VE Auto Lights On - Clever

[Wonky]

FWIW: Was playing around the other day and discovered something that I hadn't realised before. Makes eminent sense in retrospect but I figured I'd point it out for others like me who hadn't realised.

The auto lights on sensor is tied in with the wipers. It was a rainy day and the light was marginal and what I found is that I could make the lights come on automatically by turning the wipers on. Turn the wipers off and the lights went off, turn them back on and the lights would come back on etc, so the sensor is obviously affected by whether the wipers are on or not.

[Brandonsdad]

FWIW: Was playing around the other day and discovered something that I hadn't realised before. Makes eminent sense in retrospect but I figured I'd point it out for others like me who hadn't realised.

The auto lights on sensor is tied in with the wipers. It was a rainy day and the light was marginal and what I found is that I could make the lights come on automatically by turning the wipers on. Turn the wipers off and the lights went off, turn them back on and the lights would come back on etc, so the sensor is obviously affected by whether the wipers are on or not.

Maybe the water on the window was causing the sensor on your dash to think that it was darker than it really was. Did they go on simultaneously (long word, means same time), or was there a few seconds delay. Considering that their was marginal light that day, maybe the water being pushed over then sensor was enough to tip it over the edge and LIGHTS ON.

OR

Maybe youre right.

[carneb]

I've noticed a similar thing with my Calais V. When the wipers are in auto and they start wiping more quickly the headlights are more likely to come on.

[Wonky]

Maybe the water on the window was causing the sensor on your dash to think that it was darker than it really was. Did they go on simultaneously (long word, means same time), or was there a few seconds delay. Considering that their was marginal light that day, maybe the water being pushed over then sensor was enough to tip it over the edge and LIGHTS ON.

OR

Maybe youre right.
No, there was the normal sensor delay (a few seconds) in each case, same as I notice every time I back out of the garage. Didn't seem to be related to the amount of water on the windscreen and I probably tried wipers on and wipers off 8 or 10 times to be sure, so feel confident that the sensor is affected by the wipers. As I implied in my first post, that would make sense from a safety perspective too - if it's raining you are more likely to need the lights on to be visible to other cars.

[LSX-438]

what i dont like about the ato-rain-sensor VE system, the easy "flick-on-once" doesnt work if you have it set on auto. also why os the friggin cruise control backwards (vs VZ)? are they trying to keep us on our toes?

[SSV366]

The wippers wipe 8 times and the head lights come on.

[Brandonsdad]

No, there was the normal sensor delay (a few seconds) in each case, same as I notice every time I back out of the garage. Didn't seem to be related to the amount of water on the windscreen and I probably tried wipers on and wipers off 8 or 10 times to be sure, so feel confident that the sensor is affected by the wipers. As I implied in my first post, that would make sense from a safety perspective too - if it's raining you are more likely to need the lights on to be visible to other cars.

Now youre talkin turkey. That does make sense. What great cars we drive.

[Devil CV8]

here's another one.... start the car at night with the lights off and handbrake on, then take the handbrake off, voila,,, lights on.

[Grommz]

i dont have my lights arent on auto..

simple solution :)

[Paxton]

here's another one.... start the car at night with the lights off and handbrake on, then take the handbrake off, voila,,, lights on.


wouldn't you want the lights off when the switch is positioned to "off" ?? not sure why it would do this.

[Devil CV8]

wouldn't you want the lights off when the switch is positioned to "off" ?? not sure why it would do this.
chances are when you lower the handbrake you are going to drive, so this feature will more than likely help limit those idiots on the road who drive without turning their lights on....


Then again, mine has the company "lights on" feature as do all the company vehicles

[Wonky]

here's another one.... start the car at night with the lights off and handbrake on, then take the handbrake off, voila,,, lights on.
Sorry, do you mean even if the lights are in the Off position they'll still come on at night after you release the handbrake? I'm sure my lights always come on when I start the car in the dark irrespective of whether the handbrake is on or not as I always leave them on Auto.


i dont have my lights arent on auto..

simple solution :)

Why would you bother overriding the safety feature that means your lights will automatically come on when needed? I get really frustrated with the fricking idiots who think because they know they're there that other people can see them even though they're driving at late dusk with no lights on. They are putting everybody's lives in jeopardy! :vpo:

[Devil CV8]

Sorry, do you mean even if the lights are in the Off position they'll still come on at night after you release the handbrake? I'm sure my lights always come on when I start the car in the dark irrespective of whether the handbrake is on or not as I always leave them on Auto.

That is correct. My car has "lights on" feature fitted wether or not the switch is in auto or off. The other night I had to move the SSV so the wife could go to work, while waiting for her to come outside I turned the lights on then off so the lights would extinguish (to avoid annoying the neighbours). As soon as I released the handbrake the lights came on again.

If you leave your lights in auto, then yes, as soon as it's dark and you start the car the lights go on. Try it tho with the lightswitch off.

[ryno]

Why would you bother overriding the safety feature

Because he may have overridden it to be on 100% of the time. I over ride my switch. I drive with mine on 100%.

[Alex(AUS)]

I dont think you can switch off the auto lights on feature ... you can turn the lights off once they have come on (and perhaps you could preempt that) but the button does not stay in the off position ...

Alex