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Dash lights go out

Tiny
PCEPRIZE
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Good morning,

The issue I am having is that the dash lights go out when the head lights turn on at dusk via the automatic light sensor. The dimmer switch is turned to maximum brightness there is no change in the dash lights after dusk no matter the position of the dimmer switch. Also, when I turn the head lights on manually the problem does not occur, nor does it solve the problem after dusk.

Regards,
Paul Kuczwara
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Saturday, October 30th, 2010 AT 9:16 AM

32 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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Hello,

it sounds like the headlight switch is bad here are instructions on how to replace it in the diagrams below. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what happens.
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Saturday, October 30th, 2010 AT 5:05 PM
Tiny
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Good Evening JackO,

Can you please advise me as to which fuse I need to check? Also, how do I read the "B codes"?

I have attached photos of the fuses and the spares.

Regards,
Paul Kuczwara


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/587687_ImpalaFuses_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/587687_ImpalaSpareFuses_2.jpg

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Saturday, October 30th, 2010 AT 6:17 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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Many tools can be used to check the fuses.
If using test light on a bad fuse it will light up only on one side.
If using voltmeter bad fuse would have battery volts one side and not the other.
They sell easy testers where you touch the fuse and it light green for good or red for bad.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_unnaed_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_unnamd_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_unnamed_2.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_unnamed1_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_unnmed_1.jpg



Body control module and IP codes need to have it scanned for codes as it require a scanner tool an OBDII reader cannot access the B codes.
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Saturday, October 30th, 2010 AT 10:11 PM
Tiny
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Good afternoon,

I do not have the tools you have specified. Can you point to the correct fuse in the image I sent you and I will try to swap it with on of the spares?

Thanks and regards,
Paul Kuczwara
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Sunday, October 31st, 2010 AT 3:44 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
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Sorry but it should not be about picking a fuse to replace.
Have to check to determine if a fuse good or bad.

However, if I had to pick a fuse I would pick the one marked cluster.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_1_46.jpg

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Sunday, October 31st, 2010 AT 5:32 PM
Tiny
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Good evening,

I have checked the fuses, they look to be okay. I asked if the shop who does my work can check the "B" codes and they will next time I go in. What should I tell them to look for? Is there a code that says what the problem is? Where can I find the light sensor that controls the dash lights and headlights. I looked on the back of the rear-view mirror, there appears to be a sensor located there, when I covered it I could not get anything to happen. Is there more than one location?

TIA and Regards,
Paul Kuczwara
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Sunday, November 7th, 2010 AT 4:28 PM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
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AUTOMATIC DAY/NIGHT MIRROR SYSTEM CHECK
Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Move gearshift lever into Park. Move mirror switch to MAXIMUM, ON or MIRROR position, if necessary. Cover ambient light sensor (windshield side of mirror) with a dark cloth. Shine light on headlight sensor (on mirror side). Mirror should gradually darken.
Move gearshift lever into Reverse. Mirror should gradually lighten to a clear state. Move gearshift lever into Park. Mirror should gradually darken. Remove cloth and light. Mirror should gradually lighten to a clear state. If mirror does not operate as specified

INSIDE AUTOMATIC DAY/NIGHT MIRROR INOPERATIVE
Check A/C CRUISE fuse (10-amp) and LAMP fuse (10-amp) in accessory wiring junction block. If fuses are good, go to next step. If either fuse is blown, replace fuse and perform AUTOMATIC DAY/NIGHT MIRROR SYSTEM CHECK .
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disconnect inside rearview mirror harness connector. Measure resistance between inside rearview mirror harness connector terminal No. 2 (Black wire) and ground. See Fig. 1 . If resistance is 0-3 ohms, go to next step. If resistance is more than 3 ohms, repair open or poor connection in Black wire between inside rearview mirror and ground G302. See WIRING DIAGRAMS .
Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Measure voltage between inside rearview mirror harness connector terminals No. 1 (Brown wire) and No. 2 (Black wire). See Fig. 1 . If voltage is 9-16 volts, go to next step. If voltage is less than 9 volts, repair open, short or poor connection in Brown wire between inside rearview mirror and left instrument panel accessory wiring junction block. See WIRING DIAGRAMS .
Place transmission in Park. Measure voltage between inside rearview mirror harness connector terminals No. 2 (Black wire) and No. 3 (Light Green wire). See Fig. 1 . If voltage is less than 0.5 volt, go to next step. If voltage is greater than 0.5 volt, repair short to power in Light Green wire between inside rearview mirror and right instrument panel accessory wiring junction block. See WIRING DIAGRAMS .
Place transmission in reverse. Measure voltage between inside rearview mirror harness connector terminals No. 2 and 3. If voltage is 9-16 volts, go to next step. If voltage is less than 9 volts, repair open or poor connection in Light Green wire between inside rearview mirror and right instrument panel accessory wiring junction block. See WIRING DIAGRAMS .
Reconnect inside rearview mirror connector. Turn ignition switch to RUN position, engine off. Ensure transmission is in Park. Cover sensor on mirror back (facing front window). Shine a bright light into sensor on mirror face (facing rear window). If mirror darkens, problem could be intermittent. If mirror does not darken, check connector at mirror. If connector at mirror is good, replace rearview mirror.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_1_48.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_2_30.jpg

