headlights...turn off

I have a 2003 (bought it used - it was imported from canada). The dash controls etc were switched over from canadian to US> The problem is I cannot turn off the headlights in the dark. The "auto" function is the only one that works. The "off" doesn't function. Dealer told me that in canada it has to be that way...so no fix in store.

I have a 2000 and when it's dark and the lights come on I can't turn them off either.

Try pushing the dome over ride button in-out-in-out, see if that works, also try pushing the park brake in one click and see if that works.

If I remember right the dome light button does have something to do with the headlights and the day time runnning lights etc. I believe you have to push in the dome button a few times to re-program everything.

Also, In the middle of your dashboard, You should have that little ball near the bottom windshield, that's actually the auto sensor that tells the lights to come on when it gets dark, try covering it with something like a shirt and see what happens.

It is law in Canada to have the headlights on when driving at night. So to help people save money on tickets, they installed sensors to turn on the headlights at night in the newer vehicles.

As far as I know, there is no way to turn them off at night without removing the sensor and rewiring the system. If it is a problem for you, just cover up the sensor. That should do the trick.

"As far as I know, there is no way to turn them off at night without removing the sensor and rewiring the system. If it is a problem for you, just cover up the sensor. That should do the trick."
If you do that then the truck would always be in the dark and the lights would stay on all the time.

sorry, I was doing two trains of thoughts at the same time. The one I should have typed was, the sensor needs to see daylight all the time so the headlights won't come on, but now thinking about that, the only way to control the headlights at night would be to remove the sensor

I have a 2003 (bought it used - it was imported from canada). The dash controls etc were switched over from canadian to US> The problem is I cannot turn off the headlights in the dark. The "auto" function is the only one that works. The "off" doesn't function. Dealer told me that in canada it has to be that way...so no fix in store.





The autolights will not illuminate as long as the e-brake is set before starting the motor.

I've tried a number of ways to circumvent the auto headlight "feature"; none work reliably. Also, the wiring diagrams supplied by Helm in their service manuals do not show this series of circuits.
Pulling the fuse &/or relay for the DRL's does nothing about the auto function. Unplugging the dash sensor doesn't work either, as the lights come on as soon as the parking brake is released, regardless of how much light there is.
I tried illuminating the sensor with everything from a flashlight to a very bright 4300K LED in a small light tube; no joy there at all.

One way to keep the lights off might be to bypass the dash sensor. I'm thinking it must deliver a certain voltage to the timer when the light level is high enough to leave the headlights off, and probably reduces or eliminates that signal when it gets dark. If that's so, the easiest way to prevent the lights from coming on might be to emulate whatever signal the sensor sends out.

Anyone have any thoughts on that?

From a 2002 Owners manual.....Automatic Headlamp System........


The following procedure applies only to vehicles first sold in the United States.

When necessary you may turn off the Automatic Headlamp System and the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) feature by following these steps:

1.Turn the ignition to RUN

2. Press the DOME OVERRIDE button four times within six seconds. After the fourth press of the button , a chime will sound informing you the system is off. The system will revert back to the automatic mode when the ignition is turned off and on again.

3. To return to the automatic mode, push the DOME OVERRIDE button four times within six seconds (the chime will sound), or turn the ignition off and on again.

To me it sounds like it is only a one time event. Does not appear to be anyway to permanently disable the DRL. And since you have a Canuck version you can't even do this one time feature.

FWIW

The dealers are not allowed to circumvent safety items. If they do they can be held liable for any consequences.

Only approved fleet customers (gov't, police etc) are allowed to defeat these but only after the request it and releive GM of any damages arising from it.

GM does not want to be sued if your dealer defeats your auto on headlights and you drive around with no lights and hurt someone or something.

I can't find the info I read from GM on this but if I do I will post it.


fyi
9G8 Headlamps, Daytime Running Lamps and automatic headlamp control delete, deletes
standard Daytime Running Lamps and automatic headlamp control features from the
vehicle for police stealth surveillance