GM's reverse light problem

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The ones functioning properly and only coming on when somebody hits the fob wouldn't be so bad since at least it is short and the people would show up quickly. The ones that are malfunctioning and stay on though would be a total pain in the ass. Like I have said it has never happened to me but if they came on and I saw somebody walking toward the car I would be fine with that. If they were just on and nobody was in sight I would indeed be pissed.

I've noticed this malfunction on cars other than GM cars as well. In fact I was following behind a Toyota this morning that had the reverse lights on while driving at 55MPH.

As far as the "Perimeter Light" function the duration may be user controllable. I know it is in my '04 Suburban. You can turn the function off, but it is limited to 40 seconds. By the way, it includes the reverse lights so this is not new.

You can control the length of time the headlights stay on after you exit the car, so I could see that would be extended to the perimeter lighting.



From the 2004 Owner's Manual:

Originally Posted by 2004 Suburban/Tahoe Owner's Manual

Perimeter Lighting
Press the personalization button until PERIMETER
LIGHTING appears in the display. To select your
personalization for perimeter lighting, press the select
button while PERIMETER LIGHTING is displayed on the
DIC. Pressing the select button will scroll through the
following choices:
PERIMETER LIGHTING ON (default): 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.
PERIMETER LIGHTING OFF: The perimeter lights will
not come on when you unlock the vehicle with the
remote keyless entry transmitter.
Choose one of the two options and press the
personalization button while it is displayed on the
DIC to select it and move on to the next feature.

EDIT: Looked at a 2016 Owner's Manual online. The lights can be adjusted to On/Off and duration can be changed between 30, 60 and 120 seconds.

[Stang70Fastback]

I've been renting about this GM "feature" for years. In fact, the only thing more frustrating than GM's entirely improper use of the reverse indicators, is Cole's attempts to justify them. Just, no. That's not what they're for, and I've often been confused by them in parking lots as well. Fuck that "feature."

[czechm8]

I agree. Very stupid idea. I've been duped by them many times.
Back-up lights should only be on when vehicle is in reverse.
My fear is that because of this idiotic feature - people will become de-sensitized to the lights and get hit.

[FX86]

i see white lights on the back of a big ass truck or suv...im moving the fuck away from it ...drive or no driver in the car

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

I've been renting about this GM "feature" for years. In fact, the only thing more frustrating than GM's entirely improper use of the reverse indicators, is Cole's attempts to justify them. Just, no. That's not what they're for, and I've often been confused by them in parking lots as well. Fuck that "feature."

Well, sorry, but as someone who has the feature, I find it very beneficial to have particularly if you live somewhere where it actually gets dark at night.

I do agree if there is an issue with them getting "stuck" then it should be fixed, but as I've said, I've seen that on cars that are not GM.

I suppose they could run a separate set of lights to do the same thing, but since they would be white they would just as easily get confused for the backup lights.

As far as it being a "safety feature" that really isn't what backup lights are for. A backup alarm is a safety feature, these are just to provide light so the driver can see. It is secondary that it alerts others the car is backing up.

[FX86]

Originally Posted by krayzie

European and Japanese cars don't use the reverse lights for this, they use the headlights in conjunction with the parking lights or puddle lights and only activates depending on the photosensor. This feature isn't new by any means, for example with VAG products this is called "Coming Home / Leaving Home". No confusion here unlike GM using the reverse lights as well.

i googled VAG to see what it stands for and i found the NFSW VAG

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

I've been renting about this GM "feature" for years. In fact, the only thing more frustrating than GM's entirely improper use of the reverse indicators, is Cole's attempts to justify them. Just, no. That's not what they're for, and I've often been confused by them in parking lots as well. Fuck that "feature."

So again, another person confused by reverse lights.

I'd hate to encounter a lot of you guys in a parking lot in a fluster because of the amount of foot and vehicle traffic, signal lights and reverse lights. Fuck, with the amount of GMs where I live, and owning one myself, I've barely even noticed this feature, and I've for sure never noticed anyone lose their shit because they see white lights on the back of my truck.

Though, I've been let down by humanity before, so this shouldn't surprise me.

Edit: @Dadhawk I've never noticed that the lights on my truck are adjustable. I'll have to check that out next time I'm driving it. I only find them staying on annoying when I pull up somewhere and the lights are glaring into a house/business/whatever

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Well, sorry, but as someone who has the feature, I find it very beneficial to have particularly if you live somewhere where it actually gets dark at night.

There are other ways this could be accomplished. For example, I have a TapTurn module. That module utilizes my turn signals as approach/departure lighting. With my LED bulbs in there, they do a GREAT job of illuminating the area around the car, while also not confusing other drivers because they are amber in color.

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

As far as it being a "safety feature" that really isn't what backup lights are for. A backup alarm is a safety feature, these are just to provide light so the driver can see. It is secondary that it alerts others the car is backing up.

Except that they aren't. Only with the adoption of LEDs the past few years have reverse lights become bright enough to actually be meaningful in illuminating anything behind the vehicle. Any vehicle manufactured prior to 2000 did absolutely NOTHING to illuminate the area behind the vehicle, and there are plenty today that still don't (you only need to look at the lights on our cars, which are incredibly low to the ground.)

Originally Posted by Cole

So again, another person confused by reverse lights.

I'd hate to encounter a lot of you guys in a parking lot in a fluster because of the amount of foot and vehicle traffic, signal lights and reverse lights. Fuck, with the amount of GMs where I live, and owning one myself, I've barely even noticed this feature, and I've for sure never noticed anyone lose their shit because they see white lights on the back of my truck.

