Twilight Mode Option
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2004
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From: kensington nh
Twilight Mode Option
I have a canadian 2001 ZO6 and would like to know how to defeat the twilight mode on the headlights. If you are not familiar with canadian delievered cars the twilight mode option in the DIC does not have an ON or OFF mode selection.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Re: Twilight Mode Option (greg sinclair)
Originally posted by forum member QuicksilverC5. :cheers:
Disabling the Twilight Sentinel on Canadian Model C5's
It turned out to be VERY easy to do. The only minor difficulties I encountered were:
a) due to the limited distance I could pull the sensor and its lead from the wiring harness out to facilitate working on it (about 4"), and
b) the fact that one has to work in fairly close quarters down low at the base of the windshield. To make this easier, I moved the seat(s) as far forward as possible when actually doing the work.
Following information obtained on the forum, I did it as follows:
1. I used a CREDIT CARD to 'work'/loosen and 'pop out' the dash top defroster grill.
2. The Twilight Sentinel (TS) sensor itself comes in a base/housing that plugs into a female socket on the left hand underside of the defroster grill. It simply screws into its defroster grill socket, requiring only a 1/4 clockwise turn to 'lock' it into place like (eg.) a tail light bulb into its socket.
3. Before I did ANYTHING (even unscrewed the sensor from the grill), I tied some *black* fishing line (about 4 feet worth) around the ACTUAL WIRE connecting the sensor to the harness, ***JUST IN CASE the whole thing should accidentally slip down into the dash during the process***, so I could pull it up again... (THAT WOULD BE A PAIN - the head lights would then ALWAYS be on when the car was running, and trying to fish it out again looked like it would NOT be easy...).
4. I THEN unscrewed the sensor from the defroster grill.
5. THEN, the sensor itself simply plugs into a male connector on the end of the wiring harness lead, so I unplugged the sensor from its harness connector. (I used a small jeweller's screwdriver to release a clip to allow the parts to be separated).
6. I then reinstalled the (now disconnected) sensor back into the defroster grill (for 'looks' only, since it's now non-functional).
7. Next, I bent the leads on a 4.7K OHM ½ Watt resistor that I picked up today (6-pak for $1.49; needed only one), and plugged the resistor leads into the contacts on the end of the male wiring harness connector. (Real nice fit - tight but not too tight).
8. I then taped the resistor/connector up to prevent shorts and provide further insurance against them coming apart, using black electrical tape.
9. I then taped the connector to the sensor housing, the objective being to help ensure that it wouldn't flop around/rattle/make noise if simply left loose.
10. I then looped and tied the fishing line through a couple of bars in the defroster grill, leaving only about 4" of slack to its tie point back on the wiring harness, and cut off the surplus line with scissors - JUST IN CASE THE ELECTRICAL TAPE SHOULD EVER SOFTEN/COME LOOSE FROM HEAT IN THE CAR and the resistor/lead might decide to separate from the sensor and drop down into the dash as mentioned above and cause noise/be difficult to retrieve.
11. I then reinstalled the defroster grill and 'voila'.
Now *I RULE*.
Base upon admittedly limited testing (since I just finished the job and only tested things out an hour or so ago in my garage), I now (seem to) have TOTAL CONTROL over when I want the headlights up/on or down/off, regardless of ambient light levels.
(***Again, based on my limited testing to date*** - although I simply followed information posted many times on the forum (specifically about the 4.7K ½ Watt resistor) and can't see WHY this 'resistor-subbing' should not work or screw anything ELSE up. As far as the 'computer' knows, it's simply always daylight now...).
Maybe the above will help/encourage others who wish to do the same thing. It only took me 20 minutes or so to do the whole job and I didn't even try to rush.
