Simply question(s) about exterior light control

2416 Views 14 Replies 4 Participants Last post by ChevyGuy, Nov 23, 2016

kilnakorr

Discussion Starter · Nov 15, 2016

I hope the title is suitable (sometimes simply questions turns out to be less than simply

)

I'm thinking about adding some DRL to my cruze. I was hoping I'd be able to take advantage of the 'Automatic HeadlampSystem', that should turn on the headlights when the light sensor finds the surroundings dark enough.

However, I can't seem to use this function as my headlights are always on (unless I turn the lamp control all the way to the left, and everything turns off).

I am wondering if I'm just too dumb to figure out how to use the control settings (I hope not), or maybe It's a 'factory-setting', since the car doesn't have DRL, so using 'Automatic Headlamp System' isn't an option (in daytime I would then have no lights on at all, which is required by law here).

So, can anyone give me a quick guide on how I can make sure I have tried the right settings for using the 'Automatic HeadlampSystem'?

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chevrasaki

· #2 · Nov 15, 2016

The headlights have two brightness settings, daytime running brightness, and night time brightness. The headlights being on during the day is for added visibility, but they're less bright than they are at night. I discovered this when I was deciphering out the RPO codes for my Cruze.

"T3W - LAMP SYSTEM - DAYTIME RUNNING, REDUCED INTENSITY LOW BEAM"

When the sensor detects low light conditions it triggers the interior illumination, reduces the dash brightness, increases the headlight brightness, and the green headlight symbol comes on.

kilnakorr

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 15, 2016

chevrasaki said:
The headlights have two brightness settings, daytime running brightness, and night time brightness. The headlights being on during the day is for added visibility, but they're less bright than they are at night. I discovered this when I was deciphering out the RPO codes for my Cruze.

"T3W - LAMP SYSTEM - DAYTIME RUNNING, REDUCED INTENSITY LOW BEAM"

When the sensor detects low light conditions it triggers the interior illumination, reduces the dash brightness, increases the headlight brightness, and the green headlight symbol comes on.

Basically, I should test this in daylight; Try to find the right setting, then cover up the light sensor and see if the low beams increase in brightness.

When the sensor detects low light conditions it triggers the interior illumination, reduces the dash brightness, increases the headlight brightness, and the green headlight symbol comes on.

reduces dash brightness when low light condition is detected? I hope that's a typo

chevrasaki

· #4 · Nov 15, 2016

kilnakorr said:
Basically, I should test this in daylight; Try to find the right setting, then cover up the light sensor and see if the low beams increase in brightness.

reduces dash brightness when low light condition is detected? I hope that's a typo

Nah no typo, the dash is brighter during the day so you can see it better, and it dims at night so it doesn't blast your eyes with light.

kilnakorr

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 15, 2016

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what 'dash' means. I'm thinking the ambient light in the dashboard. Pretty sure it doesn't light at all unless, low light condition is detected.

Anyway, seems it's not possible to just add DRL since the low beam will always be on (dimmed or not), unless I manually turn them on/off, which I would really hate.

chevrasaki

· #6 · Nov 15, 2016

kilnakorr said:
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what 'dash' means. I'm thinking the ambient light in the dashboard. Pretty sure it doesn't light at all unless, low light condition is detected.

Anyway, seems it's not possible to just add DRL since the low beam will always be on (dimmed or not), unless I manually turn them on/off, which I would really hate.

Yeah you're right, I should be a little more clear, I'm referring to the blue back lit information center between the gauges and if you have the standard radio, the blue screen that displays radio information is bright during the day, and dims at night. The gauges and the lights for the buttons are off during the day.

Manually turning the headlights on/off would definitely be a hassle.

kilnakorr

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 15, 2016

Makes a lot more sense now

I gotta get a little more info on the local 'DRL rules'. I'm not sure they can be on along with the dimmed low beams.

Thanks for your help chevrasaki

Reactions: 1

kilnakorr

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 19, 2016

I little more reading and trying, and I can't seem to get the 'Automatic Headlamp System' to work. When reading the manual for the 2k11 cruze I can't really tell the difference in the settings:

AUTO (Automatic):
Turns the headlamps on automatically at normal brightness, together with the following:
. Parking Lamps
. Taillamps
. License Plate Lamps
. Instrument Panel Lights
. Side Marker Lamps

Headlamps: Turns the headlamps on together with the lamps listed below. A warning chime sounds if the driver door is opened when the ignition switch is off and the headlamps are on.
. Parking Lamps
. Taillamps
. License Plate Lamps
. Instrument Panel Lights
. Side Marker Lamps

These 2 positions turns on the same lamps, and only difference is the warning chime if you forget to turn them off. Why would you want this option?!

