[ackoolness]

Alright, so please let me know if this is an issue. Every time I go through this tunnel, my interior lights turn off when im about to exit and stay off for approx. 25 seconds.

First off, I have no idea why they would even turn off when I am exiting the tunnel because when they turn off I cannot see anything on the dashboard or what is on the stereo. Turning up the brightness doesn't help and you have to just wait it out.

Second, it doesnt just happen when im going through the tunnel. itll happen on a cloudy day randomly.

also, my lights are on the "auto" position, dont know if that makes a difference.

So I know that I must bring this up to the dealer/service person, if it is an issue, but I want to get your input on this and if anyone else is experiencing this.

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i101.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid101.photobucket.com/albums/m70/ackoolness/InteriorLights.flv">

 

[cavalier2000]

looks like they are just dimming from the headlights comming on..try turning the headlights to the off position when the interior lights dim and see if that makes a difference

 

[ackoolness]

According to the repair guy, apparently it is normal because its part of the "twilight" feature. That its supposed to do that when exiting tunnels and such. Ill have to try cavalier2000's suggestion but as many of you know, if your dashboard lights turn off for any amount of time then you cannot see anything and is worthless! what if you get into an accident, god forbid, because of this. they should ALWAYS stay on regardless of the fact of any "twilight" or "auto" function.

Can anyone else confirm if they are expriencing any issue like this? If you lights DONT do this, are your lights also on the "auto" status? or do you turn them off and on manually?

Malibu FAIL!

 

[malibudragon]

During the day the gauges are on full bright and when entering the tunnel the sensor adjusts and turns on the headlights which dims the gauges and after readjusting when exiting the headlights go back off and the gauges return to full bright.

If your brightness adjuster is set to all the way up and the gauges turn completely off then it sounds like there is a problem..

Do you drive at night? Are you able to see the gauges then?

Mine do this regularly on cloudy days or tunnels but I am still able to see my gauges when it turns the headlights on

 

[jacen98]

It would have been nice if GM added a Sensitivity Adjustment for the auto dimmer sensor, it just seems that is works to fast and should only adjust after the lighting has changed for a longer period of time...
on a side note "wish my wife had a Sensitivity Adjuster as well"

 

[crm2019]

like dragon and cavalier said - the car thinks its night time and turns the headlights on when you enter the tunnel for a few seconds. when it does that, your interior light brightness is then controlled by the knob to the left of the wheel - if you have the brightness turned up all the way, you shouldnt notice that much of a difference in the daylight.

when you drive at night can you see your gauges? do you have the brightness turned down?

 

[samwilson66]

I think you should turn off your headlights and see if you can notice any difference.

 

[09Maliblu]

I have my lights on auto, the brightness turned up all the way and I have the same exact thing happen whenever I drive through a tunnel. When I exit a tunnel during the day, for a quick second my gauge lights go off and my headlights go off, but they both come back on immediately. Its as if they are resetting after exiting the darkness of the tunnel. I just assumed this was normal operation. I haven't experienced this at night and don't expect to.
You could simulate this problem by parking in a well lit garage with your lights on. Then kill the garage lights so it is dark, then flip the lights in the garage back on. See what your car does.
I just think the sensor is made to react to a gradual change in light. Going from a dark tunnel into bright sunlight within seconds must confuse it temporarily.
If you drive with the DRLs turned off during the day you won't see this problem but I wonder if you drove with the lights turned to the ON position and not on Auto if they would do the same thing. It seems to me having them in the ON position would bypass the light sensor which is used to control the Auto function.

 

[mwcbu08]

It did happen to me in 2 instances. One being in the morning last week, on the way to work. Conditions setting this up might be the shade of the overpass VS the bright eastern sun while driving east.

 

[slhaas]

Yeah I think it's adjusting for the tunnel being darker and thus your lights needing to be less bright to see them.

 

[engineer25]

I would say, after watching the video, that it's just an instance of the tunnel being the right length (or wrong in your case) and the auto light censor being confused on wether to turn the lights on or not.

 

[ackoolness]

I will have to try putting the lights in the on and off position. They are in the auto position but, honestly, they do not just adjust to the light settings, they get sooooo dim that you can barely make out the radio station, anything that is on the screen (oil life, file range, etc.), and most importantly the lights around the speedometer also turn off, so much that you can barely make out the speed as you are driving.

