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GM's automatic headlights, again...



 
 
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  #11  
Old July 21st 05, 06:34 PM
JohnH
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>> On my jeep I can manually override this if I choose by quickly
>> switching the lights from AUTO to OFF and back to AUTO after I shut
>> off the engine. Maybe it'll work for you too.

>
> no such position. Switch has "auto" "park" "on" positions, no "off."
>
> Which is another gripe that has already been discussed here... :/


Wow. No wonder people hate GM so much. What crap.


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  #12  
Old July 22nd 05, 12:42 AM
James C. Reeves
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"Scott en Aztlán" > wrote in message
...
> On 21 Jul 2005 04:45:46 -0700, "N8N" > wrote:
>
>>Just got an Impala last night (company car... not actually mine, mine
>>is at a dealership somewhere because someone who was supposed to do
>>some paperwork was on vacation... but I digress) ANYWAY... any doubt
>>in my mind that the automatic headlights are a bad idea has now been
>>erased. When you leave the vehicle, the lights stay on for 30 seconds
>>or so... SO... when you look back at it to check to see if you left
>>your lights on it freaks you out for a minute, until you tell yourself
>>"oh, it's just the automatic lights"
>>
>>BUT...
>>
>>what if you really *did* leave them on?

>
> On my GM car, the lights turn on and off automatically based on
> ambient lighting conditions - it's impossible to "leave them on."


Yours must be different compared to most other GM's, If one needs to switch
the lights on manually (say during a snow storm when the auto system may not
work because the ambient light can be too bright AND/OR wipers aren't needed
since the snow just blows off of the windhield), one can leave the lights on
with most GM vehicles IF once forgets to set the switch back to "Auto".

> On my Tacoma, the lights are manually controlled, but if you leave
> them on a timer shuts them off automatically after a minute or so.
>


I think quite a few of the Toyota's do that. Maybe GM should implement that
design as well for when people forget and leave their manual switch on.



  #13  
Old July 22nd 05, 12:58 AM
James C. Reeves
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"N8N" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Just got an Impala last night (company car... not actually mine, mine
> is at a dealership somewhere because someone who was supposed to do
> some paperwork was on vacation... but I digress) ANYWAY... any doubt
> in my mind that the automatic headlights are a bad idea has now been
> erased. When you leave the vehicle, the lights stay on for 30 seconds
> or so... SO... when you look back at it to check to see if you left
> your lights on it freaks you out for a minute, until you tell yourself
> "oh, it's just the automatic lights"
>
> BUT...
>
> what if you really *did* leave them on?


My neighbor's daughter can tell you. She came out to a dead battery in her
Aztek a time or two. Which might explain why she would leave out of the
neighborhood on some foggy mornings with dark taillights...just like her dad
does in his Impala.

It is curious why GM engineered the lights to remain on for a period of time
by default after cutting the engine. The Chrysler products I own now have
the off delay as a option. IF you turn the lights off before cutting the
engine, the lights go out immediately. If you turn the lights off *after*
cutting the engine, they will stay on for a minute or so, then go out. So
if you need the illumination, you have it. Otherwise cut the lights
immediately.

> talk about an incentive to never manually turn on your headlights, even
> when they may be needed... (rain, etc.)


According to Chris, that will never happen anyway. Let us know your
experience after a few months.

> And of course, this "feature" is difficult to defeat...
>
> nate




  #14  
Old July 22nd 05, 12:59 AM
James C. Reeves
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"223rem" > wrote in message
...
> N8N wrote:
>> Just got an Impala last night (company car... not actually mine, mine
>> is at a dealership somewhere because someone who was supposed to do
>> some paperwork was on vacation... but I digress) ANYWAY... any doubt
>> in my mind that the automatic headlights are a bad idea has now been
>> erased. When you leave the vehicle, the lights stay on for 30 seconds
>> or so... SO... when you look back at it to check to see if you left
>> your lights on it freaks you out for a minute, until you tell yourself
>> "oh, it's just the automatic lights"
>>
>> BUT...
>>
>> what if you really *did* leave them on?
>>
>> talk about an incentive to never manually turn on your headlights, even
>> when they may be needed... (rain, etc.)
>>
>> And of course, this "feature" is difficult to defeat...
>>
>> nate
>>

>
> At least it helps you socialize - you get to talk to the people
> that tell you 'hey, you left your lights on!'


I wish I had a dollar for every time someone told me that.



  #15  
Old July 22nd 05, 01:04 AM
James C. Reeves
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"N8N" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
>
> Eric Near wrote:
>> N8N wrote:
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> > what if you really *did* leave them on?
>> >
>> > talk about an incentive to never manually turn on your headlights, even
>> > when they may be needed... (rain, etc.)
>> >
>> > And of course, this "feature" is difficult to defeat...
>> >
>> > nate

>>
>> My wife drives a '97 Bonneville with automatic headlights. I am just
>> wondering, how do you deal with the lights not coming on when you're in
>> "Lights on while wipers in use" areas? I also drive a GM car ('00
>> Sunfire) but the lights are manual, a "disadvantage" I prefer.
>>
>> Eric

>
> That's my whole gripe... normally I would just turn the lights on
> manually... but in this car you might not notice if you turn them on
> manually and then *leave* them on... not cool.
>
> I guess I may have to train myself to check the headlight switch every
> time I leave the car...
>
> nate



What I ended up doing is just turning them on manually when ever the lights
should be on, even if they were already on. Then manual operation becomes
habit so one is less likely to forget (is a automatic reaction).