Off: Briefly turn to this position to turn the automatic light control off or on again.

Nothing happens when briefly turning to this position. Holding it in this position for a few seconds and all lights turn off. (including interior ambient light).

I'm thinking, my model doesn't have 'Automatic Headlamp System' - It's either on or off.

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anthonysmith93

· #9 · Nov 19, 2016

kilnakorr said:
I little more reading and trying, and I can't seem to get the 'Automatic Headlamp System' to work. When reading the manual for the 2k11 cruze I can't really tell the difference in the settings:

AUTO (Automatic):
Turns the headlamps on automatically at normal brightness, together with the following:
. Parking Lamps
. Taillamps
. License Plate Lamps
. Instrument Panel Lights
. Side Marker Lamps

Headlamps: Turns the headlamps on together with the lamps listed below. A warning chime sounds if the driver door is opened when the ignition switch is off and the headlamps are on.
. Parking Lamps
. Taillamps
. License Plate Lamps
. Instrument Panel Lights
. Side Marker Lamps

These 2 positions turns on the same lamps, and only difference is the warning chime if you forget to turn them off. Why would you want this option?!

Off: Briefly turn to this position to turn the automatic light control off or on again.

Nothing happens when briefly turning to this position. Holding it in this position for a few seconds and all lights turn off. (including interior ambient light).

I'm thinking, my model doesn't have 'Automatic Headlamp System' - It's either on or off.

I was under the impression all cruzes had auto lights, except maybe an LS? If your switch says "auto" on it, then you have it. Leaving the lights in Auto turns all those lights on only if it senses that it's dark enough, otherwise only the headlamps illuminate at the dimmer DRL brightness.

You CAN cover the ambient sensor for a few seconds give or take, and watch the lights change on the inside and outside.

kilnakorr

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 19, 2016

anthonysmith93 said:
I was under the impression all cruzes had auto lights, except maybe an LS? If your switch says "auto" on it, then you have it. Leaving the lights in Auto turns all those lights on only if it senses that it's dark enough, otherwise only the headlamps illuminate at the dimmer DRL brightness.

You CAN cover the ambient sensor for a few seconds give or take, and watch the lights change on the inside and outside.

I just did a quick test (har do watch the headlights and cover the sensor at the same time). I took a good hard look at the lights then covered the sensor and looked again and couldn't see any difference, other than the ambient light kicked in when sensor was covered. I guess looking at the headlights in daytime isn't the best thing, so maybe after sundown I'll try testing again this time using af light on the sensor to see if the headlights will dimmer. I guess the ambient light will tell me if there's enough light by shutting off.

anthonysmith93

· #11 · Nov 19, 2016

What year is your Cruze? I think the 15 and 16 and limited DRL doesn't function the same as the lower years.

kilnakorr

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 19, 2016

anthonysmith93 said:
What year is your Cruze? I think the 15 and 16 and limited DRL doesn't function the same as the lower years.

It's 2010 LS (EU) - You might be right. It seems the rain sensor also has a part in this, so maybe I have to cover this also when testing.

ChevyGuy

· #13 · Nov 19, 2016

kilnakorr said:
These 2 positions turns on the same lamps, and only difference is the warning chime if you forget to turn them off. Why would you want this option?!

AUTO - the car has DRL (low beam headlight at about 80% power) in the daytime and turns on all the lights when it's dark.
Headlights - all lights, all the time. Even in broad daylight and even if you turn off the car. (Hence the warning chime.)

It's not about what's on, it's about when.

Depending on what you get, any add-on DRLs may have it's own management system. So I'm not sure what advice to give there.

You can defeat the headlight DRL by wiring in a relay such that the low beams can only be turned on if the parking lights are on. You'll need a diode across the relay coil to make sure the relay doesn't burn out the BCM. Others just remember to turn the headlights off each time they start the car, or they remove the spring from the control so you can leave the headlight switch in OFF position. Either way, there's no automatic lights so you'll always have to turn them on/off yourself.

kilnakorr

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 23, 2016

ChevyGuy said:
Depending on what you get, any add-on DRLs may have it's own management system. So I'm not sure what advice to give there.

It seems my choice is simple: Add DRL to any 12V source and add relay to shut them off whenever headlights are on. This is the only legal way to do it here

ChevyGuy

· #15 · Nov 23, 2016

kilnakorr said:
It seems my choice is simple: Add DRL to any 12V source and add relay to shut them off whenever headlights are on. This is the only legal way to do it here

Interesting. Over here, the DRLs replace the parking lights. (Later model Cruze with separate DRLs have no parking lights.) They stay on all the time and help mark the car's corner if a headlight burns out. I am seeing where some DRL add-ons have a 'sense' wire so they dim when the headlights are on.

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