QuicksilverC5
Disabling the Twilight Sentinel on Canadian Model C5's
It turned out to be VERY easy to do. The only minor difficulties I encountered were:
a) due to the limited distance I could pull the sensor and its lead from the wiring harness out to facilitate working on it (about 4"), and
b) the fact that one has to work in fairly close quarters down low at the base of the windshield. To make this easier, I moved the seat(s) as far forward as possible when actually doing the work.
Following information obtained on the forum, I did it as follows:
1. I used a CREDIT CARD to 'work'/loosen and 'pop out' the dash top defroster grill.
2. The Twilight Sentinel (TS) sensor itself comes in a base/housing that plugs into a female socket on the left hand underside of the defroster grill. It simply screws into its defroster grill socket, requiring only a 1/4 clockwise turn to 'lock' it into place like (eg.) a tail light bulb into its socket.
3. Before I did ANYTHING (even unscrewed the sensor from the grill), I tied some *black* fishing line (about 4 feet worth) around the ACTUAL WIRE connecting the sensor to the harness, ***JUST IN CASE the whole thing should accidentally slip down into the dash during the process***, so I could pull it up again... (THAT WOULD BE A PAIN - the head lights would then ALWAYS be on when the car was running, and trying to fish it out again looked like it would NOT be easy...).
4. I THEN unscrewed the sensor from the defroster grill.
5. THEN, the sensor itself simply plugs into a male connector on the end of the wiring harness lead, so I unplugged the sensor from its harness connector. (I used a small jeweller's screwdriver to release a clip to allow the parts to be separated).
6. I then reinstalled the (now disconnected) sensor back into the defroster grill (for 'looks' only, since it's now non-functional).
7. Next, I bent the leads on a 4.7K OHM ½ Watt resistor that I picked up today (6-pak for $1.49; needed only one), and plugged the resistor leads into the contacts on the end of the male wiring harness connector. (Real nice fit - tight but not too tight).
8. I then taped the resistor/connector up to prevent shorts and provide further insurance against them coming apart, using black electrical tape.
9. I then taped the connector to the sensor housing, the objective being to help ensure that it wouldn't flop around/rattle/make noise if simply left loose.
10. I then looped and tied the fishing line through a couple of bars in the defroster grill, leaving only about 4" of slack to its tie point back on the wiring harness, and cut off the surplus line with scissors - JUST IN CASE THE ELECTRICAL TAPE SHOULD EVER SOFTEN/COME LOOSE FROM HEAT IN THE CAR and the resistor/lead might decide to separate from the sensor and drop down into the dash as mentioned above and cause noise/be difficult to retrieve.
11. I then reinstalled the defroster grill and 'voila'.
Now *I RULE*.
Base upon admittedly limited testing (since I just finished the job and only tested things out an hour or so ago in my garage), I now (seem to) have TOTAL CONTROL over when I want the headlights up/on or down/off, regardless of ambient light levels.
(***Again, based on my limited testing to date*** - although I simply followed information posted many times on the forum (specifically about the 4.7K ½ Watt resistor) and can't see WHY this 'resistor-subbing' should not work or screw anything ELSE up. As far as the 'computer' knows, it's simply always daylight now...).
Maybe the above will help/encourage others who wish to do the same thing. It only took me 20 minutes or so to do the whole job and I didn't even try to rush.
QuicksilverC5
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Re: Twilight Mode Option (greg sinclair)
You may also be able to use a techII to flash the BCM. You have to say "no" to the first option that it asks you (something like Z49 -- can't remember though). Then try it. I have never done this though so I'm not sure if it will turn anything else off. Pretty easy to try though.
On american cars, if you say "yes" to that option, the twilight sentinal is always on without the option to turn it off. That may be it!?!
Mike
On american cars, if you say "yes" to that option, the twilight sentinal is always on without the option to turn it off. That may be it!?!
Mike
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,567
Likes: 0
From: Aurora IL
Re: Twilight Mode Option (mike@xtreme)
Print out the instructions for using the TECH II and take them to a dealer, Have the dealer use the TECH II to turn off the twilight feature and it is gone until you have it turned back on.
