weird problem with interior lights

[hari-bhari]

when i turn on the headlights manually, my interior lights (panel and instrument cluster) dont turn on. however, when the car's auto sensing feature turns on my headlights, the interior lights turn on. this started happening only after installing my new alarm, but disconnected the alarm doesnt fix the problem. any ideas?

[pythonjosh]

Check if your running lights are on when your headlights are on.

[Paladin06Greg]

This might sound silly but was it daytime or night time?

when i turn on the headlights manually, my interior lights (panel and instrument cluster) dont turn on. however, when the car's auto sensing feature turns on my headlights, the interior lights turn on. this started happening only after installing my new alarm, but disconnected the alarm doesnt fix the problem. any ideas?

[hari-bhari]

im not exactly sure what you mean by running lights. i have my DRL relay disabled and its been that way for a while.

basically, if its daytime, and i switch my headlights on manually, the interior lights dont turn on.

if its nighttime, and i switch my headlights on manually, the interior lights do not turn on. HOWEVER, if i leave the lever in the OFF position, and let the auto nighttime sensor switch on my lights automatically instead, then the interior lights DO turn on.

hope that makes sense

[SleeperSolara]

Looks like you cut or there is a wire ground the wire for the interior guage lights i think.

[hari-bhari]

well that's just the thing, i never cut any wire. i only tapped into them. and when i unplug my entire alarm unit, the problem still persists. so im baffled as to what it could be now.

[dominoSLEV6]

I cut the ground wire, the infamous "23rd wire" un the wiring harness for the DRLs which also disables your nighttime autos. I never had this problem, and I would tell you to try it, except for then if the lights still don't com on when you turn them on manually, then you're screwed!

-chris

[pythonjosh]

im not exactly sure what you mean by running lights.

Your running lights are the first click of your headlight switch. The click before the low beams. They are located in your corner lamps and are also in your tail lamps. Turn on your running lights, then walk around the car and make sure the lights are working. I have my nighttime sensor unplugged also.

[hari-bhari]

im not exactly sure what you mean by running lights.

Your running lights are the first click of your headlight switch. The click before the low beams. They are located in your corner lamps and are also in your tail lamps. Turn on your running lights, then walk around the car and make sure the lights are working. I have my nighttime sensor unplugged also.

hey actually i made a discovery. my running/parking lights are not working when i turn the headlight lever to the middle notch. however, they still work when i use my turn signals, lock or unlock the car, or put on my hazards. what does this all mean?

[pythonjosh]

hey actually i made a discovery. my running/parking lights are not working when i turn the headlight lever to the middle notch. however, they still work when i use my turn signals, lock or unlock the car, or put on my hazards. what does this all mean?

Your running lights are on a separate circuit than your turn signals/hazards. The corner lamp bulbs are dual filament. Now are you sure it's your running lights, not your hazards that flash when you lock/unlock the car? Your running lights are more dim than your turn signals. Those should be your running lights, if not, this might be your problem. And check the fuse for the running lights, might be blown.

[NeFaRiOuS_SLE]

hey actually i made a discovery. my running/parking lights are not working when i turn the headlight lever to the middle notch. however, they still work when i use my turn signals, lock or unlock the car, or put on my hazards. what does this all mean?

Your running lights are on a separate circuit than your turn signals/hazards. The corner lamp bulbs are dual filament. Now are you sure it's your running lights, not your hazards that flash when you lock/unlock the car? Your running lights are more dim than your turn signals. Those should be your running lights, if not, this might be your problem. And check the fuse for the running lights, might be blown.

Actually, the stock alarm and most aftermarkets use the running lights, not the hazard (my stock alarm included).

[pythonjosh]

hey actually i made a discovery. my running/parking lights are not working when i turn the headlight lever to the middle notch. however, they still work when i use my turn signals, lock or unlock the car, or put on my hazards. what does this all mean?

Your running lights are on a separate circuit than your turn signals/hazards. The corner lamp bulbs are dual filament. Now are you sure it's your running lights, not your hazards that flash when you lock/unlock the car? Your running lights are more dim than your turn signals. Those should be your running lights, if not, this might be your problem. And check the fuse for the running lights, might be blown.

Actually, the stock alarm and most aftermarkets use the running lights, not the hazard (my stock alarm included).

Yes, but his alarm is aftermarket, and he installed it himself. So that's why I ask.

[NeFaRiOuS_SLE]

......and most aftermarkets use........

[pythonjosh]

......and most aftermarkets use........

The running lights, but he wired them up himself, and obviously if he wired everything up correctly, it would work......

[hari-bhari]

yea im gonna have to wait for a couple weeks til after finals when i have time to open it all up again. as far as i can tell tho, i wired it to the hazard lights and not hte parking lights, but its gonna be a little tricky to tell. thanks for all the help so far guys and ill keep you posted.