Maybe I should look those over some more,
Again a big "Thank You" from an old codger who never had a DIC before.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 233
From: Placitas NM
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
Many thanks for your suggestion. I did not know about the DIC at all. The video showed a lot of it; I went to the car, put the key in, (with one battery charger lead disconnected, of course) and nothing till I turned the key on. Then the Options button produced messages and I found "Twilight" and it was "ON". Did not know how to turn it off so tried "RESET" and that worked, the headlights went down! I tried turning the headlights "ON" and they went on with open doors, high beam and low, so all is OK. Boy am I pleased!.
It's great when something so simple, which was a real head scratcher for me, is actually so simple.
I don't have an actual factory manual, just a bunch of pages I got off the internet. Maybe I should look those over some more,
Again a big "Thank You" from an old codger who never had a DIC before.
It's great when something so simple, which was a real head scratcher for me, is actually so simple.
I don't have an actual factory manual, just a bunch of pages I got off the internet. Maybe I should look those over some more,
Again a big "Thank You" from an old codger who never had a DIC before.