headlight warning

[tyrefryer]

after having many thorts about this then actually forgetting to turn off my parkers one day, i was wondering if there are any mods any one knew about to give u a better warning than the little light on the dash which is very easy to miss
i used to drive a VR which meant forgetting ur lights wasnt a problem.but i dont think i have enuf skill to fit the auto off feature to my VP. but is there anyway to wire a smaller speaker/buzzer that will come on with the dash light warning, or any other simple way to fix this problem. thanks

[Morton]

haha, just be a vain bastard like me, and stare at your car every time you walk way. This has saved me from leaving lights on several times

Ummm... It may be possible to wire another globe up in series with the warning globe, and have it mounted somewhere painfully obvious. Like a red LED somewhere around the radio.

[HoZy]

Hmmm My VN with calais dash used to beep when the Headlights were left on, My statesman turns them off for me....
Go figure...

Cheers
MaT

[sakid]

yeh my calais turns em off for me.

you buy kits from autobarn, supercheap etc that have a buzzer or an led that come on when your lights are on and your ignition is off.
Only about 10-15 bucks i think, was gonna get one for my vk

[Emackulation]

haha, just be a vain bastard like me, and stare at your car every time you walk way. This has saved me from leaving lights on several times

Ummm... It may be possible to wire another globe up in series with the warning globe, and have it mounted somewhere painfully obvious. Like a red LED somewhere around the radio.

Lol, thats what I do, I always turn around and admire my car haha.

[tyrefryer]

yeh well i used to give it stare as i walk away but that got old lol, i drive 7days a week, the site of my car gets old, altho that did save the headlights being left on a few times.
maybe i will try supacheap autos

[peter65]

Havent tried this on my VP, but this is what i did on a Bluebird (dont laugh - it was a great car) i had a looong time ago.

I got a 12v buzzer from dick smith electronics, connected the negative side of it to the wire from the courtesy light door switch, and put the positive side of the buzzer (via an inline fuse) to the positive side of one of the illumination lights that come on with the parkers (the one in the ciggie lighter would be a good one: its easy to get to).

So that when you open the door and the lights are on, the buzzer buzzes. The inline fuse is always a good idea: if something goes whong you blow the fuse not the witing loom....

cheers pete

[peter65]

ewww sorry about the bad typing in the reply above....

[VN_Luke]

You could also get a 12v buzzer and wire it into the same wire that powers the dash light for the 'lights are on' warning - that way every time that light is on, you get a buzzer..... but it might be annoying when you're sitting int he car with the ignition off and lights on..... pete's way sounds like a very good idea! - if you want to be fancy, i'm sure you could find a 12v chime or something!

[XTC16]

I thought the stnd feature on the VS was when the lights are on and the drivers door is opened they turn off automatically ... mine does .... beats an annoying buzzer

[SweetWagon]

I also have this problem and im planning on putting a simple SPST relay inline with the headlight switch, and just using an accessories feed to switch the coil. so they will turn off automatically when the key is taken out and return if accessories is switched on.

I couldnt think of any situation where i would want the lights on without the key in the ignition.

[jet_pilot]

Browser Warning
this might help mate

[georgeonboost]

I also have this problem and im planning on putting a simple SPST relay inline with the headlight switch, and just using an accessories feed to switch the coil. so they will turn off automatically when the key is taken out and return if accessories is switched on.

I couldnt think of any situation where i would want the lights on without the key in the ignition.

can you send me the wiring diagram for this???...i like this idea!

-George

[SweetWagon]

can you send me the wiring diagram for this???...i like this idea!

-George

sure i'll draw something up tomorrow for you.

[SweetWagon]

Ok for you that wanted the wiring diagram, here it is.



