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Headlight problem, need help

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Old 03-31-2006, 02:35 AM
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Default Headlight problem, need help

I was parked at the ATM tonight and my headlights started going off and then back on continuously. The switch is always on the off position because the lights obviously come on when you start the car. Luckily I switched the light switch to headlights on and they stayed on the whole way home. Anyone have this problem and how do I fix it? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Old 03-31-2006, 06:02 AM
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Alright, you override the Twilight Sentinel and the headlights remain on steady. Just for the heck of it, try this out. While it is day light, ignition on, headlight switch off, place a dark colored piece of material over the ambient light sensor (dome in center) on dash. Check to see after a short time delay that the headlights come on and remain on steady.
Old 03-31-2006, 07:39 AM
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I'm in agreement with Mark...possibly a bad sensor or bad connection at the sensor.
Old 03-31-2006, 09:24 AM
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How brightly lit was the ATM area? Did your lights cycle on and off quickly, or was there a delay? Any flickering lights in the ATM area? I'd go with Mark'* test, also. There is a delay built in so that short term lighting changes don't cause problems like that. If Mark'* test works out okay, and it works fine away from that area, you may have just run into one of those rare cases where the type of lighting caused the sensor to go bonkers.
Old 03-31-2006, 12:24 PM
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in a partially lit parking lot i could definately see that the light hitting the sensor is just on the edge of auto turn-on, and could very possibly cycle every 5-10 seconds (whatever the delay is in the car)
Old 03-31-2006, 01:31 PM
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When I got home it was still doing it so it wasn't the lighting at the ATM, but I'm gonna try what you guys suggested and see what happens. Thanks for the help and quick replies.
Old 03-31-2006, 06:59 PM
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I used to get that when I would pull up to my old roommates garage to put my car away. I'd pull up, park, get out and open the garage door, and sometimes my headlights would flicker like you're describing, without much delay at all. Almost like it was enough light reflecting back to trick the car. When I put the car back in drive the lights would come back on and stay on, it would only happen in park. This also happened once at a gas station that I was idling in park while a friend ran inside.

It hasn't happened in a good long time now, but it almost seems that the sensor is more sensitive when in park...? Since I never had a problem when I put the car back in gear.
Old 04-01-2006, 01:30 AM
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Actually it does only do this while in park. How do I go about fixing this and how much does it cost?
Old 04-01-2006, 03:22 AM
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My problems just disappeared after a few weeks of it doing this. I haven't had a problem since. I still don't know what was causing it. I assume something going wrong with the sensor itself. Hopefully yours fixes itself too...
Old 04-02-2006, 12:07 AM
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I am not sure if this is the same thing or not, but I have this problem sometimes when I do not disarm my alarm properly. I have an automatic starter in my car, so I'm not sure if the wiring of the auto starter may have caused this, the auto starter'* alarm remote may not be as good as the OEM, or who knows.

All I do know is that I have had this happen to me a few times, and usually hitting the unlock button on the remote again will disarm the system and the lights stop flashing.

It hasn't happened to me in a while, soooo...that'* why I am a little vague on what exactly caused it.


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