'97 3.1 now with new problem

<chuckle> this car is starting to be a pain. First the A/C grenades itself, I'm most of the way done with that repair, now we got new troubles.

I've noticed that it's starting to develop the "turn signal/brake light" problem. Sometimes don't have both brake lights on when left signal is on, but ok with the right. THAT's not what's giving me fits, I can pull the wheel and take care of THAT.

NOW, the dash instrument lights are going nutz. First things first, the headlights/tail-lights would come on whenever it got dark no matter what position I set the light switch on. I could leave it off, and if it is dark, I still have tail lights, license light etc. Lately, I have intermittent dash instrument lights. When it's dark/dusk when I start the car, they'll come on for about 2 seconds, and then shut off. I haven't even reached for the headlights switch yet but they're turning on and then off. When I turn the headlights on, still nothing. Here's the weird one. When I take my kids to school in the A.M. when there's LOT's more light, I have dash lights on for some several minutes into the ride before they shut themselves off.

Is there some weird way I have to turn the lights on or off to give me instrument lights? I KNOW they work, as I can see them for a second or 2.

Dern car does it's own thing with the lights, always has. I don't mind a car that tries to think for me, but if it's gonna do that, it can buy it's own darn gas at 3 bux a gallon!!! :)

First of all daytime running lites come with a system that turns you headlites/tailites on in the evening. Std on 97 Lumina. In the am the auto headlites with the dash lites will come on automatically, the after about 3-5 minutes depending on lite conditions the lites switch to dtrl's no dash lites and no tailites dim headlites only. The dash lites should stay on with the headlite switch or nite time driving, only problem I see here. Possible the dash lite dimmer is turned down?

I ripped that light sensor out as soon as I bought my car. I HATE having auto headlights or DRL. Like max said, its standard on these cars.

I'd suspect a headlight switch problem next, but before you do that, pull up the defrost trim and disconnect the light sensor. Short the connector and wait approx. 20-30 seconds, and with the car on, see what the headlights do (should turn OFF, DRL ON). Pull the jumper, and give it another half minute, the running lights, headlights, and dash lights should turn ON, DRL OFF.

The only thing I don't like about my car? No flash-to-pass. I rigged a relay to flash the DRL-voltage high beams using a panel-mount momentary switch, but its still annoying.

I'd suspect a headlight switch problem next, but before you do that, pull up the defrost trim and disconnect the light sensor. Short the connector and wait approx. 20-30 seconds, and with the car on, see what the headlights do (should turn OFF, DRL ON). Pull the jumper, and give it another half minute, the running lights, headlights, and dash lights should turn ON, DRL OFF.

>>>> Ok, so when I jump the connector, I leave the switch to the OFF position?

Is there any difference between the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and regular headlights? I've looked and it appears that when I switch the headlight switch from OFF to full on, there's no change in which headlamp bulbs light up. Of course I have high beams but you're right, no Flash to Pass feature.

The only thing I don't like about my car? No flash-to-pass. I rigged a relay to flash the DRL-voltage high beams using a panel-mount momentary switch, but its still annoying.[/QUOTE]

Can the car be operated regularly without that dern light sensor hooked up?

Still love the car/model but now wishing that THIS one had the owner's manual. Looks like I'll be surfing the web today to look for one. I've had numerous things with this car that having THAT little book would have saved me posting time on the forum, and you guys, responding time. Stupid stuff like re-setting the "Change Oil Soon" light. :)

Drove car last night. Had dash lights for almost 2 minutes last night as opposed to just a couple of seconds. Dangdest thing I EVER saw!! :)

First of all daytime running lites come with a system that turns you headlites/tailites on in the evening. Std on 97 Lumina. In the am the auto headlites with the dash lites will come on automatically, the after about 3-5 minutes depending on lite conditions the lites switch to dtrl's no dash lites and no tailites dim headlites only. The dash lites should stay on with the headlite switch or nite time driving, only problem I see here. Possible the dash lite dimmer is turned down?


Max, yeah I noticed. Great little car, but THIS one didn't have owners manual with it, so I'm learning as I go. As far as dash light dimmer, nah, I checked that one, but thanks. Sometimes it IS the little stuff that's overlooked.

One thing that DID get me a couple of months ago right after purchase was the switch to turn the dash display ON/OFF. Car is former police issue (just no outside lights ever mounted) so it's got the cutsie little switch to let someone go dark inside as well. I leave THAT switch alone as I suspect a problem. Last time I used it, I blew the fuse for the 12V supply to the dash instruments. Lost the tach, all gauges and S.E.S light.

Hmmmmm now that I think of it, I'm wondering if I take that switch out of the loop if it will have any effect on my problem.

I'll let you guys know what I find.

Thanks

Your DRL is supposed to be the high beams at like 80% power or something. Your low beams are on when the DRL is on??

Make sure you don't have a sensor fulla dust or cig ashes or whatever.

Do what cad said. I'm stumped.

i want a switch that i can flip to turn off all the lights. helps me with my window to window deals. haha lol :)

Your DRL is supposed to be the high beams at like 80% power or something. Your low beams are on when the DRL is on??

Make sure you don't have a sensor fulla dust or cig ashes or whatever.

Do what cad said. I'm stumped.

Don't think so. When I turn on the lights, the same lamps (the outer ones) are on, same illumination level. When I hit high beams, the innermost lamps light up. I'll look again to make sure I've got the order correct, but even if I'm switched, I do specifically remember seeing different lamps come on when the high beams went on.

As far as dust or contamination in the sensor, I'll check into it. I did armor all the dash when we first got the car, maybe there's a bit of film build up on the sensor as a result.

Thanks. I hate it when the car is smarter than me. But, THAT's not really that hard. lol

i want a switch that i can flip to turn off all the lights. helps me with my window to window deals. haha lol :)

lol. yeah in my younger days I'd have been right there with ya. You're welcome to the switch I have, LOL but I think it's foo-bar'd.

Foobar sir! lol