I just bought my first GM vehicle. It is a 2002 Z28 6-speed with 26k miles. The car is beautiful with many of the common mods - airbox, exhaust, wheels, etc. The previous owner purchased it as a GM certified used vehicle and only put 300 miles on it, before he sold it to me. Here's the first problem that I have discovered. When I start the car with the parking brake on the DRL come on. That seems right. When I disengage the brake the headlights, taillights, and marker lights come on, regardless of the switch position. The headlight dial switch seems to do nothing. The only modification that relates to the problem is the front turn signal lenses have seemingly been replaced with clear lenses and orange bulbs. What am I missing?

 

does it have an alarm?
If so, that is what is causing it right there
most aftermarket alarm systems will engage the headlights as soon as the car is turned on

 

I'd imagine the dash light-sensor has crapped out.. on your dash, around the area where the red blinking light is, there is a light sensor. If it senses a lack of light, it will turn your headlights on.

If you're starting your car in the garage, there could be a lack of light.. to where the headlights kick on, with a working sensor. If they're still on with obvious daylight, then I'd imagine it's the sensor.

 

It's because I was starting it in the garage. I didn't know it had that feature. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

Yeah, stupid auto headlights . Some people love them ... I hated them. There is a way to disable them if you want control over your head-lights at night . Pretty simple ... by either splicing, or using a paperclip or something of that sort, join the 2 wires going to the light sensor on the dash together ... voila! Lights work with the switch at night!!

 

What does the light sensor look light and how do I get to it?

 

If you look in the center of the upper dash pad, where the heater vents are, beside the red alarm LED, there's another "thing" (small, round plastic) and that is the light sensor . To access it, pop up the upper dash pad (it's just clipped down, so get under it with a screwdriver, and it literally "pops off") and then you'll see where the alarm LED and the light sensor are.

You can either cut the 2 wires to the sensor, bare the ends (on the car side) and splice them together, OR un-plug the wires off the sensor, and use a paperclip or a small piece of wire, stick it into both terminals of the plug to join the circuit, and tape over it with electrical tape. Either way, by completing the circuit, you're telling the car that it's light out, at all times, thus, the lights won't ever come on "automatically" .

DRL's (day-time running lights) are another story. If you don't like them, do a search ... there's a more in-depth procedure (requires opening up a circuit board and doing some soldering) to eliminate them.

 

So by using a paperclip, the DRLs (blinker lights) will still be on, but the headlights will not automatically come on? that's what im aiming for

 

I have no use for automatic headlights, and daytime running lights too.

 

Yes .

 

nice! thanks a bunch!