Disable auto headlight feature?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 357
Likes: 2
From: San Diego ,CA, USA
Disable auto headlight feature?
I'm unhappy with having automatic control of my lighting (parking/headlights/DRL's). I want to disable the auto function. I am guessing that if control module thought the sensor was always in bright light then the auto position would always leave the lights off. Then I could select the parking/headlights manually, which is what I want. To do this I need to understand a little about the sensor wiring.
Does anyone have the auto/parking/headlight schematic with the sensor they could post or send me?
Better yet, has this been done? I don't mind plagiarizing with permission.
Does anyone have the auto/parking/headlight schematic with the sensor they could post or send me?
Better yet, has this been done? I don't mind plagiarizing with permission.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 853
From: Daytona Beach FL
I'm unhappy with having automatic control of my lighting (parking/headlights/DRL's). I want to disable the auto function. I am guessing that if control module thought the sensor was always in bright light then the auto position would always leave the lights off. Then I could select the parking/headlights manually, which is what I want. To do this I need to understand a little about the sensor wiring.
Does anyone have the auto/parking/headlight schematic with the sensor they could post or send me?
Better yet, has this been done? I don't mind plagiarizing with permission.
Does anyone have the auto/parking/headlight schematic with the sensor they could post or send me?
Better yet, has this been done? I don't mind plagiarizing with permission.
I do that every time I start the car. The outer ring on the left stalk can be turned. If you turn it toward you (the top toward you) you'll feel a spring-loaded pressure that will return it to the normal position.
However, when you do twist it into that spring-loaded area and release it, it will turn off your DRLs and disable the auto feature. If it gets dark outside or you go through a tunnel you'll get a DIC message "Headlights Suggested". You can turn the ring into the spring-loaded area again and it will put the lights back into the auto mode and if it's dark the headlights will turn on.
The problem is that you have to do it every time you start the car because the default is the auto mode.
I just don't think there is any good way to defeat the auto mode other than turning it off with the ring on the stalk every time you start the car.
Bob
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 357
Likes: 2
From: San Diego ,CA, USA
I'm tired of having to turn the stalk switch every time I start the car in my garage.
I'm tired of seeing the DIC message and then having to clear that.
I simply want the car to think the sun in shining bright and no need for the lights to automatically come on for me.
If I remove the light sensor and generate a bright sun light condition then the car will let me be in control and stop bothering me.
I am pretty sure the light sensor is little more than a photon to voltage converter (really just a diode). So if I disconnect the sensor and apply a voltage in place of the sensor then the car should register that as day light, no need for headlights.
I would like a schematic of this circuit before I start. If someone cold post it that would help me.
I'm tired of seeing the DIC message and then having to clear that.
I simply want the car to think the sun in shining bright and no need for the lights to automatically come on for me.
If I remove the light sensor and generate a bright sun light condition then the car will let me be in control and stop bothering me.
I am pretty sure the light sensor is little more than a photon to voltage converter (really just a diode). So if I disconnect the sensor and apply a voltage in place of the sensor then the car should register that as day light, no need for headlights.
I would like a schematic of this circuit before I start. If someone cold post it that would help me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 10
From: Columbus OH
Well, before you launch an extensive research, here is my conclusion.
There is no quick and dirty method. You can wire in a resistor into the twilight sensor in order to fool the BCM and it does turn off the auto headlight. *BUT*, the same sensor is also used by the BCM to determine the brightness of the gauge cluster and dashboard buttons illumination.
With the resistor wired in and in the dark, you will turn the headlights on manually. However, in doing so, the gauge cluster and buttons illumination is not reduced. This will put a strain on your eyes as the gauge cluster is at full blast and none of the buttons are illuminated.
The easy way is to get into the BCM and turn this feature off. I have no experience nor knowledge how to do this.
There is no quick and dirty method. You can wire in a resistor into the twilight sensor in order to fool the BCM and it does turn off the auto headlight. *BUT*, the same sensor is also used by the BCM to determine the brightness of the gauge cluster and dashboard buttons illumination.
With the resistor wired in and in the dark, you will turn the headlights on manually. However, in doing so, the gauge cluster and buttons illumination is not reduced. This will put a strain on your eyes as the gauge cluster is at full blast and none of the buttons are illuminated.
The easy way is to get into the BCM and turn this feature off. I have no experience nor knowledge how to do this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,078
Likes: 19
From: Cumming, GA
Or you can turn it to the parking lights which kills the auto headlight function, but enables parking lights.
I leave mine in this setting and when the car is turned off the lights go off even with the switch still set to parking lilghts.
I leave mine in this setting and when the car is turned off the lights go off even with the switch still set to parking lilghts.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 1
From: Houston (Spring) Texas
cool, thanks...will have to try this.
....otherwise....maybe the easy way would be to remove the spring from the switch so it doesn't go to AUTO.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 357
Likes: 2
From: San Diego ,CA, USA
This will be simple to do, just need the schematic.
Anyone have the schematic? Please send if you do.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 78
From: Miami FL
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 13,007
Likes: 0
From: Happiness is Busch in Victory Lane!
St. Jude Donor '09 & '12, '14
Yep, I did this for a couple of years, until I followed the advice of another member here on CF and put a 90 watt spotlight on the ceiling of the garage, aimed at the sensor, and wired into the bulb on the garage door opener. Thus the spotlight is only on when the garage door opener bulb is automatically on, and then goes off automatically. This convinces the sensor it is seeing sunlight, and the lights start up in the DRL mode, not the headlight mode. Works like a charm every time.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 78
From: Miami FL
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
