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Auto Headlight issue with 2021 Canadian Trucks

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madmat

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So i just got my 2021 last week (Canadian truck) and when my headlamp switch is set to auto all my lights(low beams, tail lights, cab lights) stay on no matter how bright it is outside. My interior lighting is also dimmed when in auto even during the day. This is obviously not right so after doing some googling i found on some other forums that there seems to be a batch of 2021 Canadian spec trucks with this issue. Sounds like its a BCM software issue that FCA is aware of and supposedly working on to fix but it is recommended you bring it to the dealer so they can create a work order and contact Chrysler Canada to put a fire under their butts to get this fixed asap for us.

Just wanted to share this with others as i had made some changes with my Alfa OBD prior to noticing this issue and was really scratching my head trying to figure out what i screwed up.
 
madmat said:
So i just got my 2021 last week (Canadian truck) and when my headlamp switch is set to auto all my lights(low beams, tail lights, cab lights) stay on no matter how bright it is outside. My interior lighting is also dimmed when in auto even during the day. This is obviously not right so after doing some googling i found on some other forums that there seems to be a batch of 2021 Canadian spec trucks with this issue. Sounds like its a BCM software issue that FCA is aware of and supposedly working on to fix but it is recommended you bring it to the dealer so they can create a work order and contact Chrysler Canada to put a fire under their butts to get this fixed asap for us.

Just wanted to share this with others as i had made some changes with my Alfa OBD prior to noticing this issue and was really scratching my head trying to figure out what i screwed up.
Click to expand...
Hmmmm, I have the same thing but posted a thread about it and came away with the thought that it was normal?
 
madmat said:
So i just got my 2021 last week (Canadian truck) and when my headlamp switch is set to auto all my lights(low beams, tail lights, cab lights) stay on no matter how bright it is outside. My interior lighting is also dimmed when in auto even during the day. This is obviously not right so after doing some googling i found on some other forums that there seems to be a batch of 2021 Canadian spec trucks with this issue. Sounds like its a BCM software issue that FCA is aware of and supposedly working on to fix but it is recommended you bring it to the dealer so they can create a work order and contact Chrysler Canada to put a fire under their butts to get this fixed asap for us.

Just wanted to share this with others as i had made some changes with my Alfa OBD prior to noticing this issue and was really scratching my head trying to figure out what i screwed up.
Click to expand...
CBC Features: Tunnel Detection- make sure it is set to NO.
 
madmat said:
I will double check. But it sounds like it’s a software issue in some of recently built Canadian spec trucks.
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That would be the “software issue”- that setting being set to yes in some BCMs for some reason. I’ve caught this on a handful of other inquiries where people describe the exact same behavior as yours. Changing the tunnel detection setting to no was always the solution, and that is what it is supposed to be set at on HD Rams.
 
Jimmy07 said:
That would be the “software issue”- that setting being set to yes in some BCMs for some reason. I’ve caught this on a handful of other inquiries where people describe the exact same behavior as yours. Changing the tunnel detection setting to no was always the solution, and that is what it is supposed to be set at on HD Rams.
Click to expand...
Oh I see! Ok I’ll check mine and update this post.
 
Jimmy07 said:
That would be the “software issue”- that setting being set to yes in some BCMs for some reason. I’ve caught this on a handful of other inquiries where people describe the exact same behavior as yours. Changing the tunnel detection setting to no was always the solution, and that is what it is supposed to be set at on HD Rams.
Click to expand...
Well i shouldn't be surprised that you'd be right but holy sh!t your good. That was exactly the problem. All fixed now and you saved me a headache at the dealer.
Too bad the Ram engineers don't have you in their contacts or we'd have 95% less issues with our trucks.
 
raggdoll said:
Hmmmm, I have the same thing but posted a thread about it and came away with the thought that it was normal?
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Fixed! See above posts. Maybe lead your dealer onto the tunnel detection setting to see if they can correct it if you don't have an Alfa OBD.
 
Interesting that this just came up after going to a drive in theater last night. I was unable to turn off the headlights after the truck was started. I was trying not to blind everyone when I was leaving, but the switch seemed to do nothing.

