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Chevrolet Silverado 2000: How to Disable Headlight Sensor

Having your headlights come on automatically is great, but sometimes you just want to turn it off. This how-to will show you a couple ways to disable the daylight sensor on your Silverado 1500.

By Jared Hammond - June 4, 2015
Contributors: 19nakrahn99

This article applies to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (2000).

The sensor on the front of your truck's dash is what tells the BCM when to turn on your truck's headlights. It's a smart feature, but it doesn't allow you for much control over your headlights at night. For those who want more control, there are a couple of solutions. There is a temporary solution and a permanent solution. For the temporary solution, all you have to do is press the dome override button four times in a row and it will shut off the automatic headlights. You can press it four more times to turn it back on or just restart the truck to reset it. You can still use the headlight switch to control the headlights and fog lights when you need them. If you're looking for a more permanent solution, follow the instructions below.

Material Needed

  • 100 ohm resistor

Step 1 – Remove the front dash trim and radio

Put the emergency brake on and shift the truck into its lowest gear. Then lower the steering wheel. To remove the front trim piece, just pull on the edges with your fingers. It's held by a series of clips that will come loose with a little force. Once the trim is removed, turn off the truck and disconnect the battery.

Figure 1. Dash trim removal.

Step 2 – Remove the radio

Hold down the two tabs on either side of the radio to unlock it. Then you should be able to just slide it out. When it's out of the compartment, disconnect the electrical connectors and set it aside.

Figure 2. Radio removal.

Step 3 – Replace the sensor with a resistor

Grip the sides of the sensor and twist it clockwise so it comes loose. Guide it through the hole in the grille. Unplug the sensor and pull the plug out as far as you can. Connect a 100 ohm resistor to the two pins in the plug. Make sure that the resistor won't come loose.

Figure 3. Headlight sensor.

Step 4 – Test the lights

Push the sensor plug into the back of the compartment. Reconnect all the cables to the radio and slide it back into the compartment. Lock the two tabs. Line up the clips on the trim with the holes in the dash and firmly press it back into place. You'll have to wait until nighttime to know if it worked or not, but what should happen is that the resistor will trick the BCM into thinking it's always daytime. You will still be able to control the headlights from the switch on the dashboard.

Figure 4. Headlight switches.

Featured Video: How to Disable Headlight Sensor in Silverado

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