Auto headlamp problems

[Paolino]

Not really sure what's going on. The car is a 2006 Sonata GLS V6.

It has automatic lights. When set to auto, at dusk the lights go on. However, when you shut the car off, only the headlights go off... the parking lamps and all interior lights/gauges stay on. They're not supposed to--at least for the first four years of car ownership they never did.

What makes matters worse is, if you turn the stalk to shut the lights off manually, they rarely turn off. I've had to at times toggle between on/off 4-5 times before the lights would actually shut. Again, the headlights ALWAYS go off, but the parking/interior lights frequently stay on.

I've tried leaving the lights in the off position entirely and then at dusk turning them on manually, but the same thing frequently happens: the parking lamps and interior lights stay on. It's not a question of them being temporary perimeter lighting because when this first happened, I've come out of stores a half hour later only to find them still on.

What could be causing this? And what could be a remedy?

(This is a previous generation Sonata, so although it doesn't cure cancer, it does have the ability to dull a headache.)

[loki]

had any EMP events in your area? haha

[Paolino]

had any EMP events in your area? haha

Haha, nope... as far as I know no other electronic devices have gone down

[SAmadei]

Not really sure what's going on. The car is a 2006 Sonata GLS V6.

It has automatic lights. When set to auto, at dusk the lights go on. However, when you shut the car off, only the headlights go off... the parking lamps and all interior lights/gauges stay on. They're not supposed to--at least for the first four years of car ownership they never did.

What makes matters worse is, if you turn the stalk to shut the lights off manually, they rarely turn off. I've had to at times toggle between on/off 4-5 times before the lights would actually shut. Again, the headlights ALWAYS go off, but the parking/interior lights frequently stay on.

I've tried leaving the lights in the off position entirely and then at dusk turning them on manually, but the same thing frequently happens: the parking lamps and interior lights stay on. It's not a question of them being temporary perimeter lighting because when this first happened, I've come out of stores a half hour later only to find them still on.

What could be causing this? And what could be a remedy?

(This is a previous generation Sonata, so although it doesn't cure cancer, it does have the ability to dull a headache.)

I find it odd that the interior lights and parking lights would seem linked... the only place these would normally cross paths is the light switch... has that been replaced? Its where I'd start... but keep in mind, my expertise in all vested in GM stuff...so Hyundai may have something of a different design.

Other than that, I'd look at the lighting controller... or whatever Hyundai is calling it. The fact that throwing the switch back and forth 4-5 times seems to fix the problem tells me its a physical problem in the switch or a problem inside whatever controller Hyundai has.

Not sure thats a lot of help, but hopefully its a start.

[Paolino]

I find it odd that the interior lights and parking lights would seem linked... the only place these would normally cross paths is the light switch... has that been replaced? Its where I'd start... but keep in mind, my expertise in all vested in GM stuff...so Hyundai may have something of a different design.

Other than that, I'd look at the lighting controller... or whatever Hyundai is calling it. The fact that throwing the switch back and forth 4-5 times seems to fix the problem tells me its a physical problem in the switch or a problem inside whatever controller Hyundai has.

Not sure thats a lot of help, but hopefully its a start.

Thanks... it's definitely a step in probably the right direction. I, too, thought it was a physical problem. It doesn't appear to be the light sensor because when it's set to Auto, the lights come on at a certain darkness... even if going through an underpass and then shutting off when I'm in the sun again. I'll mention this next time I take the car in for an oil change.