UKSaabs

I am beginning to run out of ideas on this one so some input would be welcome.

When we have been using the car (with or without headlights) and turn the engine off and remove the key, the headlights come on. Just the dipped beam, no sidelights or rear lights.
The only way to turn them off is to turn the ignition on and off again.

I have replaced the orange relay, swapped the light switch and plugged Tech2 in to check the follow me home settings, as I suspected follow me home might be activating. I think it is probably a FMH failure, but you don't need to touch the stalk or shut the door for it to happen.

It has a 20second delay set on the Tech2, but the lights will stay on permanently. I can't see if there is a Tech2 setting to turn follow me home off, only time settings. (Although it was only an hour ago I can't remember which menu it was in, Dice I think?) Must be age......

Unless I have a sticky relay somewhere else, i.e. Not the orange one, I can't think of anything else to try. I am a bit concerned that it will at some stage go further and decide to turn on the lights by itself and strand us with a flat battery.

I do have a WIS so was going to begin a search for wiring links from DICE to lighting relays at the weekend.

Thank you for any input!

Duncan

Difficult one. Do you have xenon or halogen headlights?

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Everything will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end...

Have you checked which lights come on, dipped beam, main beam, or both.

"Follow me home" lights are not activated until the doors are shut. If the lights are coming on as soon as the key is removed, it's probably something else.

Does the centre of the ignition switch pop-up a bit when the key is removed?

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Everything will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end...

This happens to me.....I have managed to solder the dry joints in the orange relay and it worked for a bit after.....seems to be worse when it is raining......very strange, but it has not spread to other parts of the car!

Would be interested to see what the cause is. I always thought it was the orange relay but if you have changed yours then perhaps not...

M

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Saab 9-3 2.0t Vector - 2006

We have regular halogen headlights, sgould, so no extra funny bits. I think it might be a dodgy connector or bad earth.

I will also check the ignition switch, but it does feel like it has always done, with the pop once the key comes out. We don't get the usual sequence of flicking the dip switch then shutting the doors, they just come on when the key comes out.

Miksey, I had searched for a solution with no luck, so to hear someone else has it is reassuring. I hadn't put together the wet weather with it happening, but it has started since the rain has got harder recently. That sort of things leads me to believe it could be an earthing point fault. I did just swap the relay for a known good one so can't see it is that.

I will have a search over the weekend and report back if I find any more info.

I've had a look at the earthing system and the left and right hand sides are completely different.

Do both lights come on? If they do, I think it's unlikely that you have an earthing fault, because they would both have to have the same fault. Could be wrong though...

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Everything will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end...

Both lights come on for me as well.......about a one in five chance they come on after you take the key out........more so in the damp weather.....TBH this is the least of my problems as I have a failing clutch and I am some 1k miles away from my new clutch kit and DMF which will be fitted El pronto when I get back from half term hols...............

M

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Saab 9-3 2.0t Vector - 2006

Both lights, yes.

I need to spend some investigative time on it this weekend next!

Do you have 'parking lights' or 'city lights' feature on the car ?

A possible source of the problem - could be something wrong with the main light switch.

Front marker lights when you put the car in reverse is an outside possibility but shouldn't stay on when you remove the key.

Couple of ideas if it helps.

He says the light switch and orange bulb unit has been changed. If both lights are coming on, check that the relay is clicking when the key is removed. If it is then I think that the operating circuit is the problem. That is controlled by the DICE.

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Everything will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end...

mine does that every now and again (HID headlights), but they turn off again after a minute - so I've classed it as a "feature" for now

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'98 9000 2.3T CSE, stage 3
'04 9-5 Aero manual, stage 3
'08 Jaguar XFR
'10 9-5 2.3T Turbo Edition

Mine does every now and again. 2.2 also

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9-3 2.0 FPT SE DEAD RIP 2001-2014
9-5 2.2 TID
9000 3L V6

If it helps...

The dipped beam is normally powered straight through the light switch.
It goes from battery, to ignition switch, to light switch, through normally closed contacts of the dipped beam relay, through the orange bulb monitor, to the bulb then earth.

The DICE unit can operate this relay by grounding the coil. This then puts power from the normally open contact, through to the orange bulb monitor and so on.

If it's coming on then going off by itself I'd lean towards dice controlling the relay. Next time they're on pull the relay out and see if it clicks when you remove it. If it does you've either got a duff wire between the relay box and dice or dice is playing silly buggers.

As a thought, has anything been added to the car wiring? In particular anything near the white connector at the bottom of the passenger a-pillar? Wonder if someone has added something which could be interfering light an aftermarket tracker or something?

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It takes 2 to make an argument. And I think both you buggers are wrong....

Thanks pug, this starts to point me in the direction of DICE being silly.

After today's testing, I can confirm that this "feature" is indeed follow me home related. I just didn't have the patience to wait the 45 seconds that someone had programmed FMH to operate for. The lights go on for the 20 seconds I set and then off. DICE must think it is getting the sequence of flasher then door closed. Why it thinks that is my next hurdle!

I only have a spare DICE from an Aero so am not sure if it is compatible with the diesel instrument cluster. I will need to extract it and check part numbers.

The saga will continue......

Have you looked at the indicator stalk? Is that getting a bit floppy?

Could always remove the shroud and unplug it before you turn the ignition off. Bit of a faff but might point you in a direction for diagnostics purposes.

All the dice units can be swapped around and programmed.

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It takes 2 to make an argument. And I think both you buggers are wrong....

Mine happens so infrequently and I have follow me home activated via tech 2 I presumed it was that tbh.

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9-3 2.0 FPT SE DEAD RIP 2001-2014
9-5 2.2 TID
9000 3L V6

the other thing I've noticed on mine is if that it does happens, it's when the key pops up (hopefully therefore ruling out the switch) - if you put the key back in, turn it to "on" again the lights go out - remove key again and they stay off ...

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'98 9000 2.3T CSE, stage 3
'04 9-5 Aero manual, stage 3
'08 Jaguar XFR
'10 9-5 2.3T Turbo Edition

Hi,

Have had the same thing happening recently - did notice that rather than the interior lights coming on as normal when I remove the ignition key, the headlights come on and go off after about 30 seconds.

Could it be that the headlights are being activated rather than the interior lights?

Do not have a clue as to how to check this let alone fix it so any comments appreciated.

ah ha.....

with me...it seems to happen when it is colder and I have found that to wiggle the orange relay fuse under the bonnet works for a bit. I suspect the culprit is this orange relay fuse and the weak soldered joints.

That's my 2p's worth....

M

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Saab 9-3 2.0t Vector - 2006

Mine is the same, remove key and interior lights DO NOT come on but HEADLIGHTS do!! Replace key in ignition and switch to "ON" then switch "OFF" results in interior lights coming on and headlights going off!! Weird.

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2002 9-5 Aero Saloon Manual. Noobtune Stage III
2000 9-5 Aero Estate Auto. Maptun Stage I (Broken)