Lighting problem on exit

[AlanMac]

Astra 2011 SE Tourer

Checked in the dark btw

When I exit the car (i.e. open the door) the external lights do not come on (they used to up until Friday).
Whenever I pull the keys out of the ignition the lights turn off straight away. I have tried selecting all 3 timings in the configurations menu (no different)

The external lights do come on when I unlock he car using the key fob.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Alan

---

Found the answer myself - RTFM page 134. No idea why they stopped working in the 1st place and now I just need to get my key to remember the setting.

[Rusty2009]

You should have to pull the high beam stalk towards you with the driver door open & key out.

[zzattack]

Ridiculous design if you ask me!

[Big Dave2]

Ridiculous design if you ask me!

Why?

Makes sense to manually enable it only when you need it. Why take juice out of the battery when it's not required?

[rlievens]

You should have to pull the high beam stalk towards you with the driver door open & key out.

So that's the trick!
Always wondered why they didn't stay on after exiting the vehicle even after turning on the option in the settings.
I need to remember this!

[zzattack]

Ridiculous design if you ask me!

Why?

Particularly the part where you first need to open the door and then pull the stalk. When I pull the handle I got 1 foot out the door already. I'm not pushing the door open while remaining seated so I can pull that stalk.
The battery drain for 30 seconds of lights is really neglible.

[Big Dave2]

Ridiculous design if you ask me!

Why?

Particularly the part where you first need to open the door and then pull the stalk. When I pull the handle I got 1 foot out the door already. I'm not pushing the door open while remaining seated so I can pull that stalk.
The battery drain for 30 seconds of lights is really neglible.

So, you're unable to reach the stalk with one foot out the door?

The system can be set to remain on for up to 2 mins in the menu, or if set at the 30 sec setting, the lights will still remain on for 2 mins if the door is left open/ajar.

[zzattack]

It's not that I'd be physically unable but it's stupid to first move your hand to the door and then move it back to the stalk. This way it's not a fire-and-forget kind of motion. And even 2 minutes of lights is neglible. The 'CHLH' functionality of many (semi-)modern cars already activates the lights for some period of time upon locking the car.

[Rusty2009]

Lol but you open the door with right hand and use your left hand to pull stalk.

of for our LHD friends you open the door with your left hand and right hand to pull the stalk.

So you left/right hand is passing the stalk on the way out.

[Big Dave2]

Lol but you open the door with right hand and use your left hand to pull stalk.

of for our LHD friends you open the door with your left hand and right hand to pull the stalk.

So you left/right hand is passing the stalk on the way out.

Maybe he's only got one hand

[rlievens]

Lol but you open the door with right hand and use your left hand to pull stalk.

of for our LHD friends you open the door with your left hand and right hand to pull the stalk.

So you left/right hand is passing the stalk on the way out.

It does make sense for RHD cars, but not for LHD ones.
The high beam stalk is on the left side for either left and right hand drive cars.
So when you open the door with you left hand on LHD you have to move your hand back to the stalk to pull it and then back to the door to open it completely and exit.
It's very awkward to try and pull the stalk with your right hand (because, like I said, it's on the left side of the steering wheel).

I understand the feeling it's very counter intuitive.

[Rusty2009]

Fancy GM not being clever enough to swap the stalk round for our LHD friends.

[zzattack]

Exactly @rlievens! Yes pulling the stalk with right hand is super awkward.

[rlievens]

And don't forget you have to do it with your keys in your hand

Btw Rusty it's not GM's laziness, every LHD has the same layout. Lights left and wipers right. It would have been even more counter intuitive if they would have swapped that lol.

[Big Dave2]

It does make sense for RHD cars, but not for LHD ones.
The high beam stalk is on the left side for either left and right hand drive cars.
So when you open the door with you left hand on LHD you have to move your hand back to the stalk to pull it and then back to the door to open it completely and exit.
It's very awkward to try and pull the stalk with your right hand (because, like I said, it's on the left side of the steering wheel).

I understand the feeling it's very counter intuitive.

Surely you are able to flick it with your right hand as you exit the car. What else is your right hand doing at the time?

[zzattack]

Next time try using your wipers with your left hand as you get out Dave it's just weird

[rlievens]

And with your keys in your hand!

[Big Dave2]

Next time try using your wipers with your left hand as you get out Dave it's just weird

Too right it'll be weird, because I can't see any reason for me wanting to put the wipers on while getting out of the car