What is the twilight sentinel?

[VadersV6]

I have the twilight knob on my dash, but it doesnt seem to do anything. What does it do and how does it work? What would cause it not to work at all?
Also, I have a "security" light that flashes when the key is out and I open the door. That also doesnt do anything. I start my car and the light goes away.
I noticed that there is a clear transluscent connector dangling under my dash. Someone jumped this conenctor with a diode of some sort. Would this be connected to either issue?

 

[84GNwith87eng]

I'm fairly certain the twilight sentinel feature automatically dims your headlights for oncoming cars. Its a sensor that basically performs what I just said. Its two wires that connect it.

As for the security feature, I don't have it so I couldn't tell you. Probably a the theft-deterrant option

If I'm mistaken, someone correct me, but thats pretty much it

Chris

 

[Harry Mash]

You are correct on both counts .I have both options on my car. Sorry --- I read your note wrongly --- the twilight sentinal does not dim the lites --- it turns the headlights on when it is getting dark. The system has a photocell in the top center of the dash to sense the light

 

[copo]

It senses ambient light levels and works with the sentinel relay to turn on the headlamps when it gets dark. The early/late business is just a plastic disc with a hole in it that is mounted over the photodiode; turning the disc to "early" obstructs the diode opening so less light reaches it and the lights turn on sooner. Turning the disc to "late" fully opens the aperture and lets all available light in -- the lights turn on later.

Your factory alarms system works like this and you can test it. If you open the car without the key then the alarm will go off.

TEST:
Roll down the drivers window all the way down.

Open the door and you'll see the alarm led blink.

Lock the door with your electric door lock or if you don't have electric locks then push the knob down. I know as soon as you click the electric door lock to lock the alarm led will stop flashing and that means the alarm is armed.

Close the door.

Using your hand unlock the door by reaching inside and moving the electric lever to open.

The alarm will go off and the headlights will flash off and on.

To stop the alarm, open the door with your key.


Now if you don't have electric lock then I assume when you pull up on the lock knob the alarm will go off.

 

[VadersV6]

Wow, it works! The alarm that is. Thats the first time ive heard my horn cause I have a budget, non factory steering wheel with no horn. Thats one manly horn that scared the **** out of me!
I unlocked the door and the alarm didnt go off. So I tried it again, only this time I unlocked it, and then opened the door (forgot to mention I guess), and the alarm went off.
As far as the twilight thing goes, I should turn it on, and maybe move it halfway up, and see if the headlights come on? Will this only work if the headlight switch is on, or if the car is running?
I saw what looked like a photoelectric diode in the radiator grill of a friend's GN. I didnt know what it was. Is that where its normally located? Cause I dont have that.
While looking around, I saw an unused indicator lamp in the dash, that says "car is leveling". Did buick ever make any of these regals with a leveling system? I know about the "power injection" one.
Is my 'Low Fuel" bulb supposed to come on when the tank gets low, cause I havent seen that one till today, when the sun was shining on the whole dash.

 

[Harry Mash]

The photocell is in the top center of the dashplate inside the car near the windshield..

 

[Gary Wells]

Brent:
On the "Twilight Sentintel", put the switch all the way to the bottom, generally.

 

[Turbo Brian]

The low fuel level module is not included on the GN. It came on the Riviera, but will work if installed on the GN.

 

[ross87t]

It's what got me my first ticket when I was 16 years old. I pulled into a Sonic, TS sensed the lights, and turned my headlights off. I pulled out of Sonic, and my headlights came on about 100 feet down the road. Butthole cop gave me a ticket for driving without headlights. It must have been a real slow night.:rolleyes