PAGJA

I had asked this question a couple of months ago...I also "searched" archives site and found no real answer... I have an '08 Coupe, when I start the car in the garage the headlights automatically come on.... the switch does have the "off" position but it is spring loaded to return to "Auto" mode...someone earlier said that they switch the stalk to "parking" lights and then turn off car... when doing this upon start-up the next time the headlights will not "fire" up and you can then switch the stalk to the "off" mode. I thought that when I first got the car that if I set the emergency brake that the headlights would not come on... this no longer works. I just can't believe that the HID lights are going to last very long with the constant "short" cycling of firing up and then immediately shutting down or when the light monitoring senser "reads" enough daylight outside the garage to turn them off. Does anyone have a clue to why GM has a spring loaded stalk that returns to the "auto" position everytime instead of remaining "off" like many of my other cars do? Anyone with any ideas to over-ride this system? Is it a computor function that can be flashed out, etc. Thanks for any help

calemasters

Does anyone have a clue to why GM has a spring loaded stalk that returns to the "auto" position everytime instead of remaining "off" like many of my other cars do?
This so the headlamps will turn on automatically when ambient light levels are low.

Anyone with any ideas to over-ride this system?
Why, the HIDs will last for many years.


Is it a computor function that can be flashed out, etc. Yes, the BCM controls the headlamps,

Vettin08

In my '02 Camaro, I defeated the auto headlights by removing the light sensor in the dash that measures light levels outside and triggers the lights to come on. Put a resistor in it's place and it worked perfectly. By that, I mean that you had to use the switch yourself to control the lights, the only thing that was disabled was the auto-mode. Will try it w/ my C6 as well, I don't care for the auto mode.

slacker1201

I just leave it on my parking lights all the time.

ATC399

Copy and pasted from the 2008 manual, hope it helps;

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control is located to the left of the
steering wheel on the multifunction lever.
O(Exterior Lamp Control): Turn the band with this
symbol on it to operate the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp band has four positions:
O(Off): Turn the band to this position to turn off
all lamps.
AUTO (Automatic): Turn the band to this position
to set the exterior lamps in automatic mode. AUTO
mode turns the exterior lamps on and off depending
on how much light is available outside the vehicle.
To override AUTO mode, turn the control to off.
To reset to AUTO mode turn the control to exterior
lamps and then back to AUTO. Automatic mode also
resets when your vehicle is turned off and then back on
again if the control is left in the AUTO position.
;(Parking Lamp): Turning the band to this position
turns on the parking lamps together with the following:
• Sidemarker Lamps
• Taillamps
• License Plate Lamps
• Instrument Panel Lights
The parking brake indicator light comes on and stays
on when the parking lamps are on with the engine
off and the ignition to Acc.
5(Headlamps): Turning the control to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.

moolys

When I start the car I automaticly turn the lever towards me and the lights do not come on in the garage

cclive

This has just become habit with me also...and I hit the button when coming home also, so they don't come on if it runs in the garage for a minute...

cclive

This sounded good to me, but it also leaves the taillights on all the time, making it more difficult for people behind to tell when the brake lights are on during the day...IMHO

bullrunvette

To each his own I guess, but I used to manually turn them off each time I started car but now I let them stay on as designed. I kind of like the look on other Vettes when I they are coming at me.

Vinnie T

By "turn the lever", do you mean twisting/turning the **** to an "off" or non-auto position on the **** just prior to hitting the start button? I've noticed that mine come on as soon as the engine starts and there is no lag time to turn them off before they fire up.

As far as why GM does it, does it maybe have to do with some built-in replacement intervals for an expensive part? That minute or so that they are on before they shut off again whether exiting or entering the garage can't be good for longevity.

cclive

I'm able to keep them from starting if I just twist the **** back to off just as, or just after I start the engine. I don't think GM did it on purpose, but I agree that just giving the bulbs a short ZAP every time the car is started in the garage cannot be good for them. Any bulb will last longer when it is started fewer times...even if it runs longer between starts.

CH-Z51

There is a solution:

1st carefully remove the plastic grill in the center of the dash
2nd locate and cut the two pairs of wires that go to the light sensor
3rd solder 1K ohm resistors between the wire pairs. This tricks the sensor into thinking its daylight.

No funtions will be lost except the headlights will have to be switched on manually.

And while you,ve got that grill of you can disconnect the center speaker wire as well and noticably improve the sound of the sterio.

MYVetteBy25

When you turn your headlights on manually do your radio/climate control lights come on when it's dark? I thought that those lights were tied to the light sensor and if you trick the light sensor into thinking it's day all the time then they will not light up when it's night time.

Vettin08

If it's the same as the Camaro system, you don't have to solder it, just bend the resistor into a U shape, trim the tips down a bit, and insert it into the socket the sensor was plugged into. Much easier, quicker, and reversible in no time.

cclive

Thats great info, I can try it and the speaker thing also, and if things don't work out, I can just return everything to normal...perfect!

Thanks!

CH-Z51

They turn on when the headlights are switched on.

I seldom drive the C6 at night and this resolved the one and only complaint I had with the car and it is a very simple, 10 min. fix.

Vettin08

All this fix does is disable the auto function. All the other controls work as they would if the car didn't have the auto-function, ie. parking lights, fog lights, head lights, brights, and interior lights.

RogerC6

IF it aint broken......leave it alone

nhpln

Tried the resistor mod. Stuck a pair of 2.2k ohm resistors into the 4 sockets. It does simulate daytime (lights no longer turn on in the garage), however when I manually turn on the headlights, the DIC control buttons, radio buttons, and climate control buttons do not light up since the car still thinks it's bright out. That won't work for night driving. I'll be going back to twisting the **** to "off" everytime i start the car.

Vettin08

That's strange, I don't know why they would ever default to the bright mode if you have the headlights turned on manually. That's supposed to automatically dim the interior lights to night mode. Hmmmm. I'll play w/ it when I get mine next week. I'd love to defeat this thing too.