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HELP! headlights not coming on at night


davedog

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hey all,

my 92 eldo has the feature that the headlights will automatically come on when it gets dark. this has been intermintantly not working, and now it almost never works.

do you think it might be the photocell?

anyway to test and find out what is wrong?

thanks

-dave B)

Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k

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A new light sensor will probably do the trick. Mine probably needs it too, because I've never liked when the lights turned on. In my opinion, the Twilight Sentinel either turns the lights on too late (it's too dark before they come on) or my sensor's bad. Either way, I just leave it off and use the switch when I need to. I don't drive it much at night anyway.

Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond)

"When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?"

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Jason, I believe the Twilight Sentinel only controls how long the lights stay on when you take the key out not when the lights come on, don't think that can be adjusted :unsure:

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The Twilight Sentinel activates the headlamps in a low-light condition, a condition it senses through the photo cell on the dash board.

Twilight = low-light condition

Sentinel = to guard or watch over

You are correct in that photo cell is not adjustable...if the Twilight Sentinel is not operating correctly, the photo cell probably needs to be replaced. As you state, there is a separate function, the headlamp delay function. That is set with the slide bar (potentiometer) on the headlight control panel.

Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond)

"When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?"

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So moving the slider out of the off position turns on the sentinel, how far you slide it determines how long the lights stay on after shut down. Good Deal! ;) Clear as Mud :lol:

Thanks Jason

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So moving the slider out of the off position turns on the sentinel, how far you slide it determines how long the lights stay on after shut down.

That is correct! I leave mine on "off". I got in that habit when I used to drive a lot at night and I wanted to be able to cut the headlights on/off when driving on the Interstates to signal for trucks to pass, etc. Couldn't do that with the TS left on, and sliding the TS to off real quick shut ALL the lights off, so I just got in the habit of having the TS off, and using the switch to turn the lights on.

And like I said above, I find myself wanting to turn the lights on earlier during twilight than the system does anyway. I guess I need a new photo cell.

Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond)

"When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?"

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I guess I need a new photo cell.

A new photocell is around $20 at the dealer and takes 10 minutes to install. That will restore proper operation of the Twilight Sentinel.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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I guess I need a new photo cell.

A new photocell is around $20 at the dealer and takes 10 minutes to install. That will restore proper operation of the Twilight Sentinel.

cool. Thanks for the info. I will stop by the dealer tomorrow before work. This should do it though? Anyone had this problem and fixed it? The photocell looks easy enough to replace, especially since the peice of plasic on the top of the dash that it is attached to just sits there, the clips no longer hold it. :rolleyes:

-dave B)

P.S. is the photocell the one with the dome that pokes up on the dash, or the one beside it that is a hole flush with the dash?

THANKS!

Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k

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P.S. is the photocell the one with the dome that pokes up on the dash, or the one beside it that is a hole flush with the dash?

THANKS!

Dave,

It is the flat one that is next to the spherical sensor. The spherical sensor is the sun-load sensor that monitors the intensity of the sun rays entering the vehicle.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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P.S. is the photocell the one with the dome that pokes up on the dash, or the one beside it that is a hole flush with the dash?

THANKS!

Dave,

It is the flat one that is next to the spherical sensor. The spherical sensor is the sun-load sensor that monitors the intensity of the sun rays entering the vehicle.

"speherical" !!! Thats a great word! Much more intelligent sounding that "dome"

LOL! Wish I could come up with this stuff! :D

-dave B)

Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k

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Hey davdog

What's the overall weight of the Eldo' etc ?

SS

96 Seville SLS

00 XJ Cherokee

69 Camaro

96 Corrolla dx

and the 2003 Honda fourtrax 4x4

This is the only thing close to a web page I got is My old 88 Astro w/small Block dyno'd near 350hp.

Sold on ebay a year or so ago !

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/392747

Have'nt put the rest of my ride's up yet...Maybe someday !

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I think the Eldo' ETC...is a sharper ride than the seville's

And look's as if it is a bit lighter in weight ?

I would buy one .....

