robert99

Hi all,
After turning the motor off and removing the key, the parking lamps stay on for about 10 minutes.
The manual does not show any way to shorten the time.
Any ideas?

Papa Bear

The dealer may be able to reprogram the computer to change the time.

robert99

Thanks for replying.
One dealer suggests replacing a BCM for $690 + unspecified labor to reprogram.

Another dealer says there is nothing to program, that the delay is from the battery saver function turning off the parking lamps and this is normal.
Seems to me that if the battery saver must turn off the lamps, the problem is the lamps are not turning off when I turn the motor off. Would this be controlled by a BCM (similar to the dome lamps, for example) ?

Papa Bear

I think everything is working normally. My lights stay on for a couple of minutes too (not 10) when the van is parked.

I don't believe it is the battery saver turning the lights off. How long have you owned this vehicle? Is this a new problem to you?

I suggest you double check which lights are on when the ignition is turned off and how long they stay on and post the info.. I have an '07 so I'm not sure if the same lights work for both years.

You can download an owners manual on line if you don't have one. It will explain the lamp delay to you.

All the best.

Bob R

robert99

Hi Bob,
Sorry for the delay.

I have owned the van since 2012. It came from a dealer. At the time of sale, the dealer said this was normal. I thought it was long, but didn't take it any further.

A new neighbour has a 2007 base model, and this led to my question. His parking lamps turn off after 2 minutes. He cannot change the time in the programming.

Another dealer this spring said it was the battery rundown protection.

After turning the ignition off,
1. the cabin dome lamps stay on until the driver door is opened and closed. When the door closes, the dome lamps then dim until they are off, about 5 seconds.
2. the parking lamps, front and rear, stay on for 10 minutes. The driver display and chime warns me that the parking lamps are on. Clicking or double clicking the remote key lock to lock the doors has no effect on the time.

The manual shows how to change the time the lamps stay on using the display, but I do not have this option in the programming.

Thanks.

Chevrolet Customer Service

robert99,

I beleive you are looking at page 3-70 of the manual where is states you can change the time of the exterior lights. Those should not stay on longer than 90 seconds, and you have the option on your DIC to change it from 15 sec, 30 sec, 60 sec, or 90 sec.

The dealership is referring to page 3-20 of your owners manual where the Battery Rundown Protection is:

Battery Run-Down Protection
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery, in case you accidentally leave the
interior lamps on. If you leave any interior lamps on
while the ignition is in lock or off, they will automatically
turn off after 10 minutes. The lamps will not come
back on again until you do one of the following:
• Turn the ignition to RUN or ACCESSORY
• Open a closed door, or close and reopen a door.
• Turn the interior lamps on if they are in the door
or override position.
• Turn the interior lamps to the door or override
position and then to on again if the interior
lamp control is in the on position.
If your vehicle has less than 15 miles (25 km) on the
odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps after
only three minutes.

I am sure you have already checked this but just to make sure, can you please make sure that your dome light switch is not malfunctioning where is seems to be off but is in the on position. Please keep me posted.

Erica Tiffany
Chevrolet Customer Care

robert99

Hi all,
The DIC has no options for changing time of the exterior lamp delay.

The interior lamp switch functions correctly according to pages 3-17.

The cabin dome lamp switch also functions correctly, page 3-18.

The entry and exit delayed interior lighting work correctly, page 3-18, 3-19.

The exterior lamp switch seems to be incorrect according to pages 3-14, 3-15.
With the key out of the ignition, the switch in auto and all lamps off:
Turning the switch to Parking Lamp, no lamps turn on and no DIC message.
Turning the switch to Head Lamp, the head lamps and parking lamps turn on and the DIC message is "parking lamps on".
Turning the switch back to Parking Lamp, the head lamps turn off, parking lamps stay on, the DIC message is "parking lamps on".
Turning the switch to Off, the parking lamps stay on, the DIC message is "parking lamps on".
The parking lamps then stay on for 10 minutes. If I open a door during the 10 minutes, the DIC message is "parking lamps on".

Thanks.

442dude

Yes - Oddly enough the DIC on the base and LS models functions differently than the one on the LT models - there are a bunch more functions on the LT models.

I'm not sure that the issue is with your BCM...typically when the BCM fails it takes a lot of stuff with it like interior lights and gauges and door lock and such. The fact that only one thing is acting weird isn't the usual failure mode for the BCM.

That being said - sure sounds like your switch may be suspect in this case. You'll likely have to take a bunch of the dash apart to get to it - not sure, never had to try on mine. You can get the switch at rock auto for about $30, if its not too hard to get to might be worth a try to see if it fixes the problem...