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Can’t turn off auto high beams.

Discussion in 'Prime Technical Discussion' started by Zed Ruhlen, Apr 9, 2023.

  1. Zed Ruhlen

    Zed Ruhlen Active Member

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    So like others the behavior of the auto high beams bothers me so I finally decided to turn it off in my 2018 prime. Except I can’t. Pressing the button does nothing. They stay on. Any ideas? Is there a software override in the settings somewhere?
     
    #1 Zed Ruhlen, Apr 9, 2023
  2. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    It’s a long shot but … Is the left control stalk accidentally pressed away from you towards the instrument panel? That would turn the brights on overriding the auto on/off.
     
    #2 schja01, Apr 9, 2023
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  3. Zed Ruhlen

    Zed Ruhlen Active Member

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    The auto high beams only operate in the high beam position on the stalk. But they cannot be turned off. When I switch to high beams the switch lites up and the indicator on the dash comes on. Pressing the switch to turn it off does nothing. I can press it to my heart's content without effect.
     
    #3 Zed Ruhlen, Apr 9, 2023
  4. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Thanks for refreshing my memory. Your description makes sense. The auto beams use a sensor behind the windshield. Is that blocked in some way?
     
    #4 schja01, Apr 9, 2023
  5. Zed Ruhlen

    Zed Ruhlen Active Member

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    Not that I can see. But the issue ISN'T that the auto high beams don't work, it's that I can't turn them off. I don't WANT auto high beams. They are worse than useless since they randomly decide to turn off the high beams for reasons only a computer could fathom. So I want that feature off. Always. Maybe I need to pull the plug and bypass the switch altogether.
     
    #5 Zed Ruhlen, Apr 9, 2023
  6. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Not sure I understand the complaint.

    With my C, you can not "defeat" the automatic dimming feature......unless you pull BACK on the stalk to force them on all the time, as long as you keep pulling.

    So, I have a choice of high beams OFF.......or high beams AUTOMATIC.
    There is no ON without automatic dimming.

    When in a situation where the auto dimming annoys me, I just turn the high beams OFF.
     
    #6 sam spade 2, Apr 9, 2023
  7. Zed Ruhlen

    Zed Ruhlen Active Member

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    There’s a button to the left of the steering wheel that is supposed to toggle the feature on and off. I bet the C has one there as well
     
    #7 Zed Ruhlen, Apr 9, 2023
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  8. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Our c has a button there. When we push it, we have to select the headlight beam for ourselves.

    It works as expected.
     
    #8 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Apr 9, 2023
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    I generally can't SEE the stuff to the left side of the steering column.
    I'll have to look more closely.
     
    #9 sam spade 2, Apr 10, 2023
  10. Zed Ruhlen

    Zed Ruhlen Active Member

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    I have that issue as well. The person who designed that area of the dash should be fired.
     
    #10 Zed Ruhlen, Apr 10, 2023
  11. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    On my Prime the is a series of buttons just below the left air vent. One of them is a headlight icon with the word "auto".
     
    #11 CharlesH, Apr 10, 2023
  12. MalachyNG

    MalachyNG Active Member

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    Just to be sure you're turning off auto high beams with the button. And then after you're pulling the light stalk back, correct?

    If you leave the stalk forward then your high beams will be on all the time and will not disengage for oncoming traffic or brake lights.
     
    #12 MalachyNG, Apr 10, 2023
  13. Zed Ruhlen

    Zed Ruhlen Active Member

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    That's what it SHOULD do. But it doesn't. The auto high beams does not turn off.
     
    #13 Zed Ruhlen, Apr 10, 2023
  14. MalachyNG

    MalachyNG Active Member

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    Bring it to a dealership before you end up with a nasty traffic ticket for using high beams in traffic
     
    #14 MalachyNG, Apr 10, 2023
  15. Zed Ruhlen

    Zed Ruhlen Active Member

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    I won't get a ticket because the auto system works as it's supposed to. I can also turn off the high beams on the stalk. What I am trying to do is TURN OFF the automatic part so I have manual control. The switch does not do that in my car. I'm hoping someone has experienced this before and knows a work around.
     
    #15 Zed Ruhlen, Apr 10, 2023
  16. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    You're right. I have that switch and it works.
    It actually brings up a warning of sorts on the display.
    You might just have a bad switch.......or a loose wire.
     
    #16 sam spade 2, Apr 10, 2023
  17. Zed Ruhlen

    Zed Ruhlen Active Member

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    So the culprit is the switch. Specifically the part that makes the switch "return" to the out position. By inserting a thin blade screwdriver in the gap around the switch I can pull up on it and make the auto lights turn off. Now the car behaves normally again. As an aside I really really REALLY despise it when half baked features attempt to be useful. The auto high beams are a bad joke. They rarely work right. They constantly turn off for random reasons like curves in the road or wet pavement.
     
    #17 Zed Ruhlen, Apr 19, 2023
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  18. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Sounds like the switch got the sugary spill treatment. Glad you were able to work it out!
     
    #18 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Apr 19, 2023
  19. Zed Ruhlen

    Zed Ruhlen Active Member

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    I suspect the return spring was just never installed. Nothing has ever been spilled in that area. I didn't actually try to turn it off until recently so likely that has been a problem since it was new.
     
    #19 Zed Ruhlen, Apr 19, 2023
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