I would just assume that Chevy would not make a make a car that would do that. Unfortunately, it seems that this is just an "auto" feature of the sensor. To me it seems like a driving hazard. Bright or dark, you have to see how fast you are going and aware of your gauges. Still looks like a big fail to me because as I enter the tunnel, the brightness never changes from before I go in and when I enter the tunnel. The brightness stays the same. I know it is hard to tell from the video (due to the brightness of the sun shining down) but it does not change. It is only when I exit the tunnel, is when the interior lights shut off.

I also dont care for auto lights. I figure that its a waste of your lights but I always forget to turn them off.

 

[bballr4567]

Adjust your brightness of the gauges. We had cleaned our dash one day and I had turned down the interior lights all the way. That night we were going to dinner and I turned on the car had the lights lit up for a second them went straight dark.

Simple fix IMHO.

As far as the auto lights. Just get used to it. Its about to mandated by the federal government as a safety feature.

 

[ChevyMgr]

This occurs because the intensity of your dash/radio lights is lowered when the headlamps are on. At night time when it is dark inside and outside this is plenty of light for the driver to see the gauges and dials, so it is a lower intensity light then what you need during the day time. If the dash lights were as bright at night as they are during the day you wouldn't be able to see in front of you due to their brightness.

But during the daytime your eyes do not adjust to the darkness of the tunnel as fast as the light sensor adjusts. Also while in the tunnel your eyes are seeing the brightness at the end of the tunnel so when you are looking at the sunlight and then try to look at the gauge lights they appear to be very dim or off.

As already stated by others, all you can do is make sure the dimmer switch is at full brightness.

The service department I work in has a long wide canopy before you enter the shop. When I get in a vehicle with auto lights and start to drive it, the lights kick on and due to my eyes not adjusting to the sunlight blaring on three sides of me I can't read the radio or cluster guages.

 

[ackoolness]

This occurs because the intensity of your dash/radio lights is lowered when the headlamps are on. At night time when it is dark inside and outside this is plenty of light for the driver to see the gauges and dials, so it is a lower intensity light then what you need during the day time. If the dash lights were as bright at night as they are during the day you wouldn't be able to see in front of you due to their brightness.

But during the daytime your eyes do not adjust to the darkness of the tunnel as fast as the light sensor adjusts. Also while in the tunnel your eyes are seeing the brightness at the end of the tunnel so when you are looking at the sunlight and then try to look at the gauge lights they appear to be very dim or off.

As already stated by others, all you can do is make sure the dimmer switch is at full brightness.

The service department I work in has a long wide canopy before you enter the shop. When I get in a vehicle with auto lights and start to drive it, the lights kick on and due to my eyes not adjusting to the sunlight blaring on three sides of me I can't read the radio or cluster guages.

This could be true but the fact is that it only happens when I am driving in the direction I am driving in the video. When driving the opposite way (my way to work) it NEVER does it. It only does it on the way back home. Very confusing but I still call a giant FAIL on chevys part. The thing is, no matter what I do, turn the dimmer up or whatever, they will not come back on until the delay is over. Its just that, like every chevy owner know, if you turn off the interior lights in the daytime at any time, you cannot see how fast you are going or read any of your guages. This has to be a serious driving hazard. I mean not being able to read your guages? has to be.

Oh and in the past, when they have turned off, I have tried to put my hand over the radio (which also turns off) and I still cannot see anything. It would be one thing if it was seriously dimmed but the lights practically turn off. Its not that, if it was dark out I would be able see them, its that they literally turn off. But chevy has dismissed it, and the proof is in the video. Whatever, im over it. Just seems like something ill have to live with...or die with. lol

 

[frustratedmama]

i have an 09 Malibu and my dash lights come on and go off whenever they feel like it. Sometimes its night and they go out and I cant monitor my speed. May come back on in a while but usually not until the next time I am in the car.
is this a common Malibu issue?

 

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

i have an 09 Malibu and my dash lights come on and go off whenever they feel like it. Sometimes its night and they go out and I cant monitor my speed. May come back on in a while but usually not until the next time I am in the car.
is this a common Malibu issue?

Hey there frustratedmama,

I hate to hear that this is happening with your Malibu. If this is something you would like us to help you get addressed, please PM your full contact information, VIN, mileage, and involved dealership.

Sincerely,

Jonathan A.
Chevrolet Customer Care