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1996 Buick Riviera The headlights won't turn off

Tiny
TDENUZZO
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 BUICK RIVIERA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
Out of the blue, my headlights will not shut off. Drove to work one morning and had a dead battery when I got out. After a jump, I tried pulling the fuses under the dash but no luck there. Appears to be separate fuse for each headlight. All I can do is let the battery die. Any ideas?
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Thursday, October 9th, 2008 AT 4:56 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Does it have an auto feature for the lights. If so, the twilight sensor (top of dash) might need to be cleaned off with a q-tip and alcohol
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Thursday, October 9th, 2008 AT 5:16 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
If your car has the headlight delay system, keeps the lights on for a short period of time after you turn it off and a security system, this module could be your problem. Sounds like this module is not timing out. The module should be under the driver's side close to or on the fuse block.
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Thursday, October 9th, 2008 AT 5:23 PM
Tiny
TDENUZZO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes, there's a delay system and twilight sensor but there is also a switch to override all that. I was thinking it may be a relay, but I don't know where the relays are located. I pulled out the back seat and found what appear to be two very large fuse boxes.
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Friday, October 10th, 2008 AT 9:04 AM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
The twilight control photocell could be bad but, if it were, the head lights would't come automatically but still turn off with key off. I have to go with bad module which should be under the driver's side dash. BE CAREFUL not to unplug any "yellow" wiring harness'. This could deploy your air bag. Disconnect neg bat cable before you start. You will be able to tell for sure if you have disconnected the sentinel module by reconnecting battery and the headlights should be off until you turn them on manually. Let me know.
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Friday, October 10th, 2008 AT 12:36 PM

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