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Monday, November 8th, 2010 AT 6:19 PM
Tiny
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2000 Chevy Impala dash light out when when lights automatically

Thank you for your help so far, I can test the auto darkening rear-view mirror. I functions as it is supposed to. One thing I noticed is that the dash lights are not completely out, but they are extremely dim, I can see them if it is very dark in the car. Although I cannot adjust the brightness at all, and if there is any light the lights are not visible.
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Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 AT 5:30 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
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Is it you odometer that you can not see clear and bright?
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Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 AT 2:07 AM
Tiny
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Good morning,
Thank you BMRFIXIT for your help so far.

All of the dash lights are dimmed when the headlights come on automatically, that would include the odometer, (total and trip), shift position indicator, clock and radio station as well and the light inside of the gauge enclosure, which light the speedometer, fuel gauge, amps/volts etc.

When the auto-sensor turns-off (in the daylight) and returns the headlamps to the daylight running illumination all of the dash lights function normally. But as soon as the auto-sensor detects low light, ie: driving through a tunnel, heavy clouds, dawn or dusk, all of the dash lights go into and minimum lighting level and cannot be seen unless it is pitch dark in the vehicle, and then they are very dim.

Regards and thank you,
Paul Kuczwara
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Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 AT 3:28 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
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Ensure proper switch operation using dimmer/headlight switch handle.
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Thursday, November 25th, 2010 AT 2:27 AM
Tiny
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Good Evening BMRFIXIT.

Not sure what you are referring. If you mean to use the head light switch, I have and the results are the same. Once the auto-sensor senses low light conditions, the headlights kick on whether or not the switch is "pulled on" or not and then the dash lights and console light all go to minimum dim. The manual dimmer, on the head light switch has no effect once the auto sensor kicks on.

TIA and Regards,
Paul Kuczwara
Have a great Thanksgiving.
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Thursday, November 25th, 2010 AT 3:18 AM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
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This one.
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Thursday, November 25th, 2010 AT 4:01 AM
Tiny
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Good Evening BMRFIXIT.

My last reply was taking this into account.

If you mean to use the head light switch, I have and the results are the same. Once the auto-sensor senses low light conditions, the headlights kick on whether or not the switch is "pulled on" or not and then the dash lights and console light all go to minimum dim. The manual dimmer, on the head light switch has no effect once the auto sensor kicks on."

TIA and Regards,
Paul Kuczwara
Have a great Thanksgiving.
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Thursday, November 25th, 2010 AT 4:27 AM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
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This is the instrument panel dimmer switch and not the headlight switch. The switch pictured is both the headlight switch and the dimmer switch.
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Thursday, November 25th, 2010 AT 4:33 AM
Tiny
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Good Afternoon BMRFIXIT.
Thank you for your analysis so far, does any of this make any sense?

Yes, this is what my dashboard dimmer switch and headlamp pull on looks like. I usually do not use this switch to turn on the headlamps as the "auto on" is usually the way I let the headlamps come during dark and dusk hours, I only used the switch in question lower or raise the dash light(s) illumination level. Since the problem has begun to occur with the “auto on” electrical relay the headlamps still "come on" during dark/dusk hours but in addition the dash light and all of the other lighted indicators (ie: odometer, trip, clock, radio station, gear shift position indicator, lighted illumination as well and the lights for the gauges) turn off when the headlamps automatically turn on. Using the manual switch has no effect once the “auto on” sensor turns the headlamps on.

Another kink in the issue is that last week as I was driving, at night, I was playing around with the headlamp switch (the one in your last image) pulling the part out, in two steps (half way then fully), slowly and then back in a couple of times when all of the dash lights and LED indicators (all of them) started to function correctly. Both with the manual switch pulled out or pushed in for the remainder of my trip. The next time I started my vehicle the problem returned. No amount of playing with the manual switch had any effect. Could this indicate a loose wire someplace, if so, where would I begin to look?

Also, as noted a couple of posts ago, I noticed that the dash LED lights are not fully dark, just at a bare minimum of illumination (needs to be very dark to see at all). The gauge lights and the indicator illumination do not seem to have this same minimum level of illumination.

TIA and Regards,
Paul Kuczwara
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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
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I do not know why the word I used was blanked out but it was this word, I spaced it out hopefully it shows up, knob.

Regards,
Paul
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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:21 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
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Possible it is the switch or the wiring harness plug on it.
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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:22 PM
Tiny
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Its big brother!
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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:23 PM
Tiny
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Is the switch replaceable? If so, would that solve my issue?

Regards,
Paul
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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:26 PM

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