  #16  
Old July 22nd 05, 01:07 AM
James C. Reeves
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"Scott en Aztlán" > wrote in message
...
> On 21 Jul 2005 06:26:40 -0700, "Eric Near" > wrote:
>
>>N8N wrote:
>>
>><snip>
>>
>>> what if you really *did* leave them on?
>>>
>>> talk about an incentive to never manually turn on your headlights, even
>>> when they may be needed... (rain, etc.)
>>>
>>> And of course, this "feature" is difficult to defeat...
>>>
>>> nate

>>
>>My wife drives a '97 Bonneville with automatic headlights. I am just
>>wondering, how do you deal with the lights not coming on when you're in
>>"Lights on while wipers in use" areas?

>
> There is a manual override. RTFM.


According to Chris, this situation hardly ever happens. Curious. What has
been your experience with the frequency of needing to use the manual ON
override?



  #17  
Old July 22nd 05, 01:32 AM
N8N
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Default



James C. Reeves wrote:
> "N8N" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
> >
> >
> > Eric Near wrote:
> >> N8N wrote:
> >>
> >> <snip>
> >>
> >> > what if you really *did* leave them on?
> >> >
> >> > talk about an incentive to never manually turn on your headlights, even
> >> > when they may be needed... (rain, etc.)
> >> >
> >> > And of course, this "feature" is difficult to defeat...
> >> >
> >> > nate
> >>
> >> My wife drives a '97 Bonneville with automatic headlights. I am just
> >> wondering, how do you deal with the lights not coming on when you're in
> >> "Lights on while wipers in use" areas? I also drive a GM car ('00
> >> Sunfire) but the lights are manual, a "disadvantage" I prefer.
> >>
> >> Eric

> >
> > That's my whole gripe... normally I would just turn the lights on
> > manually... but in this car you might not notice if you turn them on
> > manually and then *leave* them on... not cool.
> >
> > I guess I may have to train myself to check the headlight switch every
> > time I leave the car...
> >
> > nate

>
>
> What I ended up doing is just turning them on manually when ever the lights
> should be on, even if they were already on. Then manual operation becomes
> habit so one is less likely to forget (is a automatic reaction).


I already do that, my point was how do you 100% remember to turn them
off, since they are always still on when you leave the car no matter
what position the switch is in?

nate

  #18  
Old July 22nd 05, 01:54 AM
223rem
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N8N wrote:
>


>
> I already do that, my point was how do you 100% remember to turn them
> off, since they are always still on when you leave the car no matter
> what position the switch is in?


I think your Impala will beep at you if you remove the key with the
regular lights on
  #19  
Old July 22nd 05, 02:26 AM
James C. Reeves
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"223rem" > wrote in message
.. .
> N8N wrote:
>>

>
>>
>> I already do that, my point was how do you 100% remember to turn them
>> off, since they are always still on when you leave the car no matter
>> what position the switch is in?

>
> I think your Impala will beep at you if you remove the key with the
> regular lights on


GM cars "chime" when someone in the car has a smelly butt. Even hit the
door locks...it chimes three times to tell you it's in 6-second lock mode,
etc. Eventually one ignores something that chimes so frequently and at so
many "events". It would be easy to misinterpret a headlight on chime for a
door lock chime.


  #20  
Old July 22nd 05, 02:28 AM
James C. Reeves
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Default


"N8N" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
>
> James C. Reeves wrote:
>> "N8N" > wrote in message
>> ups.com...
>> >
>> >
>> > Eric Near wrote:
>> >> N8N wrote:
>> >>
>> >> <snip>
>> >>
>> >> > what if you really *did* leave them on?
>> >> >
>> >> > talk about an incentive to never manually turn on your headlights,
>> >> > even
>> >> > when they may be needed... (rain, etc.)
>> >> >
>> >> > And of course, this "feature" is difficult to defeat...
>> >> >
>> >> > nate
>> >>
>> >> My wife drives a '97 Bonneville with automatic headlights. I am just
>> >> wondering, how do you deal with the lights not coming on when you're
>> >> in
>> >> "Lights on while wipers in use" areas? I also drive a GM car ('00
>> >> Sunfire) but the lights are manual, a "disadvantage" I prefer.
>> >>
>> >> Eric
>> >
>> > That's my whole gripe... normally I would just turn the lights on
>> > manually... but in this car you might not notice if you turn them on
>> > manually and then *leave* them on... not cool.
>> >
>> > I guess I may have to train myself to check the headlight switch every
>> > time I leave the car...
>> >
>> > nate

>>
>>
>> What I ended up doing is just turning them on manually when ever the
>> lights
>> should be on, even if they were already on. Then manual operation
>> becomes
>> habit so one is less likely to forget (is a automatic reaction).

>
> I already do that, my point was how do you 100% remember to turn them
> off, since they are always still on when you leave the car no matter
> what position the switch is in?
>


I see your point. Hmmm... Well if you do the "cover the sensor" idea that
someone gave you over at the GM NG, that will solve the problem. I wish I
had thought of that!




 




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