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Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Malibu / March 2006Headlight problems
First time poster here, I couldn't find any archives to search, so sorry if this has been asked before. 1999 Malibu, 3.1 V6, 44 K, Auto trans. The headlights will not go off at all even when the engine is shut off. I had to unhook the battery to get them off, the taillights were also on. I haven't even a clue where to start looking, as this is something I find bizarre.( no headlight switch ). Could someone point me in a good direction or offer advice? I know that when the E-brake is released the lights will go from dim mode to full bright, but that is the only thing I can think of. Thanks To operate the headlights and running lights "manually" the light switch is on the end of the right stalk and to get bright or dim headlights the stalk move forward and back. Why you would bother as the lights come on automatically when it gets dark or overcast. There is a sensor located on the edge of the defroster vent you can see it if you look through the outside of the windshield which controls this. The wipers etc are on the left stalk. You appear to be a little mechanically challenged, if you do not have a drivers handbook maybe you should drop by a dealer and pick one up.? IMO First time poster here, I couldn't find any archives to search, so sorry if this has been asked before. 1999 Malibu, 3.1 V6, 44 K, Auto trans. The headlights will not go off at all even when the engine is shut off. I had to unhook the battery to get them off, the taillights were also on. I haven't even a clue where to start looking, as this is something I find bizarre.( no headlight switch ). Could someone point me in a good direction or offer advice? I know that when the E-brake is released the lights will go from dim mode to full bright, but that is the only thing I can think of. Thanks I'll admit that i'm not the most mechanically gifted guy around, that being said...I know where the hi-lo beam switch is, and it is operative. On this Malibu the headlights come on with vehicle start ( Daytime lights ) then, of course, as the sun goes down the auto sensor on the dash brightens the headlights, now, when you are done driving and turn the car off, the headlights remain on. This has never happened before, the owners manual does not address this except to say that the lights are automatic, nor does the manual have any troubleshooting tips, so, if I shut the car off and the headlights remain on, and, as there is no physical headlight switch anywhere on the dash that I can find, I would think that something is wrong. Now, Henri, thanks for your response, but my problem right now is that the only way I can get my headlights to shut off after the car has been turned off is by disconnecting the battery. As this has never happened until tonight ( the lights always went out after the ignition was turned off ) I'm still thinking theres a wee problem somewhere, because unhooking the battery everytime I go somewhere just to turn off the headlights is going to get old. All other help will be appreciated. Thanks > To operate the headlights and running lights "manually" the light switch > is [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > E-brake is released the lights will go from dim mode to full bright, but > that is the only thing I can think of. Thanks > First time poster here, I couldn't find any archives to search, so sorry if > this has been asked before. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > E-brake is released the lights will go from dim mode to full bright, but > that is the only thing I can think of. Thanks A was mentioned, just take the stalk on the left side of the wheel and twist the end so that the top comes towards you. Don't force it after it moves easily, but that puts the system into auto mode (come on a dusk and off when light) which will leave them on at night for a short time after you shut off the ignition to give you time to get to your door (of course it doesn't actually stay on long enough to get to the door).  SignatureCy Welch 89 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI 98 Passport 03 Malibu Thanks all for your help. I feel like a complete twit, I bought this car new in '99 for my wife, I myself have probably driven it less than 200 miles ( I'm not really familiar with it ) so when she told me the lights wouldn't shut off, I of course, jumped through my butt knowing that the system was automatic, I should have questioned her closely about what happened, apparently she fiddled with the light switch stalk for some reason not understanding the implications, but, I should have reasoned it out by myself, however, the problem was not really a problem just a case of dumb-a.s on my part. But thanks again. >> First time poster here, I couldn't find any archives to search, so sorry >> if this has been asked before. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > you shut off the ignition to give you time to get to your door (of course > it doesn't actually stay on long enough to get to the door). > Thanks all for your help. I feel like a complete twit, I bought this car new > in '99 for my wife, I myself have probably driven it less than 200 miles ( [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >>you shut off the ignition to give you time to get to your door (of course >>it doesn't actually stay on long enough to get to the door). Hey, don't feel bad, it took me a bit of time figuring out how to force the headlights off after dark (for things like aproaching a security gate or the like where they require you to switch to parking lights as you approach). Once I found it I of course slapped my forhead with the flat of my hand. I figured you had run into the same thing as me, so I described how it worked. I figure I have moved the switch maybe twice in over a year, and I am the primary driver of the car. There just is pretty much never any need to touch it. SignatureCy Welch 89 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI 98 Passport 03 Malibu Yeah, you are right, my forehead still has a red mark from my own slap, maybe I should drive that car more often, kind of get the feel of it. Thanks again. >> Thanks all for your help. I feel like a complete twit, I bought this car >> new in '99 for my wife, I myself have probably driven it less than 200 [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > over a year, and I am the primary driver of the car. There just is pretty > much never any need to touch it. > On 3/1/2006 7:11 PM ... Cy Welch wrote: >> Thanks all for your help. I feel like a complete twit, I bought this [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > in over a year, and I am the primary driver of the car. There just is > pretty much never any need to touch it. Headlight control confusion is not uncommon with GM vehicles. Don't blame yourself for being confused over the non-standard implementation. I suppose so jcr, my main ride is an '04 F150 with an easily found light switch on the dash, clearly labeled as such, no confusion. But still, one does feel like a ninny sometimes. > > On 3/1/2006 7:11 PM ... Cy Welch wrote: >>> Thanks all for your help. I feel like a complete twit, I bought this car [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > Headlight control confusion is not uncommon with GM vehicles. Don't blame > yourself for being confused over the non-standard implementation. > On 3/1/2006 9:46 PM ... orez wrote: > I suppose so jcr, my main ride is an '04 F150 with an easily found light > switch on the dash, clearly labeled as such, no confusion. Yep. With just about any *other* auto manufacturer it is clearly labeled and the functions are in keeping with general industry standards. ("Off-Park-Head" OR "Auto-Off-Park-Head") > But still, one > does feel like a ninny sometimes. There are a lot of ninny's then that have posted here with the same confusion you had. >>> Thanks all for your help. I feel like a complete twit, I bought this >>> car new in '99 for my wife, I myself have probably driven it less [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > Headlight control confusion is not uncommon with GM vehicles. Don't > blame yourself for being confused over the non-standard implementation. Actually my 89 Camaro has the standard pull knob. I actually much prefer it, other than the cruise control contoller in the turn signal stalk not working. SignatureCy Welch 89 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI 98 Passport 03 Malibu > On 3/3/2006 10:34 PM ... Cy Welch wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > prefer it, other than the cruise control contoller in the turn signal > stalk not working. Back in '89, GM was still within common industry standards with switches and controls. It's just been since about 1996-1997 or so that they have just gotten just plain giddy/silly with the useless gadgets and non-standard controls that seem to confuse some people. Like you, I don't like "stalk" mounted controls at all. Dash-mounted switches are my preference (either pull or twist knobs). and just how if possible to shut off headlights while ingear? would love to run with park lights only if possible, would make the guards at the gate so happy. >> Thanks all for your help. I feel like a complete twit, I bought this car >> new in '99 for my wife, I myself have probably driven it less than 200 [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > over a year, and I am the primary driver of the car. There just is pretty > much never any need to touch it. > and just how if possible to shut off headlights while ingear? would love to > run with park lights only if possible, would make the guards at the gate so [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >>over a year, and I am the primary driver of the car. There just is pretty >>much never any need to touch it. One click clockwise of the switch forces you into parking light mode (ignition on or off, day or night). The next click forces all the lights on no matter what. But that first click allows you to at least force the headlights off even in the dark, you just can't turn all the lights off while running (at least not without modifications). SignatureCy Welch 89 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI 98 Passport 03 Malibu |
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