Cannot turn off or dim headlights when car is running

Tiny
RUSS.KELLY
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAMARO
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
Hi Folks,

Just inherited the car listed above and I can't find any way to turn the headlights off when entering a military base where I work. The gate guards request I turn the headlights off but they don't seem to be controlled by the switch on the dash when the car is running.

Any ideas?

Russ
Tuesday, April 9th, 2019 AT 11:36 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,867 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

I have some bad news. They can't be turned off in low light situations. The automatic headlamps and park lamps are designed to automatically illuminate when the ignition is RUN and the outside (ambient) light level is low, as in nighttime conditions. Light levels are detected by the ambient light sensor, a light sensitive transistor that varies its voltage signal to the Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) control module in response to changes to the ambient light level. When the DRL control module receives a low light signal from the ambient light sensor, it will then turn on the headlamps and park lamps and turn off the daytime running lamps.

When the ambient light sensor detects low light levels, the DRL control module turns OFF the daytime running lamps and turns on the headlamps and park lamps under the following conditions:
The ignition switch is in the RUN position.
The headlamp switch is OFF.
The park brake is OFF (released).

I wish I had a better answer, but that is how it's designed.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe
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Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 AT 5:07 PM

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