2003 CHEVROLET SSR headlamp

Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the
instrument panel lights when the exterior lamps knob is
turned to AUTO. The radio lights will also be on.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top
of the instrument panel. Be sure it is not covered or
the system will be on whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your lights when driving
through a parking garage, heavy overcast weather
or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic headlamp systems so
that driving under bridges or bright overhead street
lights does not affect the system. The DRL and
automatic headlamp system will only be affected when
the light sensor sees a change in lighting lasting
longer than the delay.
To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, set the parking brake while the ignition is off.
Then start your vehicle. The automatic headlamp
system will stay off until you release the parking brake,
or until you shift out of PARK (P).You may be able to turn off your automatic headlamp
system. See “Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)” later
in this section for more information.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
you leave the garage, it will take approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay,
your instrument panel cluster may not be as bright
as usual. Make sure your instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position. See “Instrument
Panel Brightness” underInterior Lamps on page 3-14.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Lamps On Reminder
A reminder tone will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on, the driver’s door is
open and your ignition is in OFF or ACCESSORY. To turn
the tone off, turn the knob all the way counterclockwise.
In the automatic mode, the headlamps turn off once the
ignition key is in OFF.
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Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on
at reduced brightness when the following conditions
are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps knob is in AUTO.
The light sensor detects daytime light.
The transmission is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t
be on. The instrument panel won’t be lit up either.When it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL to the regular headlamps.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, put your vehicle’s
transmission in PARK (P). The DRL will stay off until
you shift out of PARK (P).
Fog Lamps
Use your fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions. Your ignition must be in RUN for your
fog lamps to work.
-(Fog Lamps):Press this button located on the
exterior lamps control to turn the fog lamps on or off.
The fog lamps will go off whenever you turn on the
high-beam headlamps. When the high beams are turned
off, the fog lamps will come on again.
O(Fog Lamp Indicator Light):This light located on
the exterior lamps control illuminates when the
fog lamps are turned on.
3-13

Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits the dimming of your instrument
panel displays during daylight while your headlamps
are on. When the light sensor reads darkness outside,
you will be able to dim your instrument panel displays
once again.
Perimeter Lighting
When the button with the unlock symbol on the remote
keyless entry transmitter is pressed, the DRL, parking
lamps and back-up lamps will come on if it is dark
enough outside.
This feature can be personalized for up to two drivers.
SeeDIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-52for
more information.
Front Map Lamps
If your vehicle has front map lamps, they are located on
the inside rearview mirror. They will automatically
come on for about 40 seconds when the doors are
unlocked with the remote keyless entry transmitter or
until the ignition key is turned to RUN or ACCESSORY.
The lamps will also stay on for about 40 seconds
after you exit the vehicle unless you lock the doors with
the remote keyless entry transmitter.
You can also turn the lamps on and off by pressing the
button near each lamp.
Battery Rundown Protection
This feature shuts off all lamps that are left on for more
than 10 minutes when the ignition is off. This will keep
your battery from running down.
3-15

Reduced Engine Power Light
This light is displayed
when a noticeable
reduction in the vehicle’s
performance may occur.
The vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed when
the reduced engine power light is on but acceleration
and speed may be reduced. The performance may
be reduced until the next time you drive your vehicle.
If this light stays on, see your dealer as soon as possible
for diagnosis and repair.
This light may also come on if there is a problem with the
Throttle Actuator Control (TAC) system. If this happens,
take the vehicle in for service as soon as possible.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
whenever the high-beam
headlamps are on.
Check Gages Warning Light
The Check Gages light will
come on briey when you
are starting the engine.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine oil
pressure gages to see if they are in the warning zones.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-30
andOil Pressure Gage on page 3-34.
When the fuel level is low in your vehicle, the check
gages light will come on and a chime will sound. You will
also see a FUEL LEVEL LOW message on the DIC.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-45
for more information.
3-36

DIC Vehicle Personalization
Your vehicle has a personalization feature that allows you
to program certain features to a preferred setting for up to
two drivers. The number of programmable features
varies depending upon which model of the vehicle you
purchased. Once the features are programmed, the
saved settings are recalled by pressing the unlock button
on the remote keyless entry transmitter, 1 or 2, or by
pressing the appropriate memory button, 1 or 2, located
on the outboard side of the driver’s seat. SeeMemory
Seat on page 2-44for more information.
The following is a list of available programmable options:
AUTOMATIC LOCKING
AUTOMATIC UNLOCKING
REMOTE LOCK FEEDBACK
REMOTE UNLOCK FEEDBACK
HEADLAMPS ON AT EXIT
PERIMETER LIGHTING
SEAT POSITION RECALL (If equipped)
DISPLAY LANGUAGE
DISPLAY UNITS (U.S./MET)
y(Personalization):Press this button located on the
steering wheel to access the vehicle personalization
menu and customize the personalization settings
on your vehicle.
Automatic Locking
This feature allows you to choose how the vehicle’s
doors are locked. Press the personalization button
until AUTOMATIC LOCKING appears in the display.
To access the modes for AUTOMATIC LOCKING,
press the select button. Once AUTOMATIC LOCKING is
selected, press the select button to scroll through the
following modes:
Mode 1:LOCK DOORS OUT OF PARK
Mode 2:LOCK DOORS WITH SPEED
If you choose Mode 1, the doors will lock when the
vehicle is shifted out of PARK (P).
If you choose Mode 2, the doors will lock when
the vehicle speed is above 8 mph (13 km/h) for
three seconds.
Scroll through the list of modes. When the mode you
want is displayed on the DIC, press personalization
button to set your choice, return to the personalization
menu, and advance to the next programmable feature.
For more information on automatic door locks see
Programmable Automatic Door Locks on page 2-8.
3-52

Headlamps on at Exit
This feature allows you to set the amount of time you
want the headlamps to remain on after you exit the
vehicle. Press the personalization button until
HEADLAMPS ON AT EXIT appears in the display.
To access the modes for HEADLAMPS ON AT EXIT,
press the select button. Once HEADLAMPS ON
AT EXIT is selected, press the select button to scroll
through the following modes:
Mode 1:HEADLAMP DELAY: 10 SEC
Mode 2:HEADLAMP DELAY: 20 SEC
Mode 3:HEADLAMP DELAY: 40 SEC
Mode 4:HEADLAMP DELAY: 60 SEC
Mode 5:HEADLAMP DELAY: OFF
If you choose Mode 5, the headlamps will turn off as
soon as you turn off the vehicle.
Scroll through the list of modes. When the mode you
want is displayed on the DIC, press personalization
button to set your choice, return to the personalization
menu, and advance to the next programmable feature.
Perimeter Lighting
This feature allows you to choose whether or not certain
exterior lamps turn on when the unlock button on the
remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed. Press
the personalization button until PERIMETER LIGHTING
appears in the display. To access the modes for
PERIMETER LIGHTING, press the select button.
Once PERIMETER LIGHTING is selected, press the
select button to scroll through the following modes:
Mode 1:PERIMETER LIGHTING ON
Mode 2:PERIMETER LIGHTING OFF
If you choose Mode 1, the headlamps and back-up
lamps will come on for 40 seconds, if it is dark enough
outside, when you unlock the vehicle with the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
Scroll through the list of modes. When the mode you
want is displayed on the DIC, press personalization
button to set your choice, return to the personalization
menu, and advance to the next programmable feature.
3-56

Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you
and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
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No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But
as we get older these differences increase. A
50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you
are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. They
may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare, as from a driver
who does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps, slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching headlamps.Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean — inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a lm caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and ash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep
your eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from
night blindness — the inability to see in dim light — and
are not even aware of it.
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