Would changing this setting on my US spec 3500 limited help rectify that?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
 
Jimmy07 said:
CBC Features: Tunnel Detection- make sure it is set to NO.
Click to expand...
Would a tunnel detection work though if you do that?
Tunnel detection works fine on my truck (it switches to a night mode when I get into tunnels), not sure what it's set at but it works.
If setting it to NO will just disable this feature, then your suggestion is just a Band-Aid to the issue that still exists.
If it is indeed a software issue, I would set that option back to where it was and take it to the dealer so they could log it and fix it proper when the software fix is available.
 
MEGA HO 3500 said:
Would a tunnel detection work though if you do that?
Tunnel detection works fine on my truck (it switches to a night mode when I get into tunnels), not sure what it's set at but it works.
If setting it to NO will just disable this feature, then your suggestion is just a Band-Aid to the issue that still exists.
If it is indeed a software issue, I would set that option back to where it was and take it to the dealer so they could log it and fix it proper when the software fix is available.
Click to expand...
It’s not a band-aid. That setting has been set to “NO” on Ram trucks since they came out with powernet BCM configurations in 2013, and yours is set to no right now, also. The auto headlights will still function exactly like you would expect, even when going through tunnels.
The “idea” with this setting is to have the auto headlights respond “instantaneous” when you enter and exit a tunnel (rather than coming on a few seconds after entering a tunnel, when you’re probably almost through it). The thing is, the two voltage inputs for the solar sensor ALSO need to be adjusted correctly, otherwise you get the problem the OP had with FCA botching the configuration. One huge drawback with setting tunnel detection is, the auto headlights are so sensitive that they will be “flickering” on and off when driving under shaded areas, and especially in dusk/dawn situations when the instrument panel dims when the auto headlights are on, making it hard to see the cluster and radio with the sun behind you.
 
I have no issues with mine, mine is 2019.
I only replied here to point out that disabling this feature will not fix the issue. It's a temporary solution that will work until there is a proper fix available. I like it how it switches lights when I'm in and out of tunnels. Not something I can't live without but wouldn't want to turn that off.
 
Jimmy07 said:
It’s not a band-aid. That setting has been set to “NO” on Ram trucks since they came out with powernet BCM configurations in 2013, and yours is set to no right now, also. The auto headlights will still function exactly like you would expect, even when going through tunnels.
The “idea” with this setting is to have the auto headlights respond “instantaneous” when you enter and exit a tunnel (rather than coming on a few seconds after entering a tunnel, when you’re probably almost through it). The thing is, the two voltage inputs for the solar sensor ALSO need to be adjusted correctly, otherwise you get the problem the OP had with FCA botching the configuration. One huge drawback with setting tunnel detection is, the auto headlights are so sensitive that they will be “flickering” on and off when driving under shaded areas, and especially in dusk/dawn situations when the instrument panel dims when the auto headlights are on, making it hard to see the cluster and radio with the sun behind you.
Click to expand...
Thanks for a clear explanation. Like I mentioned I didn't know what mine were set at but I like how they work
 
MEGA HO 3500 said:
I have no issues with mine, mine is 2019.
I only replied here to point out that disabling this feature will not fix the issue. It's a temporary solution that will work until there is a proper fix available. I like it how it switches lights when I'm in and out of tunnels. Not something I can't live without but wouldn't want to turn that off.
Click to expand...
Just to be clear for others that might have this issue and run across this thread- changing the tunnel detection setting to “no” WILL fix the issue, and is not a temporary solution. If FCA engineering is aware of it, this will be their fix, too. It’s just not as simple as it sounds, because they can’t just tell dealers to change that setting because they don’t have engineering software at the dealer level. It takes time to identify VINs and implement an update.
 
MEGA HO 3500 said:
I have no issues with mine, mine is 2019.
I only replied here to point out that disabling this feature will not fix the issue. It's a temporary solution that will work until there is a proper fix available. I like it how it switches lights when I'm in and out of tunnels. Not something I can't live without but wouldn't want to turn that off.
Click to expand...
Definitely not a temporary fix.
After I made the change it works as it should now and like the rest of vehicles out there. The auto headlights now come on at dusk or seconds after I enter a dark area and go off in the daylight.
 
madmat said:
Definitely not a temporary fix.
After I made the change it works as it should now and like the rest of vehicles out there. The auto headlights now come on at dusk or seconds after I enter a dark area and go off in the daylight.
Click to expand...
How did you make the change?
 
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