Automotive electrical systems are often comprised of circuitry powered directly from the battery, independent of the ignition switch; circuits involving the headlight switch are among the most common. There are over 40 different warning lights on the Dashboard of a modern car – some you should be seeing, some you shouldn’t. In this article, we will discuss why my dashboard lights stay on when car is off and the solutions to it.
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Why Are My Dashboard Lights Staying On?
Your Dashboard lights should be turned off when the engine is turned off. If this doesn’t happen, then something is wrong with the lights. But there are some consequences where a dashboard light can be On with the car Off. If the headlights are left On, for example, the Dashboard will still be faintly glowing red. It’s the same for fog lights. This happens due to somebody wiring some accessory to the nearest hot wire, which might be the dash lights wire.
1. Blown Fuse
If the Dashboard isn’t lighting up at all, your car might have blown a fuse. Removing the old fuse and replacing it should get the lights working again. While the new fuse may do the trick, it could also indicate a deeper electrical problem. Other possibilities include a crashed (As in software crash) control unit that is not shutting down correctly or is defective or a stuck relay.
2. Car Is In The Accessory Mode
If you have a vehicle where the ignition switch has multiple options, your car may not completely shut off. Most of the time, to take a key out, you have to crank the key all the way counter-clockwise to shut the car off. In other cars and trucks, cranking the key all the way counter-clockwise will result in you putting the car in the “Accessory” Mode. This option keeps the dashboard lights on, charging outports on, and sometimes the radio. On some vehicles, if thedashboard lights stay on when car is off, then that points to a faulty alternator diode pack.
What To Do If Dashboard Lights Stay On When Car Is Off?
Car experts recommend that if the lights are on, even when the key to the ignition is taken out, the majority of times, it is an issue with the ignition switch. One of the reasons why dashboard lights stay on after the key is removed includes a short in the control module for the lights.
With that in mind, the short-term solution for headlights that won’t turn off is to take emergency preventative measures to keep the battery from going dead. This can be accomplished in a handful of different ways.
1. Disconnect The Battery Of Dashboard Lights
You can Reset the dashboard lights by following these steps given below:
- Open the Hood of your vehicle. Unloose the nut holding the negative terminal of the battery with pliers.
- Remove the cable from the negative battery terminal. This will disconnect the power from the vehicle’s computer.
- Leave the battery disconnected for ten minutes to ensure that the computer is fully reset. Reconnect the negative battery cable to the terminal and tighten the nut that holds it in place.
- Close the vehicle’s hood and start your car to check that the computer has reset and that the warning lights have disappeared.
2. Removing The Headlight Fuse
Following steps can be followed for removing the Headlight Fuse
- Check the Owner’s Manual and Turn Off the Engine.
Your owner’s manual can help you with which fuse needs to be replaced. Most cars have two fuse boxes, viz. one on the driver’s side of the instrument cluster and one under the hood. The owner’s manual consists of diagrams of both the fuse boxes with proper labelling so that you can find the right fuse to replace it.
- Turn Off the Battery.
It is very important to turn off the engine and disconnect the battery before working on any automotive project. Any mistake with the wiring, while the battery is hooked up could cause further damage.
- Open the Fuse Box & Find the Fuse.
Now use the fuse box diagram to locate the right fuse after the engine is turned off and the battery is disconnected.
- Removal and Inspection of the Fuse.
Pull the fuse straight out with the help of the fuse pullers or pliers, and make sure the tool is gripping the fuse firmly. Take a look at the fuse under a light source through the translucent plastic. If it’s a blade-type fuse, as most fuses in your vehicle will be, then you’ll be able to see a metal wire inside. If this wire is intact, then your electrical woes are being caused by something else. But if it’s broken, that means the fuse has blown.
- Inserting the New Fuse.
You must replace the old fuse with a new one of the same amperage. Failure to do so can cause even more electrical problems by overloading the circuit.
3. Removing The Relay
- Turn off the engine and pop the hood of your car.
- Locate the engine bay fuse in your car.
- Look at the diagram in the owner’s manual to determine the location of the headlamp relay. Pull up on the relay to remove it from the fuse box.
How Can The Dashboard Issue Be Avoided?
If the wiring associated with the dash lights has a problem, such problems can arise. Check for the wiring in your car frequently. Check for any Bad fuse during the servicing of your car and replace it with the new one if there’s any. Also for signs of any fault in the early stages to avoid further damage to the electrical components.
Conclusion
The techniques mentioned earlier could help you to solve your problem. By law, it is illegal and considered a crime to drive a car without dashboard lights. However, many times we have seen that the cause for it is the blown fuse only. So, if you know to replace the fuse then there is nothing to worry about this. If your dashboard lights stay on when car is off, read the instructions given in this article and fix it ASAP.