[DopeStar 156]

Well I've noticed my headlights come on in broad day light when I start the car. They still operate normally, go out when I turn the car off, go out iof I flip off the Twilight Sentinel. Could my light sensor be dirty? If so what's a good way to clean it? Is it shot entirely?

 

[Broughamadrosis]

Sounds like a sensor issue, especially since the rest of the system seems to operate. Could be dirty or some foreign matter has settled on it. If you look down through the winshield, I'm not sure if you can see the sensor through the speaker grille, but you might be able to see the dead moth

It's probably worth pulling the dash pad to take a look... or just consider it a new feature - daytime running lights!

 

[DopeStar 156]

I can see down in the speaker I see a black circle with some dust and other shot on it but I can't get good leverage to blow on it. I was thinking compressed air or an air compressor at a gas station to clean it out.

 

[theGman]

Don't forget about those little cans of air to use on a computer keyboard. One brand is "Dust Off"....what the heck, it's worth a try.

 

[DopeStar 156]

Don't forget about those little cans of air to use on a computer keyboard. One brand is "Dust Off"....what the heck, it's worth a try.

Yeah that's what I mean. Last night I wedged my head in there as best I could and blew into the speaker over top of the sensor but it's too late to test it since there's not enough sun. Next I'll grab a can of that keyboard air.

 

[scurling]

Sounds like the sensor to me too. Hope it's just dirty or has something on it....a dead moth, bug, etc. The can of compressed air is a good idea, and you won't have to drag a dirty air hose into your car.

Good luck!

 

[DopeStar 156]

Haha thanks. I did a number on my neck contorting my head in there.

 

[DopeStar 156]

Fixxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxedddddddddd it! Compressed air.

 

[mccombie_5]

What does a twighlight sentinel do???


Is it like the auto on/off headlamps on my BMW?

 

[davesdeville]

It turns the lights on when it gets dark enough, and off when it gets light enough. It's dampened enough so your lights don't flash on and off in shadows or under bridges. It also leaves the lights on for up to 3 minutes after you turn the ignition off (adjustable via a slider switch under the headlight pull switch/instrument dimmer switch.)

 

[DopeStar 156]

It has a 30 second delay so your lights don't do what Dave said. It came out in the 50's. COol little feature especially when someone tells you your lights are on and you say, "No they're not." and boom! They're out.

 

[90Brougham350]

30 seconds? The 90 has anywhere between 3 seconds and 3 minutes.

Brian

 

[DopeStar 156]

No I mean it has a 30 second delay from when it sences lack of light to when it turns the lights on, or the other way around. So your lights don't flip on in a tunnel or something. I have a 3 second-3 minute delay when the car's off though, I have it set at 2 minutes.

 

[Painless]

How much does the photo cell usually run? I've got a 96' STS and just started having problems with mine.. it's clean but the headlights come on all the time now, I can turn them off with the slider. Everything works as it should other than it doesn't seem to be sensing light anymore.. Easy to replace thank God, but curious how much it is for the part! :hide:
Tom

 

[davesdeville]

Couple bucks at a junkyard is your cheapest option.

 

[amosheath]

I have a 96 Deville and the Twilight Senitinel quit working. Is their a way to turn the feature off via the computer?

 

[brougham]

I have a 96 Deville and the Twilight Senitinel quit working. Is their a way to turn the feature off via the computer?

You should ask that question in the front wheel drive DeVille forum. Those cars are completely different.

 

[DopeStar 156]

I couldn't imagine them being set up much differently but yeah. Before you guys start taking crap apart, just fire some compressed air into that thing, cleans it out very well. Also in the AC vents, gets rid of a lotta crap in there too.

 

[caddycruiser]

Not to revive an old thread completely, but I have a question.

On our '93 FWB, the Twilight Sentinel works flawlessly. On the '95 I just bought, I went to use it the other day, and all that happens is the lights come on all the time...not just when dark. So, I'm thinking it might also be just a dirty sensor, like seemed to be here in these posts.

BUT, that's not my question. On the '93-96, the sensor is on (or around) the vent on the top of the dash. My vent there is warped and only is down properly on the one side, so I was thinking of finding a replacement one...but is the sensor integral to it, or would I just detach it from the old vent and snap it on the new one?

I could tell if I had the car to look at...but I'm away again, for about a month.

 

[DopeStar 156]

Try it without the vent. The fact that it's warped might be throwing a shadow over it the wrong way.