What Did You Do To Your HHR Today?
Premium Member
Joined: 10-09-2010
Posts: 14,420
From: Tacoma
Senior Member
Joined: 02-22-2012
Posts: 376
From: Baton Rouge
Well I had to change the driver's side headlight bulb yesterday. What a freakin' job. You can't see what you are doing, just have to do it by feel. I should do the passenger side today but don't know if I will or not. I don't care what anyone says that is absolutely a hateful job. I had one of those push pins left over when finished. Could not see or feel the hole it came from, hope that it doesn't prove critical. The wheel well liner is in place and secure but most importantly the headlight now works again so I guess I will be OK.
I have a question perhaps someone can answer. While searching for the 'how to' on changing the headlight bulb someone said, on one of the threads, that the daytime running lights used the high beam portion of the bulb, posted by 843de although there was some question as to whether or not this was correct I never found a difinitive answer. Mine uses the low beam, I wish it used the high beam because the low beam is the one you use the most and the added use of the daytime running lights definitely shortens the life of the bulb.
To the question, relating to the Daytime Running Lights, is using the high or low beam selectible from the DIC? And if so how do you do it?
I have a question perhaps someone can answer. While searching for the 'how to' on changing the headlight bulb someone said, on one of the threads, that the daytime running lights used the high beam portion of the bulb, posted by 843de although there was some question as to whether or not this was correct I never found a difinitive answer. Mine uses the low beam, I wish it used the high beam because the low beam is the one you use the most and the added use of the daytime running lights definitely shortens the life of the bulb.
To the question, relating to the Daytime Running Lights, is using the high or low beam selectible from the DIC? And if so how do you do it?
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
Yes it's a royal pain to change the bulbs, some of us just go ahead and remove the entire front fascia, much better access.
The controversy over whether the DRLs use either the high or low beams at a reduced voltage comes right from GM, but the manual for the '07-'08 models states....
"The ambient light sensor is used to monitor outside lighting conditions. The ambient light sensor provides a voltage signal that will vary between 0.2 and 4.9 volts depending on outside lighting conditions. The body control module (BCM) provides a low reference ground and 5-volt reference signal to the ambient light sensor. The BCM monitors the ambient light sensor signal circuit to determine if outside lighting conditions are correct for either daytime running lights (DRL) or automatic lamp control (ALC) when the headlamp switch is in the AUTO position. In daylight conditions the BCM will apply ground to the DRL relay control circuit causing the DRL relay coil to energize. With the DRL relay energized, the switch contacts close allowing battery voltage to flow through the DRL fuse via the DRL control circuit illuminating the low beam headlamps at reduced intensity. The DRL control circuit that supplies the low beam headlamp fuses with voltage contains a loop of wire that acts as resistance. This resistance is responsible for the low beam headlamps illuminating at a reduced intensity. Any function or condition that turns on the headlamps will cancel DRL operation."
And whether the DRL function uses the high or low beam filament is not configurable via the DIC, it's part of the programming loaded into the BCM at the factory.
Now I'll throw this in as a kicker, last year my '07 burned out a headlamp, noticed it while DRL mode. But when I turned on the lights manually, the low beam worked perfectly, and the high beam was dead. Upon changing out both bulbs, it was the high beam filament that was bad on the affected side. So either GM is wrong, or I've got one of those odd ducks that uses the high beams at reduced voltage as DRLs.
The controversy over whether the DRLs use either the high or low beams at a reduced voltage comes right from GM, but the manual for the '07-'08 models states....
"The ambient light sensor is used to monitor outside lighting conditions. The ambient light sensor provides a voltage signal that will vary between 0.2 and 4.9 volts depending on outside lighting conditions. The body control module (BCM) provides a low reference ground and 5-volt reference signal to the ambient light sensor. The BCM monitors the ambient light sensor signal circuit to determine if outside lighting conditions are correct for either daytime running lights (DRL) or automatic lamp control (ALC) when the headlamp switch is in the AUTO position. In daylight conditions the BCM will apply ground to the DRL relay control circuit causing the DRL relay coil to energize. With the DRL relay energized, the switch contacts close allowing battery voltage to flow through the DRL fuse via the DRL control circuit illuminating the low beam headlamps at reduced intensity. The DRL control circuit that supplies the low beam headlamp fuses with voltage contains a loop of wire that acts as resistance. This resistance is responsible for the low beam headlamps illuminating at a reduced intensity. Any function or condition that turns on the headlamps will cancel DRL operation."
And whether the DRL function uses the high or low beam filament is not configurable via the DIC, it's part of the programming loaded into the BCM at the factory.
Now I'll throw this in as a kicker, last year my '07 burned out a headlamp, noticed it while DRL mode. But when I turned on the lights manually, the low beam worked perfectly, and the high beam was dead. Upon changing out both bulbs, it was the high beam filament that was bad on the affected side. So either GM is wrong, or I've got one of those odd ducks that uses the high beams at reduced voltage as DRLs.
Premium Member
Joined: 10-09-2010
Posts: 14,420
From: Tacoma
.....or video..........
Premium Member
Joined: 10-09-2010
Posts: 14,420
From: Tacoma
You doin fine here is how to post a pic of the baby's.......
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show....php?t=3033%27
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show....php?t=3033%27
Senior Member
Joined: 12-06-2013
Posts: 540
From: Everett, Wa
Finished my grille today.
It's not perfect, but it makes me happy. Down the road I am going to paint the bar in the middle(hate how it looks, but it holds the bars together), sand and repaint the whole thing, and color match the bowtie.
It's not perfect, but it makes me happy. Down the road I am going to paint the bar in the middle(hate how it looks, but it holds the bars together), sand and repaint the whole thing, and color match the bowtie.