Twilight Sentinel Problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Helena, AL
Twilight Sentinel Problem
Just started a couple of days ago, when I drop the parking brake the headlights pop up with the sentinel turned on. On a couple of occasions the headlights have turned on but they didn't pop up. First time I turned the car off then back on and they came up. Next time I tried that they didn't but I turned off the sentinel and used the headlight switch and they popped right up. The headlights and actuators work fine in manual it is just the sentinel. Does anyone know what is going on?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Helena, AL
Sorry, after reading again it is a little confusing. Basically, when I start the car after dark with the twilight sentinel turned on, my headlights will be on but they don't pop up. You can see them shining through the bumper cover. If I turn the sentinel off and simply use the manual light switch on the stalk they work fine. The first time it happened I turned the car off and when I cranked it again they worked fine (sentinel was still on). Tried that when it happened a second time and no luck. I had to turn the sentinel off and use the switch on the stalk.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Foster City CA
Having Same Problem with Lights
Picked up my '99 C5 from the dealership yesterday--my first Corvette after a lifetime of lusting for one. Of course, couldn't wait to take it out; but lo and behold, we get across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County, stop to take some nice night photos, and when we start the car to leave, we have exactly this same problem--either the lights come on but don't pop up, or nothing at all happens when we turn them on at the stalk. We had to drive back holding the brights on, and when we got home we fooled around with it more in the driveway, and the problem seems completely intermittent--sometimes the lights pop up and work fine, sometimes they come on but don't pop up, sometimes nothing happens when we turn them on at the stalk. VERY frustrating for a brand new (to me) car... 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Helena, AL
OSU sorry to hear about your problem. Luckily I haven't been stuck out somewhere not being able to get the lights to pop up. I played around with it today and it doesn't seem to be occasional anymore. Everytime I turned the sentinel on the lights would not pop up but you could see them shine through the bumper. They work just fine when you turn the sentinel off and use the stalk. All other programable options are working fine.
Has anybody else had this problem....is there some relay between the sentinel and actuators that could have gone out? Since the lights still work in manual and all my other functions work fine I am hoping it is something minor.
Has anybody else had this problem....is there some relay between the sentinel and actuators that could have gone out? Since the lights still work in manual and all my other functions work fine I am hoping it is something minor.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Foster City CA
As I look thru this forum, there are others with similar problems. I'm taking the car in for a complete inspection (as someone buying a used car) from an expert tomorrow--I'll ask him to check this problem as well as any others. I have complete service records on the car--it's looking a little "buggy" to me--lots of stupid, little, irritating problems. Is this the profile for the C5? It's hard to tell from reading posts--I would expect that a main topic would be stupid, little, buggy things. The last American car I had was a 94 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd--it was so bad that I traded it in within 6 months; one mech problem after another. I've been driving Infinitis for 10 years, but the 'Vette is my dream car--hope it doesn't disappoint.
