Auto setting on headlights
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 475
Likes: 158
Auto setting on headlights
My auto setting on the headlights is very sensitive. Even to the point of turning on the lights if I park in the shade on a sunny day. Then it seems to take forever to turn the lights off once I get going. Is there any way to adjust the sensitivity? Also, where is the sensor, anyway? Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 51
From: South Carolina
My auto setting on the headlights is very sensitive. Even to the point of turning on the lights if I park in the shade on a sunny day. Then it seems to take forever to turn the lights off once I get going. Is there any way to adjust the sensitivity? Also, where is the sensor, anyway? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,714
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
IIRC, the only thing you can program is the delay for how long headlights stay on after you turn off the engine.
Our 2009 also turns on the lights a little sooner than I would like if parked in the shade, but seems to wait a little too long to turn them on in the evening as the sun slowly sets.
There is a sensor on top of the dash, check that it isn't dirty or covered.
You can twist the stalk switch toward you to Off AFTER hitting the start button but before the engine actually starts, hold for 5 seconds and the lights (including the DRLs) will stay off until you twist the switch to Off again, or go to On, or re-start the engine. If the system thinks the headlights should be on, it will show "Headlights Recommended" in the DIC.
I use the technique above while starting in my dark garage so I don't start the headlights for every drive, but otheres say it doesn't really matter. After getting outside and the Headlight Recommended message goes away by itself, I must remember to twist the stalk to Off a second time, to get the DRLs back on.
Confusing, isn't it?
And if you have an automatic, the DRLs don't come on if you are in Park.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
That's what I do. It does seem to take longer at times than at other times.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Besides this, have you all noticed that if you manually turn the headlamps off after they've come on by themselves, that the DRL's no longer work till the next time its restarted and things work normally?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
I could turn this feature off on my C5 and did. Both my C6 and late model daily Pontiac headlights come on in the garage, even on bright sunny days. Learned to twist the stalk off **** as an automatic reflex when starting the cars now. Even pulled the fuse for my Pontiac's daytime running lights. Don't like any of this stuff at all.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
How is your Auto HVAC working? The two systems share the same "Sun Load Sensor'" on the top of the dash.
Maybe yours is faulty or has failed. Probably not too expensive or difficult to replace.
Maybe yours is faulty or has failed. Probably not too expensive or difficult to replace.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 475
Likes: 158
IIRC,
You can twist the stalk switch toward you to Off AFTER hitting the start button but before the engine actually starts, hold for 5 seconds and the lights (including the DRLs) will stay off until you twist the switch to Off again, or go to On, or re-start the engine. If the system thinks the headlights should be on, it will show "Headlights Recommended" in the DIC.
I use the technique above while starting in my dark garage so I don't start the headlights for every drive, but otheres say it doesn't really matter. After getting outside and the Headlight Recommended message goes away by itself, I must remember to twist the stalk to Off a second time, to get the DRLs back on.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
