Question about interior lights dimming - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Jeanius · 10-24-2009, 11:56 PM

If you turn the car on, and turn on the dome light, and then depress the brake does your light dim? Never had a car do that before esp a brand new one and Im wondering if this is normal

TJ91 · 10-25-2009, 12:33 AM

lol my car does this.....never gotten around to bring it back though...will do next year

Banshee · 10-25-2009, 01:24 AM

Drain from battery for tail lights.

Start car and depress brake. Will not dim.

Normal.

mrgoombatts · 10-26-2009, 10:47 PM

yes my Car does this also when I hit the brake and the dome light is on , hazards, flashing my brights, and maybe one other thing. Is this normal or should I bring it back to the dealer.. banshee I dont really understand your comment. how do you depress your brakes.

Captain Awesome · 10-26-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgoombatts

yes my Car does this also when I hit the brake and the dome light is on , hazards, flashing my brights, and maybe one other thing. Is this normal or should I bring it back to the dealer.. banshee I dont really understand your comment. how do you depress your brakes.

I dunno. Do they have a brain the size of a planet?

Banshee · 10-27-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banshee

Drain from battery for tail lights.

Start car and depress brake. Will not dim.

Normal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgoombatts

yes my Car does this also when I hit the brake and the dome light is on , hazards, flashing my brights, and maybe one other thing. Is this normal or should I bring it back to the dealer.. banshee I dont really understand your comment. how do you depress your brakes.

Your battery has a static output with no charge of say 12 volts...right? If your car is not running, you have a finite voltage. If the car is running, you also have a finite voltage, but increased.

The dimming is caused from load, battery charge and output to all other accessories on in the car. If you had enough power, the lights would not dim. The issue will be more noticeable with A/C, blower, stereo on. If all other accessories are off, you will not notice this as much, or at all. As well, especially at start up or when cold outside.

Ever notice your lights dim in the house when you turn on your vacuum cleaner?

Same principle.

Maybe you have a voltage regulator issue...Take it to the dealer. My T/A did that all the time, as long as the voltmeter reads 14-16v on the gauge, I don't fret about it.

Captain Awesome · 10-27-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banshee

Your battery has a static output with no charge of say 12 volts...right? If your car is not running, you have a finite voltage. If the car is running, you also have a finite voltage, but increased.

The dimming is caused from load, battery charge and output to all other accessories on in the car. If you had enough power, the lights would not dim. The issue will be more noticeable with A/C, blower, stereo on. If all other accessories are off, you will not notice this as much, or at all. As well, especially at start up or when cold outside.

Ever notice your lights dim in the house when you turn on your vacuum cleaner?

Same principle.

Maybe you have a voltage regulator issue...Take it to the dealer. My T/A did that all the time, as long as the voltmeter reads 14-16v on the gauge, I don't fret about it.

It's also possible that the remote located battery in the trunk is introducing a bit more resistance in the battery circuit which will be more obvious under the higher load of applying the brakes.

Also, are the brakes vacuum assisted in the Camaro or are they assisted by an electric motor such as in other GM vehicles with Stabilitrak? The electric assist will be an added load and increase the effect of the draw on the battery.

wrek · 10-27-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgoombatts

how do you depress your brakes.

I tell them how ugly they are and that they aren't very smart and will never amount to anything. They usually run off crying.

kelleyperformance · 10-27-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

It's also possible that the remote located battery in the trunk is introducing a bit more resistance in the battery circuit which will be more obvious under the higher load of applying the brakes.

Also, are the brakes vacuum assisted in the Camaro or are they assisted by an electric motor such as in other GM vehicles with Stabilitrak? The electric assist will be an added load and increase the effect of the draw on the battery.

there are several things that contribute to the tailights making the dome lights dim. the brakes are vaccum assited, and the stabilitrac uses the EBTCM, but is only applied (drawing any noticable current) during ABS functions or traction/stability functions. its simply just the draw, like said above, from the added relays and lights being on with the car off (not charging, alternator not generating). all the camaros ive ever driven do dim, theres nothing wrong dont worry

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrek

I tell them how ugly they are and that they aren't very smart and will never amount to anything. They usually run off crying.

and lmao at that ^^^^

ChriSS84 · 10-27-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrek

I tell them how ugly they are and that they aren't very smart and will never amount to anything. They usually run off crying.

