"dark switch" for headlights
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Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2005
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"dark switch" for headlights i have a 98 camaro that will not allow the lights to be turned off while the car is on. im tired of having to turn the car off so i can kill the lights. can i make a switch so that i can bypass the "always on feature"?
I dunno about the cars, but in the trucks you can push the Dome Override button 4 times to switch off the automatic lights. I'd be surprised if there isn't something like that in your car. Check the owner's manual.
Originally Posted by SaudeKeep
dome override button? ill have to expirament with the buttons on the dash, maybe something will work out
Teching In
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2005
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Originally Posted by MontereyLS1
pull the e-brake just enough to make the "brake" light come on while your car is OFF.....then start your car. no headlights
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
OK, you're headlights aren't always on, they're automatic - they go on when it's dark enough and off when it gets light. You can disable this by bypassing the light sensor that's mounted in the dash next to the defroster vent. Pull up the dash panel so you can get under it, unplug the wires from the sensor, and use a small piece of wire to connect the two wires together (sort of a "jumper" across the connector). This will make the system think it's daylight all the time so the lights won't come on automatically. Your headlight switch will still work normally so you'll have full manual control of the lights.
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TECH Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Texas
Take your left side vent out. Take the two screws holding your light switch out. Find the orange/redish and put a switch on it. When the switch is on, your headlights will work like normal. When the switch is off, your headlights will be turned off
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Careful - there are two red wires and an orange wire on the switch. The red wire you want is in pin G of the switch. Cut the wrong one and you won't have headlights at all. Also, all three of those wires have battery supplied voltage so be sure to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery before cutting.
All in all, the sensor bypass is safer and easier to restore to stock later (since there's no cutting involved). You could always add a switch across the sensor bypass wire to allow for turning the automatic function back on but why bother when you can just turn on the headlights manually when you need them.
All in all, the sensor bypass is safer and easier to restore to stock later (since there's no cutting involved). You could always add a switch across the sensor bypass wire to allow for turning the automatic function back on but why bother when you can just turn on the headlights manually when you need them.
Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
All in all, the sensor bypass is safer and easier to restore to stock later (since there's no cutting involved). You could always add a switch across the sensor bypass wire to allow for turning the automatic function back on but why bother when you can just turn on the headlights manually when you need them.
Here's a few pics of the sensor. This is my 98 Z28. I DID NOT have to pull off the drivers side a-pillar cover to get to it, only removed the passenger side and popped up the dash panel from that side, you'll be able to get your hand under there very easily to turn it 1/4 turn and pull it out. As you can see in the second pic, plenty of slack! This is the easiest way to disable the auto headlights as was mentioned above. Took me about 3 minutes to simply cut each wire on either side of the sensor, and butt-splice them together. Now the headlights never come on unless I make them! Hopefully this helps...
All in all, the sensor bypass is safer and easier to restore to stock later (since there's no cutting involved).
Took me about 3 minutes to simply cut each wire on either side of the sensor, and butt-splice them together.
Saudekeep if you dont want to do the wiring stuff.....or until you do it
1. car OFF
2. pull brake one notch just to get light on
3. start car - no headlights
If you drop the brake back down while the car is on the lights pop on
1. car OFF
2. pull brake one notch just to get light on
3. start car - no headlights
If you drop the brake back down while the car is on the lights pop on
Originally Posted by BrandonSS
Hmmm...
If you ever wanted to back to stock, all you'd have to do is re-solder them together...
Hold on. I saw a post or a Web site were this was discussed. The 3rd option is to go behind the radio and do the wiring. Let me find it.
Here it is.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...adlight+switch
And never mind. I'll vote for the shorting wire. WhiteBird00. You are still the "Monsoon Expert"
What are the Wiring colors for the 2 wires comming off the Light sensor? If I have time, I'll try to dig around behind the Radio to see if I can find them.
Here it is.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...adlight+switch
And never mind. I'll vote for the shorting wire. WhiteBird00. You are still the "Monsoon Expert"
What are the Wiring colors for the 2 wires comming off the Light sensor? If I have time, I'll try to dig around behind the Radio to see if I can find them.
Last edited by Richiec77; Mar 28, 2005 at 11:35 PM.
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
Careful - there are two red wires and an orange wire on the switch. The red wire you want is in pin G of the switch. Cut the wrong one and you won't have headlights at all. Also, all three of those wires have battery supplied voltage so be sure to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery before cutting.
You have to be careful when you cut ANY wires on your car.
There are several ways to do this. I suggest this way because he said he wanted it on a switch. All of them will work and all of them can be done with a switch if needed.
Originally Posted by SaudeKeep
i have a 98 camaro that will not allow the lights to be turned off while the car is on. im tired of having to turn the car off so i can kill the lights. can i make a switch so that i can bypass the "always on feature"?
Saude
My advice. Several ways have been suggested. Pick a way that you feel most comfortable with and go do it. We will be around to help if you run into any problems
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Originally Posted by Richiec77
What are the Wiring colors for the 2 wires comming off the Light sensor? If I have time, I'll try to dig around behind the Radio to see if I can find them.
I have a T/A which doesn't come with automatic headlights in the US but does in Canada. I wanted to add the automatic headlight function (I have since changed my mind and gone back to stock) so I bought the sensor from the dealer for about $20. The wires were already under the dash so I just had to plug the wires into the sensor and plug the sensor into the dash socket. That's why I said no cutting was involved - the wires unplug from the back of the sensor. Now, perhaps the Camaro is different but I haven't heard of anyone needing to cut wires in all the discussions about it either here or on the other board.
i have a 1998 camaro and all i had to do want remove the bezel around the radio, undscrew the radio just enough to reach behind to find a black box with two lines running to it, its to the right of the removed radio, pull one of the two plugs out and check to see if your turnsignals work, and if they dont plug that one back in and pull the other one and put some electrical tape over it, and bam you have no more automatic headlights. only come on when you use the light switches
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Originally Posted by Z28LS1camaroguy
i have a 1998 camaro and all i had to do want remove the bezel around the radio, undscrew the radio just enough to reach behind to find a black box with two lines running to it, its to the right of the removed radio, pull one of the two plugs out and check to see if your turnsignals work, and if they dont plug that one back in and pull the other one and put some electrical tape over it, and bam you have no more automatic headlights. only come on when you use the light switches
Never do a modification that affects more than is absolutely necessary!
