Weird Headlight Problem!!!

[littleblackbug]

I have a 99 GT and ever since I got the car it has had this weird problem with the headlights. A little background is that the car was in a serious front end collision before we got the car and fixed it up.

When I turn my car on and it's bright out and the ALC sensor is getting enough light my driver side headlight comes on and flickers for about 3 seconds and then both of my headlights stay off without doing anything and my SVS turns on shortly after turning the key with the dinging sound. Now sometimes when I turn my car on and it's darker outside where the ALC sensor would not be getting enough light maybe... my driver side headlight comes on and stays on but the passenger side one does not. If I turn on my parking lights or headlights both come on and when I turn the switch to the off position both go off. At night though my headlights do come on automatically just like they should without any flickering or whatever. WEIRD!

What would be causing this problem? Could it be a bad fuse, relay, wiring problem, etc???? I have Silverstar bulbs now and had Farenheits before. I have never done the DRL/ALC bypass or anything like that but for some reason my DRL's don't work and i guess my ALC does work but in a weird fashion. I might go ahead and do the bypasses and see what happens. I want that stupid SVS light to go off too.

[99gtworld]

I have a 99 with some problems too bro,hope the guys/girls here can help.

[Vimjah]

just my .02... but I'd guess wiring problem, probly pinched somewhere. ALC Sensor might also be bad, sending a reong signal. As for the SVS, get the code read. That's the best way to find out what's setting it off... could almost be anything.

[littleblackbug]

We actually have hooked up a code reader to it and it states there are no thrown codes... I don't understand. I think we should go through and check the wires through for pinch wires like you said. If it's a bad ALC doing the bypass would solve that problem wouldn't it?

[tenspeed]

If it was a pinched wire, wouldn't it do it all the time? Maybe not if you combine the pinched wire and daylight on the sensor.

I would think that it's the computer that controls the lights. As long as the thing works OK at night, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[Brandon]

i would try the alc override and just manually turn the ligths on and off.

[car audio dave]

i was gonna say, disconnect the DRLs and see what happens. it sounds like a DRL issue.

[Tommy00GT1]

Best thing I've done to my car yet..... disconnected both the damn DRL's, and the ALC too. Now I finally have full control of all my lights. On overcast or dark cloudy days, I like to ride with my running (parking lights) lights and fogs. No more annoying ALC or DRL nuisances anymore... No more wasting the bulb life of my SilverStar headlights by running them in the daytime because of that DRL.

I think DRL's are mandatory in Canada; not 100% sure though.... They are not here in this state, anyways....not sure about other states.

[littleblackbug]

ok update! I did both the DRL and ALC override. I now have full control of my lights but I still have a problem. When I turn my car on still in Park, no lights come on unless I turn them on manually. When I put the car in Drive or any other gear my driver side headlight comes on fully illuminated. Then when I turn the light switch on my passenger light comes on fully illuminated but my driver side switches to half illumination...wtf? haha i'm clueless now. I did find a way to get both to work though.

What I do is turn my car on and immediately put the car in gear while stepping on the brake of course. Once it's in gear after a few seconds my SVS light pops on with the dinging sound and then everything is fine and no more half illumination junk. If I turn my car on and turn my lights on first before putting the car in gear the SVS light will not come on and I have the stupid half illumination of one headlight...

[townie15]

Have you tried changing your bulbs?

[Tommy00GT1]

My guess would be a wire touching somewhere where it shouldn't. Maybe an outer jacket got nicked, and is exposing the bare wire to a ground condition; or touching a neighboring wire somewhere. Those can be a nightmare to try and find....
Watch for more help from others, as I am no pro at troubleshooting wiring faults..... But, that's where I'd start looking.

I remember the tiny wires at my BCM module, and those are very easy to nick if you're impatient or rushing things. I hated working with those damn tiny wires, lol... Plus my eyesight is not like it was back in high school in 1970, lol... Had to get a magnifying glass out to make sure I had the correct colored wire at the BCM.