Headlights shut off
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 329
Likes: 101
From: Chiggerbranch, MS
Headlights shut off
I have a 2014 C7 3LT A6 and love it with one exception. With the headlights in Auto and driving at night the dash and infotainment lights are full bright and the dimming rheostat will not turn them down. Then, randomly the headlights will shut down and all dash lights are gone. You quickly reach up and move the lights selector to constant on and POOF, back the headlights come. Then the dash/infotainment lights can be controlled with the rheostat. You do get a message on the dash saying the auto dimming control has been turned off. I am certain the sensor in the center of the dash is clean and unobstructed.
Any ideas? or head to the dealer as I have an extended warranty. Let them sort it out.
Any ideas? or head to the dealer as I have an extended warranty. Let them sort it out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 329
Likes: 101
From: Chiggerbranch, MS
Yep, it is 100% reproduceable when you drive at night. Happens every time and did last night again. I am thinking the dealership can put a cover over the sensor on the dash and reproduce it in the daytime. I might try that myself and see before I head to the dealership. Fortunately, I have a well respected dealership that specializes in Corvettes.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 329
Likes: 101
From: Chiggerbranch, MS
Well that is worth a try. My suspicion is a poor ground somewhere that gets loose for a moment and causes the malfunction. I just tried it again in the daylight with a cover over the sensor. It worked fine for a while but it malfunctioned after I stepped into it for a brief acceleration. Right after I went wheeee, the lights went out. Something is causing that.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 329
Likes: 101
From: Chiggerbranch, MS
Is the BCM under the silver plate type wall behind the carpet? Or somewhere else on the passenger side? I replaced the radio module recently and I am very familiar with what is behind the carpet on the passenger side. I hope no one needs to replace that radio module because it is behind two walls.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,667
Likes: 849
From: New Jersey
Yes, it is the black plastic box with about 5 connectors plugged into the bottom edge. Behind the carpet, behind the metal plate. See the 11th picture of the below thread.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tallation.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tallation.html
Last edited by ersatz928; Jan 24, 2019 at 11:08 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 329
Likes: 101
From: Chiggerbranch, MS
Thanks. Yes it is the front one. The second one behind the metal plate is the XM radio module and is a full grown bear to get to and work with. The one you are talking about just requires a slight amount of cussing to deal with.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,043
Likes: 9,807
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
You don't say if you see any change in the outside lighting when you turn the system on and the inside dimmer starts working. Do the headlights get brighter after you switch them to on? Are all of the other outside lights (side markers, taillights) on when you find the interior lights can't be adjusted? What you may be seeing is the auto light system getting stuck in daylight mode because the controlling module isn't receiving a signal from the light sensor. The dash light sensor has been known to fail on all sorts of cars.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 329
Likes: 101
From: Chiggerbranch, MS
You don't say if you see any change in the outside lighting when you turn the system on and the inside dimmer starts working. Do the headlights get brighter after you switch them to on? Are all of the other outside lights (side markers, taillights) on when you find the interior lights can't be adjusted? What you may be seeing is the auto light system getting stuck in daylight mode because the controlling module isn't receiving a signal from the light sensor. The dash light sensor has been known to fail on all sorts of cars.
Bill
Bill
The only time the dash light rheostat will work is when I move the selector from automatic to constant on, two clicks up from auto. Then the dash light brightness can be controlled with turning the ****.
Last edited by wlittle49; Jan 24, 2019 at 02:12 PM.