Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
system will turn on your headlamps at the normal
brightness along with other lamps such as the
taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps, instrument
panel lights, and interior switch backlighting.
Your vehicle has a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Make sure it is not covered, or
the headlamps may remain on when you do
not need them.
The system may also be on when driving through
a parking garage, heavy overcast weather or a
tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the
daytime and nighttime operation of the automatic
lamp control system so that driving under
bridges or bright overhead street lights does not
affect the system. The automatic lamp control
system will only be affected when the light sensor
sees a change in lighting lasting longer than
this delay.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the
automatic lamp system will come on immediately.
Once you leave the garage, it will take about
20 seconds for the automatic lamp system
to change to DRL if it is light outside. During that
delay, the instrument panel cluster may not be
as bright as usual. Make sure the instrument panel
brightness control is in the full bright position.
See Instrument Panel Brightness on page 166.
To idle your vehicle with the system off, turn
the ignition on and turn the exterior light switch to
the off/on position. For Canadian vehicles, the
transaxle must stay in PARK (P) for this function
or the parking brake must be set for vehicles
with manual transaxles.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the
regular headlamps when you need them.
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