Vectra lights on dashboards when lights are not switched on

rugbyman

i have an 08 vectra, driving in the dark ,I have been caught out a few times. the dash lights illuminate, giving me the impression that my sidelights are on, but they are not

its a bit scary

is it an easy fix

thanks in advance

jca

Em..... there's nothing wrong.

rugbyman

maybe i did not explain properly JCA, thanks for both your replies, my dashboard lights illuminate when the side or main lights are not switched on.. i have driven off ,on several occasions ,with no lights on, obviously not on a country road , but in a street lit area, with no lights. each time another driver drew my attention to this.

Victor

rugbyman wrote: »

the dash lights illuminate, giving me the impression that my sidelights are on,

You' re not meant to drive using only your side lights.

delly

That's pretty standard these days for your dash to be illuminated irrespective of lights being on. How old was your previous car?

biko

Depending on car the dash can illuminate without the proper lights being on, making it a dangerous car if someone cannot see you properly.
Always turn the dips on.

rugbyman

just re activated this. I still have the trustworthy old Steed, but this dash light situation is quite dangerous. I drove a mile in an urban area the other night with no lights on. My question really is, is this a mis wiring problem. I dont want to pay big bucks to a mechanic to find out ,if there is an easy solution

Curiously ,the rear number plate lamp stays on for a while after i switch off

Thanks in advance

Auguste Comte

One of my kids has an opel of that vintage. The headlights go off with the ignition and so never need to be messed with and you always have lights on day or night which can only be a good thing. It's a corsa but I'd imagine they work the same.

rugbyman

Thank you Auguste, that has been suggested above, but my side lights are not always on. perhaps in an earlier life(owner) it had a mishap

Guy:Incognito

rugbyman wrote: »

Thank you Auguste, that has been suggested above, but my side lights are not always on. perhaps in an earlier life(owner) it had a mishap

Switch your headlights on. Now don't ever switch them off. They'll turn on and off with the car.

limericklad87

I don't get the problem....

Get in to your car....

Turn switch, knob or dial to turn on your light

Drive

Bill nye

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Switch your headlights on. Now don't ever switch them off. They'll turn on and off with the car.

This OP. Just do this. When you turn the engine off etc, the lights will turn off. Most modern cars have this. Most modern cars have DRL's as well etc and the dash is always illuminated.

Also if you pay attention to the dash, there is(should be) a symbol for your different lights which will be lit up when it's on. So you should be able to tell from this alone if your lights are on / off.

Toyotafanboi

There's nothing wrong with the car, those gauges are backlit all the time, it's how they were designed.

I'd agree with the above, if for some reason you can't always remember to switch on your lights in the dark, just leave them in the on position all the time and they will come on and off with the ignition.