Automatic headlights/driving lights

[brittanyhale]

So I noticed the other day that when my lights are on auto it seems to be random as to whether it decides to turn on headlights or running lights. At night it is consistent about turning on the headlights, it just seems to have trouble during the day. For example: today it is clear and sunny, I went to get lunch and when I started the car the running lights came on (I was parked in the shade). I grabbed lunch to go and when I got back in the car to drive back to work it turned on the headlights (I was parked in full sun)! I don't understand how a 10 minute span at mid-day with no clouds could cause that change! Any ideas on what's going on?

 

[4g63gst20]

There's a sensor on your dashboard. It's the black thingie sticking out right in the middle under the windshield. It picks up light and tell the car to use day light running lights or full output headlight.

 

[brittanyhale]

There's a sensor on your dashboard. It's the black thingie sticking out right in the middle under the windshield. It picks up light and tell the car to use day light running lights or full output headlight.

So is it malfunctioning? There isn't anything covering the sensor, but it will turn on the headlights on the middle of the day! I've tried wiping it off thinking maybe dust was interfering, but that didn't fix it.

 

[VaBumbleBee]

The first thing i do after starting the car during daylight is switch off headlights.

Never understood day time headlights. So this would be a non problem for
me

 

[612roots]

The first thing i do after starting the car during daylight is switch off headlights.





Never understood day time headlights. So this would be a non problem for


me

I do the same thing its with every car aka the DRL I will never my lights in the day time because why would you?.. Lol but every time I turn the lights off just flick it too the left and then I hold down the traction control button for a bout 10 sec to disable everything... Just in case I need to race

 

[Syrup]

So I noticed the other day that when my lights are on auto it seems to be random as to whether it decides to turn on headlights or running lights. At night it is consistent about turning on the headlights, it just seems to have trouble during the day. For example: today it is clear and sunny, I went to get lunch and when I started the car the running lights came on (I was parked in the shade). I grabbed lunch to go and when I got back in the car to drive back to work it turned on the headlights (I was parked in full sun)! I don't understand how a 10 minute span at mid-day with no clouds could cause that change! Any ideas on what's going on?

The issue is a combination of the sensor's orientation and the delay in changing from DRL to headlight mode. From my experience, it seemed like the sensor faces the cabin (i.e. you), which is why I can't read my gauges when wearing my sunglasses driving toward the sun in the evening. Also, the computer doesn't change immediately when that sensors changes signals from light to dark else it would strobe when going under a series of bridges or get erratic when the amount of light is right around the threshold for light and dark.

I hate the automaticness of it too. I prefer to decide when I want lights on and how bright I want my gauges.

-Syrup

 

[brittanyhale]

So can this be fixed? Is there some way to turn off the automatic feature? I hate having my headlights on in the middle of the day and turning them off every time I start the car is driving me nuts!

 

[Palmaris]

Never understood day time headlights. So this would be a non problem for
me

I don't understand why someone would risk their safety and want to turn off something so trivial that it doesn't affect them anyway.

While you drive, it is very easy to notice that the cars that have DRL lights on are much easier to see, much sooner than a car that has no headlights. Take a look. That tiny bulb can make the difference one day.

But heck, I live in Canada so the cars with no headlights tend to stand out right away.

 

[RMinNJ]

When I start my car in garage and pull out it doesn't always switch from headlights to daytime running lights. I can reset by turning the headlight off for a couple of minutes.

I find it annoying as I like my dash at the dimmest setting... when its just cloudy out it will switch to headlghts and the dash is too dim sometimes...I have to turn it up.

I could see where if one keeps their dash very bright at night one would not notice this switching back and forth. I wish it has some sensitiity adjustment or something.

 

[Swordsmith]

When I took driver's ed, back in the 70's, there was substantial time taken to tell us when to turn on the headlights, when to turn on high beams, etc.

When my daughter took driver's ed, she was told to turn on the headlights when she turned on the car, and turn them off when she got out.

My Sonic does not require even that much care; it takes care of the lights completely to my satisfaction, and it took me only a couple days to get so used to it that when I drive my fiance's car, she now sometimes has to nudge me to remind me that hers are not automatic.

If yours are really sporatic it's likely there's something wrong with the sensor, generally they seem to handle themselves amazingly well.

 

[Maddmatts]

I've had this happen a few times while driving since I've owned my Sonic. It's been perfectly reliable otherwise.

It seems to be a quirk programming on how the programming handles changes in lighting. It's almost always happened to me when the sensor was getting direct sunlight and then suddenly gets shaded by something, despite having lots of ambient daylight around.

 

[WyrTwister]

The Sonic is 95% driven by Wifey . She was not used to the automatic lights .

I drive a 2008 Chevy Silverado for work . It has automatic lights . I leave it on automatic and never think about it . So what little I drive the Sonic , it is a non issue for me .

God bless
Wyr