1. Disconnect your negative battery terminal
2. Remove the headlight switch block from the instrument cluster
3. Cut the Orange(white trace) wire.
4. Lengthen the wires (if needed) to wherever you place your relay.
5. Splice into a suitable fused 12V+ accessories source and run the wire to the relay.
6. Strip the wires back and crimp female spade connectors to them
7. Get another length of wire and find a suitable earthing locating. Crimp a ring terminal to one side and female spade to the other.
8. Connect the wires up to the relay as pictured in the diagram.
9. Insulate all wire joins with electrical tape or heat shrink.
10. Tidy wires up and re-install headlight switch block.
11. Reconnect Neg battery terminal.
12. Test that everything works.
13. Have a beer and admire your work.

I shall be attempting this soon and if i can take photos along the way i might make a proper how-to.

cheers.

[peter65]

vn6pwr.... nice work... simple cct & a great idea. Funny thing about all this is why dont the lights turn off automatically when the ignition is turned off?

the headlight warning light in my vp exec is so dim you can barely see it in daylight (when you need it most!). A $1 factory buzzer instead of the stupid light would have been far better but i guess thats for higher spec cars only....

cheers. pete

[XTC16]

I thought the stnd feature on the VS was when the lights are on and the drivers door is opened they turn off automatically ... mine does .... beats an annoying buzzer

Anyone answer this one??

[SweetWagon]

Anyone answer this one??

It maybe dependant on the level BCM installed. but im not 100%

[tyrefryer]

Anyone answer this one??

It sure is a standard feature but i was asking the question regarding my VP not a VS

[peter65]

...the auto switch off is not on my Series 1 VP exec... the poverty pack... it has the warning light on the dash (that you cant see in the daylight, when you need it, but is bright at night - when you normally dont!) cheers pete

[SweetWagon]

Ok for you that wanted the wiring diagram, here it is.



1. Disconnect your negative battery terminal
2. Remove the headlight switch block from the instrument cluster
3. Cut the Orange(white trace) wire.
4. Lengthen the wires (if needed) to wherever you place your relay.
5. Splice into a suitable fused 12V+ accessories source and run the wire to the relay.
6. Strip the wires back and crimp female spade connectors to them
7. Get another length of wire and find a suitable earthing locating. Crimp a ring terminal to one side and female spade to the other.
8. Connect the wires up to the relay as pictured in the diagram.
9. Insulate all wire joins with electrical tape or heat shrink.
10. Tidy wires up and re-install headlight switch block.
11. Reconnect Neg battery terminal.
12. Test that everything works.
13. Have a beer and admire your work.

I shall be attempting this soon and if i can take photos along the way i might make a proper how-to.

cheers.

just letting everyone know this doesnt work like I expected, it only cuts the parking lights not headlights. to cut the headlights another relay needs to be added just wondering if im going to add another relay or just put a buzzer in instead

[davydp]

Or a double throw relay I got spare 1 to try, I have left my lights on few times but been lucky was back in car b4 was 2 late

[peter65]

Hey there. another solution. This wont turn the lights off, but it will remind you to.

Get a small 12v "piezo electric" buzzer - abt $5 from Dick Smith - and connect the -ve side (polarity is important) of it to the door pillar courtesy light switch wiring. You can find it behind the rhs kick panel under the dashboard, or at the back of the binnacle switch.

Connect the +ve side of the buzzer via a fuse to one of the dashboard illumination lamps. I used the ciggy lighter one as it is not dimmed, and the buzzer may not operate if the lamps are dimmed.

As soon as any of the doors are opened and the parkers are on, the buzzer will start to annoy you.

Cheers Pete.

[sawychri06]

Car Headlight On Buzzer Alarm Reminder Brand New (eBay item 400194402146 end time 21-Feb-11 07:11:54 AEDST) : Vehicle Parts Accessories

look at this easy to install and cheap i got 1 about 5 weeks ago and wired it to my light near the ignition. then it only sounds the buzzer when the doors are opened and the lights are on. it also come with instructions so that shows you otherways 2 do it. hope this helps

[KiwiHoldenDriver]

Silicon Chip magazine had a very simple warning buzzer circuit in one of their 2003 magazines. Bottom of the following page Silicon Chip Online - Circuit Notebook