LOL That's awesome....

Mayhem Matt · 10-27-2009, 12:10 PM

mine does it too not that big of a deal but I will ask when I take it in for my next oil change!

fireresq157 · 10-27-2009, 12:21 PM

Mine does it too. One thing I noticed about the battery it's smaller than the normal car battery almost half size . Thins was probably done to save weight and space. Anyhow this could be the cause because there's is less to pull power from. Anyhow doesn't bother me, could be an issue with someone installing aftermarket pulleys.

Banshee · 10-27-2009, 12:24 PM

It all leads back to the battery, load or charge...

mrgoombatts · 10-27-2009, 10:20 PM

I dunno people this sounds a lilttle stupid to me ive never seen a car do this before. It just doesnt seem right it sounds like something is not properly grounded to me or something is shorting. I dunno just a lil weird to me, abs stabilitrak and everything else my dome light should not dim I understand the battery is being drained from all these things but it still shouldnt make my lights bug out lol.

10-24-2009, 11:56 PM	#1
Jeanius Drives: Blk/Blk 2018 Sierra SLT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Golden State Posts: 2,925	Question about interior lights dimming If you turn the car on, and turn on the dome light, and then depress the brake does your light dim? Never had a car do that before esp a brand new one and Im wondering if this is normal

10-25-2009, 01:24 AM	#3
Banshee Institutionally Insane Drives: 2013 IOM 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Detroit MI Posts: 2,115 View My Garage	Drain from battery for tail lights. Start car and depress brake. Will not dim. Normal. __________________ It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?

10-27-2009, 12:10 PM	#11
Mayhem Matt Drives: 10' 2SS/RS M6 SUPERCHRGED BUMBLEBEE Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Orange CA Posts: 607 View My Garage	mine does it too not that big of a deal but I will ask when I take it in for my next oil change! __________________ Ordered Bumblebee 10/15/2008Part of the Family 6/11/2009 #11423 My Bumblebee to Superbee build story...http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105163 Superbee's 536hp Dyno Run...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE7wePluPAc

10-27-2009, 12:24 PM	#13
Banshee Institutionally Insane Drives: 2013 IOM 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Detroit MI Posts: 2,115 View My Garage	It all leads back to the battery, load or charge... __________________ It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?

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10-25-2009, 12:33 AM	#2
TJ91 :chevy: Drives: 2LT/RS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 13,033	lol my car does this.....never gotten around to bring it back though...will do next year

10-26-2009, 10:47 PM	#4
mrgoombatts Drives: jeep srt8 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: ny Posts: 108	yes my Car does this also when I hit the brake and the dome light is on , hazards, flashing my brights, and maybe one other thing. Is this normal or should I bring it back to the dealer.. banshee I dont really understand your comment. how do you depress your brakes.

10-27-2009, 12:21 PM	#12
fireresq157 Drives: 1997 SS & 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,027	Mine does it too. One thing I noticed about the battery it's smaller than the normal car battery almost half size . Thins was probably done to save weight and space. Anyhow this could be the cause because there's is less to pull power from. Anyhow doesn't bother me, could be an issue with someone installing aftermarket pulleys.

10-27-2009, 10:20 PM	#14
mrgoombatts Drives: jeep srt8 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: ny Posts: 108	I dunno people this sounds a lilttle stupid to me ive never seen a car do this before. It just doesnt seem right it sounds like something is not properly grounded to me or something is shorting. I dunno just a lil weird to me, abs stabilitrak and everything else my dome light should not dim I understand the battery is being drained from all these things but it still shouldnt make my lights bug out lol.