Though, I've been let down by humanity before, so this shouldn't surprise me.

Sorry, but none of what you said makes any sense. They're called REVERSE lights. Not perimeter lights. Not illumination lights. REVERSE lights. They are there to indicate to other drivers that the vehicle is about to move in a backward direction. You're really pissing me off with this air of superiority.

You make it sound like "lights" in general are overwhelming and confusing. "OMG, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH ALL THE STUFF HAPPENING AROUND YOU?!" I deal with it because all the rest of the lights make fucking sense.

You keep mentioning turn signals being left on. Do you blow by every car with its turn signal on without second thought? If you do, you are a fucking moron. If I'm on the highway, and I'm slowly approaching a vehicle that's had its turn signal on for 5 minutes straight, I can be fairly confident that they're just an idiot. But if a car merges onto the highway so as to put me directly in their blind spot, and doesn't turn their signal off, I'm an intelligent driver who will be VERY wary of the fact that they may very well be one of those people who jumps straight to the fast lane when they get on the highway. It's called defensive driving. In situations like that, I will either move over, or cover the horn and be prepared to brake. And then when they don't move over, I get annoyed that they don't know how to signal properly.

Turn signals, reverse lights, etc... are COMMUNICATION methods. They are how drivers communicate with each other. Using them improperly is one of the most frustrating things someone can do to another driver. In a parking lot, I don't have the benefit of having seen that car with the reverse lights on for more than 10 seconds. I literally have no idea what they're about to do. And we both know that the majority of people are morons, and plenty of them will start reversing without looking both ways.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Cole

Edit: @Dadhawk I've never noticed that the lights on my truck are adjustable. I'll have to check that out next time I'm driving it. I only find them staying on annoying when I pull up somewhere and the lights are glaring into a house/business/whatever

Actually, most of the GMs have a dash button that will turn off the DLRs when sitting still. In my Astro and my Suburban if you pushed the dome light override button 3 times in quick succession turns off the outside lights.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

There are other ways this could be accomplished. ....

Agreed, and I as much as said that. Not saying you are wrong or right on this subject, just saying I find the function useful, and don't really think it's much of a safety hazard that it gets used for other purposes.

It's like saying that using headlights as DRLs are going to confuse people because they are going to think it's either dark outside even though its light, or the car is moving towards them just because the headlights are on.

But, I enjoy a good rant as much as the next person so please carry on.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

There are other ways this could be accomplished. For example, I have a TapTurn module. That module utilizes my turn signals as approach/departure lighting. With my LED bulbs in there, they do a GREAT job of illuminating the area around the car, while also not confusing other drivers because they are amber in color.



Except that they aren't. Only with the adoption of LEDs the past few years have reverse lights become bright enough to actually be meaningful in illuminating anything behind the vehicle. Any vehicle manufactured prior to 2000 did absolutely NOTHING to illuminate the area behind the vehicle, and there are plenty today that still don't (you only need to look at the lights on our cars, which are incredibly low to the ground.)



Sorry, but none of what you said makes any sense. They're called REVERSE lights. Not perimeter lights. Not illumination lights. REVERSE lights. They are there to indicate to other drivers that the vehicle is about to move in a backward direction. You're really pissing me off with this air of superiority.

You make it sound like "lights" in general are overwhelming and confusing. "OMG, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH ALL THE STUFF HAPPENING AROUND YOU?!" I deal with it because all the rest of the lights make fucking sense.

You keep mentioning turn signals being left on. Do you blow by every car with its turn signal on without second thought? If you do, you are a fucking moron. If I'm on the highway, and I'm slowly approaching a vehicle that's had its turn signal on for 5 minutes straight, I can be fairly confident that they're just an idiot. But if a car merges onto the highway so as to put me directly in their blind spot, and doesn't turn their signal off, I'm an intelligent driver who will be VERY wary of the fact that they may very well be one of those people who jumps straight to the fast lane when they get on the highway. It's called defensive driving. In situations like that, I will either move over, or cover the horn and be prepared to brake. And then when they don't move over, I get annoyed that they don't know how to signal properly.

Turn signals, reverse lights, etc... are COMMUNICATION methods. They are how drivers communicate with each other. Using them improperly is one of the most frustrating things someone can do to another driver. In a parking lot, I don't have the benefit of having seen that car with the reverse lights on for more than 10 seconds. I literally have no idea what they're about to do. And we both know that the majority of people are morons, and plenty of them will start reversing without looking both ways.

At least I don't let approach lighting ruin my day

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

It's like saying that using headlights as DRLs are going to confuse people because they are going to think it's either dark outside even though its light, or the car is moving towards them just because the headlights are on.

But, I enjoy a good rant as much as the next person so please carry on.

Haha, well since you're offering to listen :P

Headlights don't signal an intention of movement. They are used for illumination of the road ahead, and to make the vehicle visible to others. Unless you flash your lights, they do not communicate anything about your intentions. Not really the same thing.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

Haha, well since you're offering to listen :P

Headlights don't signal an intention of movement. They are used for illumination of the road ahead, and to make the vehicle visible to others. Unless you flash your lights, they do not communicate anything about your intentions. Not really the same thing.

Point taken, although when I see a car with the headlights on, I do assume (for safety purposes) that it is either in motion or will be in motion soon. That's pretty much what I believe you were saying about the reverse lights.

[FX86]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Point taken, although when I see a car with the headlights on, I do assume (for safety purposes) that it is either in motion or will be in motion soon. That's pretty much what I believe you were saying about the reverse lights.

unless it is an unsanctioned unofficial walmart car meet and the lights are on to show off...that's when you listen closely for the fart can to pass gas