Ambient Lighting issue/question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

DDustiNN · 07-01-2009, 12:32 PM

(no, I did not take any pics of this yet)

Driving my car last night, I noticed that on my driver door, the ambient lighting doesn't look as "solid" or defined as it is on the passenger door... the farther forward it gets, it looks like it's slightly faded... not consistent... Similar to how they described the reason for not having it on the dash, I guess? The passenger door looks solid all the way up. I don't know if it's the angle I'm looking at it, because I'm sitting, or what... but it still looked like it when I had the door open and I was standing outside of the car. My girl in the passenger seat agreed with me when I pointed it out and asked her how it looked.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has noticed this on theirs? And if it is an issue, is it something that's easily fixed/replaced by the dealer? I don't want to have to leave my car all day (or multiple days) to get it fixed... I'd prefer to have it done while I wait, if indeed anything actually does need to be fixed.

By the way, it is the blue lighting, just in case anyone is wondering.

Thanks

Indpowr · 07-01-2009, 12:39 PM

They are painted on the inside with one thin strip open to let the light through. It is possible on side is more "open" than the other.

JDBeck23 · 07-01-2009, 12:46 PM

Mine does the same. First off, you're at a different angle of view when looking straight down at the driver's side ABL. Take a min and hop in the passenger seat. I think the difference the ABL is just your point of view from the the Driver's seat. And it's designed to fade as it gets closer to the dash... No worries.

ssump29 · 07-01-2009, 12:47 PM

I noticed this too but then when I looked from the pass side and was sitting down it was just the angle I was at. Being up close on it makes it appear like that and I noticed it too when the door was open and I was standing up looking at it. You need some distance and need to be eye level with it and appears correct then.

DDustiNN · 07-01-2009, 01:24 PM

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'll check it out tonight from the passenger side.

D1BADZ · 07-01-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDBeck23

Mine does the same. First off, you're at a different angle of view when looking straight down at the driver's side ABL. Take a min and hop in the passenger seat. I think the difference the ABL is just your point of view from the the Driver's seat. And it's designed to fade as it gets closer to the dash... No worries.

yup I thought the same until i swapped seats , its a point of view thing

DDustiNN · 07-01-2009, 10:45 PM

Ok, it looks like Indopwr is right, and the panel may be incorrectly finished. It still looked the same from the passenger side. Here are pics of both, I just took them with my cell phone... kind of low quality, but you can still see the difference.

Could I just take this to the dealer and have them order a new panel?

JDBeck23 · 07-02-2009, 07:13 AM

Yeah, you're right, it does look a little off compared to the passenger side... Take it in and have them order you a new one.

pck823 · 07-09-2009, 01:20 PM

From what I've seen on other threads, the door panels are molded from clear plastic and then painted from the backside. There was likely a thin strip of an area masked off prior to painting that might have 'leaked' a little paint through, causing your door ABL to get dimmer in those areas.

Before taking it to the dealer, if it were MY car, I would look at the possibility of taking the panel off and using some solvent to wipe away any paint that might be in the area that should be clear. I think the dealer would do the same thing, but doing it yourself wouldn't require you turning over your beloved to the service department. My 2 cents...

DDustiNN · 07-09-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pck823

From what I've seen on other threads, the door panels are molded from clear plastic and then painted from the backside. There was likely a thin strip of an area masked off prior to painting that might have 'leaked' a little paint through, causing your door ABL to get dimmer in those areas.

Before taking it to the dealer, if it were MY car, I would look at the possibility of taking the panel off and using some solvent to wipe away any paint that might be in the area that should be clear. I think the dealer would do the same thing, but doing it yourself wouldn't require you turning over your beloved to the service department. My 2 cents...

I already took it to a dealer, and they were actually clueless about the ambient lighting. He didn't even believe me, he said it is probably just reflections from the dash lights

Anyway, I showed him the pics, he looked it up, finally believed me, and ended up ordering a new door panel. He said he doesn't know how long it'll take to come in... couple days, couple weeks, who knows... I said I don't care, as long as I don't have to pay for it. He also said it shouldn't take long to install, and I'd be able to wait for it while they do it.

67 Convertible · 07-09-2009, 01:41 PM

Mine looks the same on both sides no matter which seat I'm in, solid full and clear. Guess I'm just lucky??

Li0nel1234 · 07-11-2009, 08:37 PM

Anyone know how to increase the brightness of the ABL lights? I have the IOM btw. The light is hard to see at night.

CamaroSkooter · 07-11-2009, 08:47 PM

Next to your headlight switch there's a wheel that kind of slides/rolls up and down to change the lighting level in the car. Try pressing that up a whole bunch of times and see if it makes them any brighter...

Li0nel1234 · 07-11-2009, 09:23 PM

Tried that it doesn't work.

