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wiring/headlights question

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Old 09-15-2007 | 02:06 PM
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Default wiring/headlights question

I just bought and installed a pair of Illuminated Bumper Guides on my '03 Silverado. They said to hook 1 wire to the marker lamps, and 1 to the directional, as they flash with the directionals. Well, i did that, and they work fine. My question is this. Is there a way so the headlights DO NOT come on as soon as i start the vehicle / turn the ignition to on position. I know i can manually turn off my headlamps, and i did that yesterday afternoon, but when i started my truck up this morning, the headlamps came on automatically again, even tho it was light outside. I think i know the answer to my next question, but i'll throw it out here anyways. The light sensor, in the dash, is that for if the headlights are turned off manually, so once it gets dark enuf light, it will sense it and automatically turn on the headlights? I'm probably repeating myself but, will the headlamp switch inside the cab, automatically switch back to AUTO, once the vehicle has been started, even tho the headlamps were manually turned off prior to ? I was wondering if there was a way, so my Illuminated Bumper Guides weren't ON during daytime hours, but would come ON when the light sensor detected X amount % of darkness / light ? I just figured it would save hours of time on the LED's in my bumper guides. I guess thats why they are called DRL's, as theycome on automatically, unless manually shut off....... Once i get a pic, i'll post em if i can figure out how to do so, thanx all, Jim
 
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Old 09-15-2007 | 05:19 PM
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Default RE: wiring/headlights question

the lite sensor turns em on if its in AUTO mode....I know of no way to make the headlites stay off without over-riding it

now..your sayying your headlites are On ALL the time...just since you added these new lites??
 
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Old 09-15-2007 | 06:48 PM
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Default RE: wiring/headlights question

So, the truck is designed to have the headlamps come on automatically when it starts or the ignition is turned to the ON position, right? I can manually turn them off by the switch on the dash, by turning it counter clockwise once, and the little light will light up next to the O symbol, but if i'm right, even though i turn the headlamps off manually, as soon as i turn the truck off and then restart it, it will automatically switch back to the "AUTO" mode, is that correct? Then the other 2 modes are for turning on both headlamps and marker lamps and for just the marker lamps, but those 2 modes,do not automatically turn off when the truck is turned off.. Its not a big deal, i'll just leave the headlamp switch on the AUTO mode. Everything is working as it should Argon, i was just trying to conserve watt hours on the bumper guide LED's, thats all.
 
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Old 09-16-2007 | 07:22 AM
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Is it your headlights coming on or your driving lights?
 
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Old 09-16-2007 | 08:09 AM
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Default RE: wiring/headlights question

I dont have the driving lamps, atleast i dont think so. They are the ones below the bumper right? My particular truck would have been square driving lamps. Its my headlamps "Smoke". Its hard to explain but i believe, theres no way to accomplish what i want, unless i manually turn the headlamps off everytime i start up my truck. The bumper guides i bought, come on with the marker/parking lites, as well as they blink with the directionals. i figured during the daytime hours, why have the bumper guides illuminated, just burning the LED's for nothing, so i thought i'd try to figure out a way so during the daytime, the headlamps/marker lites would be off (thus the bumper guides would not beilluminated during daylight hours)until the sensor automatically turned them ON, and then once it got light enuf out, the sensor would automatically turn them OFF, but evidentally the truck is designed so either the headlights come on automatically when the truck is started, and stay on, but go out automatically like 30 seconds after the truck has been turned off,And the other 3 modes on the switch, ya have to turn them off manually. Its not a big deal, i like the idea of turning the truck off, and not having to worry about turning off the headlamps, so i'll just leave the switch on the AUTO mode, as thats where it automatically switches back to if i use either the 1st or 2nd switch position. On my truck the 1st position is " O " and 2nd position is "AUTO". I figured out the 1st position"O" shuts off the headlamps while the truck is running, and the 2nd position "AUTO" means just that, the headlamps come on automatically when the truck is started and go off automatically when the truck is shut off. Thanx all for replying, Jim
 
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Old 09-16-2007 | 10:38 AM
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Default RE: wiring/headlights question

I might be a little confused on this, but in my '02 you can push the domelight overide button 5 or six times and the truck chimes 3 times and it turns off the daytime lights. It also deactivates the light sensor, so you have to turn the lights on at night.... and remember to turn them off.
 
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Old 09-16-2007 | 11:06 AM
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Default RE: wiring/headlights question

Yeah, maybe it will, but i'd rather not do that, like i said, its not a big deal, just was wondering.......... thanx, Jim
 
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Old 09-16-2007 | 11:36 AM
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The headlites come EVERY key cycle IF its dark enough...

If its light enough,the daytime lites come on every key cycle....the lites (clear) right next to your amber turn signals
 
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Old 09-16-2007 | 05:09 PM
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Default RE: wiring/headlights question

This is all new to me with DRL and etc. Now, while i was out today, it seems like when i start the truck, sometimes the headlamps come on, sometimes they did not, as with the Illuminated bumper guides. They weren't on, then idrove thruthis spot where it was more shady than normal, and shazam, on came the headlamps / Bumper guides. I was under the impression that AUTO meant the headlamps / marker lamps came on when the ignition was turned to the ON position, and remainedON until the vehicle was turned off, whether it was daytime or nighttime, and that the sensor was for the other modeswhere youturn the headlamps off manually, and they come back on automatically when the sensor detects insufficient light. So are you saying the lights will not go off or on more than once per key cycle ? Also, i never realized the 2 lights on the inside to the left and right of the directionals were DRL's. The bulbs that are in there are 4157NAK, are them ok, just amber rather than clear? Manual calls for 4157K. I can't recall seeing them on very much, if at all. Should they come on automatically when the truck is started or do they also workby the sensor ? I have my headlamp switch on the AUTO mode. Is there a seperate switch for the DRL's, like on my wifes Avalanche? Her DRL's wont come on if theres to much light outside, but her DRL's are below the bumper, and she has a seperate switch for them. I have 2 round switches, 1 is for the cargo light in the bed, and the other is for the dome light inside the cab. I hope i'm not being a pain in the ****, just tryin to see if everythings working as it should. Thanx, Jim PS, I have the AVS Tinted Headlight / marker light covers on my truck, could that be messing things up ?
 
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Old 09-16-2007 | 07:31 PM
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Default RE: wiring/headlights question

below the bumper is fog lites...it still has drl's by the turn signals
 


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