SS

96 Seville SLS

00 XJ Cherokee

69 Camaro

96 Corrolla dx

and the 2003 Honda fourtrax 4x4

This is the only thing close to a web page I got is My old 88 Astro w/small Block dyno'd near 350hp.

Sold on ebay a year or so ago !

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/392747

Have'nt put the rest of my ride's up yet...Maybe someday !

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I think the Eldo' ETC...is a sharper ride than the seville's

And look's as if it is a bit lighter in weight ?

I would buy one .....

The 1992 ETC is 3604 lbs. For more specs check out my website and click on the button that says "the cadillac" www.thewaltermyers.com

I just called and ordered a new photo cell, they said it was $53 and some change! :o

Are they going up in price, or am I getting ripped off? I really miss this feature, so I guess I'm getting one but OUCH! Oh well.

This better be the problem! <_>

-dave B)

Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k

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I think the Eldo' ETC...is a sharper ride than the seville's

And look's as if it is a bit lighter in weight ?

I would buy one .....

The 1992 ETC is 3604 lbs. For more specs check out my website and click on the button that says "the cadillac" www.thewaltermyers.com

I just called and ordered a new photo cell, they said it was $53 and some change! :o

Are they going up in price, or am I getting ripped off? I really miss this feature, so I guess I'm getting one but OUCH! Oh well.

This better be the problem! <_<

-dave B)

WOW......Lower weight & N* got to get the job done a little quicker !!!

Great ................Love it even more .........

SS

96 Seville SLS

00 XJ Cherokee

69 Camaro

96 Corrolla dx

and the 2003 Honda fourtrax 4x4

This is the only thing close to a web page I got is My old 88 Astro w/small Block dyno'd near 350hp.

Sold on ebay a year or so ago !

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/392747

Have'nt put the rest of my ride's up yet...Maybe someday !

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Doe's or doesn't that one have the N* the spec's seem to say's 4.9 ?

I got to be honest I don't know anything much about the 4.9

but a great looking car ...for sure !

SS

96 Seville SLS

00 XJ Cherokee

69 Camaro

96 Corrolla dx

and the 2003 Honda fourtrax 4x4

This is the only thing close to a web page I got is My old 88 Astro w/small Block dyno'd near 350hp.

Sold on ebay a year or so ago !

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/392747

Have'nt put the rest of my ride's up yet...Maybe someday !

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Share on other sites

Doe's or doesn't that one have the N* the spec's seem to say's 4.9 ?

I got to be honest I don't know anything much about the 4.9

but a great looking car ...for sure !

The eldorados still used the 4.9 in 1992. I love the engine, very solid, powerful, and easy to work on.

-dave B)

Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k

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Doe's or doesn't that one have the N* the spec's seem to say's 4.9 ?

I got to be honest I don't know anything much about the 4.9

but a great looking car ...for sure !

The eldorados still used the 4.9 in 1992. I love the engine, very solid, powerful, and easy to work on.

-dave B)

Ya, most likely easier than the 4.6 uh ?

SS

96 Seville SLS

00 XJ Cherokee

69 Camaro

96 Corrolla dx

and the 2003 Honda fourtrax 4x4

This is the only thing close to a web page I got is My old 88 Astro w/small Block dyno'd near 350hp.

Sold on ebay a year or so ago !

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/392747

Have'nt put the rest of my ride's up yet...Maybe someday !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Doe's or doesn't that one have the N* the spec's seem to say's 4.9 ?

I got to be honest I don't know anything much about the 4.9

but a great looking car ...for sure !

The eldorados still used the 4.9 in 1992. I love the engine, very solid, powerful, and easy to work on.

-dave B)

I noticed also-----davedog-----that the green on your car almost seem's Black

mine is also green but looks a little lighter in color than your's.

I think GM calls mine Polo-Green Metallic or something !

SS

96 Seville SLS

00 XJ Cherokee

69 Camaro

96 Corrolla dx

and the 2003 Honda fourtrax 4x4

This is the only thing close to a web page I got is My old 88 Astro w/small Block dyno'd near 350hp.

Sold on ebay a year or so ago !

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/392747

Have'nt put the rest of my ride's up yet...Maybe someday !

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