GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Colour me a little confused about the automatic headlights in the Vibe.

In other cars we've had, it works like this:

-- If headlight switch OFF: daytime running lights are ON, main lights are OFF.
-- If headlight switch ON: main lights are ON.
-- If ignition OFF and headlight switch ON: main lights and daytime running lights are OFF.

Now, in the Vibe, how is it different? I'm not grasping the concept.

That sounds about right, but there's no switch to turn auto-headlights off. If you want to keep DRLs but disable the auto-headlights, unplug the sensor in the front-left corner of the dash.

KITT222 wrote:That sounds about right, but there's no switch to turn auto-headlights off. If you want to keep DRLs but disable the auto-headlights, unplug the sensor in the front-left corner of the dash.

Oh okay...so if I unplug that sensor (I assume it's obvious where that plug comes out? I'm not near the car right now), then the headlight behaviour should be as I described? Good stuff...

Let me correct, if the car is off, even if the key is removed, but the light switch is set to ON, the main lights will still be on. But there will be a buzzing to alert you that the lights are on. If you unplug the sensor, you need to turn the lights on and off by the switch. If you leave it plugged in the lights will turn on and off automatically, but there's no way to turn them off while driving, or when the car is on. If you don't want to even TOUCH the light switch, leave the sensor plugged in and the car should take care of you.

Interestingly enough this came up at my house last night. My wife left the light switch on. I came out to the garage this morning and noticed the DRLs were on but NOT the headlights. So on 2nd gens it appears if you forget and leave the switch on the main lights eventually go out and the DRLs come on. Luckily DRLs draw low enough power that my battery was not completely dead.