07-01-2009, 12:32 PM	#1
DDustiNN Drives: Cars Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 1,986	Ambient Lighting issue/question (no, I did not take any pics of this yet) Driving my car last night, I noticed that on my driver door, the ambient lighting doesn't look as "solid" or defined as it is on the passenger door... the farther forward it gets, it looks like it's slightly faded... not consistent... Similar to how they described the reason for not having it on the dash, I guess? The passenger door looks solid all the way up. I don't know if it's the angle I'm looking at it, because I'm sitting, or what... but it still looked like it when I had the door open and I was standing outside of the car. My girl in the passenger seat agreed with me when I pointed it out and asked her how it looked. Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has noticed this on theirs? And if it is an issue, is it something that's easily fixed/replaced by the dealer? I don't want to have to leave my car all day (or multiple days) to get it fixed... I'd prefer to have it done while I wait, if indeed anything actually does need to be fixed. By the way, it is the blue lighting, just in case anyone is wondering. Thanks

07-01-2009, 12:46 PM	#3
JDBeck23 Drives: 2010 Camaro, 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2009 Location: King George, Va Posts: 881	Mine does the same. First off, you're at a different angle of view when looking straight down at the driver's side ABL. Take a min and hop in the passenger seat. I think the difference the ABL is just your point of view from the the Driver's seat. And it's designed to fade as it gets closer to the dash... No worries. __________________ 2010 2SS/RS CGM American Racing Headers, Magnaflow axle back, Roto-Fab CAI, Audio Integrations Sub box, Alpine Type R 10, Alpine MRP-500 amp, Pro Clips iPhone Mount

07-01-2009, 12:47 PM	#4
ssump29 LOL at most people here. Drives: 2005 GTO,2006 M6, 2007 300 Touring Join Date: May 2009 Location: MI Posts: 1,331 View My Garage	I noticed this too but then when I looked from the pass side and was sitting down it was just the angle I was at. Being up close on it makes it appear like that and I noticed it too when the door was open and I was standing up looking at it. You need some distance and need to be eye level with it and appears correct then. __________________ Number 5952. oh yeahhhhhhh

07-01-2009, 10:45 PM	#7
DDustiNN Drives: Cars Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 1,986	Ok, it looks like Indopwr is right, and the panel may be incorrectly finished. It still looked the same from the passenger side. Here are pics of both, I just took them with my cell phone... kind of low quality, but you can still see the difference. Could I just take this to the dealer and have them order a new panel? Attached Images

07-02-2009, 07:13 AM	#8
JDBeck23 Drives: 2010 Camaro, 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2009 Location: King George, Va Posts: 881	Yeah, you're right, it does look a little off compared to the passenger side... Take it in and have them order you a new one. __________________ 2010 2SS/RS CGM American Racing Headers, Magnaflow axle back, Roto-Fab CAI, Audio Integrations Sub box, Alpine Type R 10, Alpine MRP-500 amp, Pro Clips iPhone Mount

07-01-2009, 12:39 PM	#2
Indpowr Account Suspended Drives: Corvette C6 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 6,959 View My Garage	They are painted on the inside with one thin strip open to let the light through. It is possible on side is more "open" than the other.

07-01-2009, 01:24 PM	#5
DDustiNN Drives: Cars Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 1,986	Thanks for the replies, guys. I'll check it out tonight from the passenger side.

07-09-2009, 01:20 PM	#9
pck823 Drives: Toyota Tundra Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West Georgia Posts: 50	From what I've seen on other threads, the door panels are molded from clear plastic and then painted from the backside. There was likely a thin strip of an area masked off prior to painting that might have 'leaked' a little paint through, causing your door ABL to get dimmer in those areas. Before taking it to the dealer, if it were MY car, I would look at the possibility of taking the panel off and using some solvent to wipe away any paint that might be in the area that should be clear. I think the dealer would do the same thing, but doing it yourself wouldn't require you turning over your beloved to the service department. My 2 cents... __________________ 2010 Silver Ice Metallic 2SS/RS/A6 6/24 order placed 6/26 order confirmed NMBJ9X 7/17 1100

07-09-2009, 01:41 PM	#11
67 Convertible Drives: 67 Camaro Convertible Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: MA Posts: 1,721	Mine looks the same on both sides no matter which seat I'm in, solid full and clear. Guess I'm just lucky?? __________________ _____________________________________________ 2LT/RS RJT, Blk Rally Stripes, Beige Interior, Sunroof Placed order at dealer 4/24/09 1100 - 4/28/09 2000 - 5/01/09 2500 - 5/05/09 3000 - 5/05/09 3300 - 5/30/09 3400 - 6/05/09 3800 - 6/18/09 4000 - 6/18/09 4B00 - 6/18/09 4200 - 6/22/09 5000 - 7/01/09 6000 - 7/01/09 It's Home!! 0000 - 7/14/11 Traded in with 24,000 miles. Currently 5th Gen less

07-11-2009, 08:37 PM	#12
Li0nel1234 What should I name my car Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS RS IOM Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 786 View My Garage	Anyone know how to increase the brightness of the ABL lights? I have the IOM btw. The light is hard to see at night.

07-11-2009, 08:47 PM	#13
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	Next to your headlight switch there's a wheel that kind of slides/rolls up and down to change the lighting level in the car. Try pressing that up a whole bunch of times and see if it makes them any brighter...

07-11-2009, 09:23 PM	#14
Li0nel1234 What should I name my car Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS RS IOM Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 786 View My Garage	Tried that it doesn't work.

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