c5 auto head light problem

[C5Alan]

Please tell me this is neither expensive or hard to fix but one of the things I really like about my c5 is the auto lights since I work as a delivery driver for pizza hut its very handy not needing to turn the lights on especially coming into the winter. The problem has been that its turns itself on randomly during the day and then off again last night it decided it did not want to turn on at all or if it did it turned after 10-20 seconds. Yes I know I can just turn it on manually but I would prefer it worked

[waynedance]

Not sure of your problem but when mine used to turn on during the day it was because the sensor had come out of the holder on the windscreen and was hanging down behind the rear view mirror cover at the base.

Remove the cover/mirror by pulling downwards towards the dash and check the sensor.

[C5Alan]

Will give it a go hopefully its just loose is it hard to replace or test the sensor as I feel that is the prob

[waynedance]

Never had to replace but I would guess it's plug and play. Have a look when you remove the cover.

[SaabC5]

Sensor should be sealed against the windscreen to work correctly. If the car has had a new screen at some point and the installer has done a shoddy job then problems will occur with auto light/wiper function. You can give the glass on the outside a good clean where the sensor is, if there's crap on the glass it will also affect the auto function.

[waynedance]

That's why mine was loose, had a new screen fitted.

[C5Alan]

Screen was replaced on mine aswell so could be the prob cheers autoglass

Well removed the mirror t and both sensors fitted so removed the larger one and cleaned the glass and sensor and replaced would have done other but it was held in place with some clear silicone looking stuff. Where could I get some new stuff as its a but rough looking

I will see how she goes tonight

[C5Alan]

Well it didn't work think I'm gona try removing the goo off the other sensor today test tonight if that fails I'm heading to the breakers see if a different sensor does the same if that is the same I'm lost

[C5Alan]

Not had a chance to look at it but left the lights on for about 10-15 mins and she wouldn't start so wondering coulda duff batt be causing my probe as I'm sure it should last longer than that?

[myglaren]

I would say so - I left mine on for about an hour one night while fixing the daughter's mini.
It started fine but moaned about various things* until after I had got to work the following day.

*airbag faults etc. All OK after a little run.

[C5Alan]

Not had any warning signs or anything will need to check when batt was last changed doubt it would have been done outside a main service knowing my dad and his skill level with cars - bulb change is a handful I even had to talk him through tightening a handbrake over the phone once starting with where to find a socket set in the garage

[Hotrodelectric]

I would run the car to a garage and have the battery and alternator checked, especially if its more than a few years old. The problem with all the newer cars is electronics are far more susceptible to even small drops in voltage. 20 years ago, 12.00 volts at rest just meant the starter was a little slow- you could get away with a little more time on the old battery. Today, 12.00 volts causes all sorts of odd problems, especially with body control modules. Also, check all battery connections for tightness and corrosion.

This is assuming that your headlights were working OK even just after the new windshield.

[C5Alan]

Windshield was put in a couple years ago and lights been working fine since I got it at start of the year halfords do a free batt check so will pop round and see them tomorrow. Don't get me started on the joys of modern cars electrics and the problems they cause

[C5Alan]

New batt fitted will see how it goes tonight old one was totall fecked 33% starting capacity

[C5Alan]

Battery change didn't sort it so finally got to thebreakers. wasn't totally sure which sensor so got both the small flat one is for wipers the bigger one is for the lights this I found out by poutng water over the windscreen once they where fitted. Now I have either got 2 duff light sensors or something else is busted thinking now it might be the stalk or is there a brain behindthis that can go tits up???

If the stalk how hard is it to replace looks like you need to remove the steering wheel and is the cruise control part seperate as the car I got the sensors didn't have a cruise control stalk so could grab the rest