
The automatic headlight sensor on the New Excelle is located under the windshield, near the center position. Introduction to car headlights: Car headlights contain two types of light sources: high beam and low beam. The low beam is designed for close-range illumination, with a wide coverage area but short projection distance, and its focus cannot be adjusted. The high beam, on the other hand, emits parallel light from its focal point, creating a more concentrated and brighter beam that can illuminate distant and high objects. Precautions for using car lights: When passing through an intersection controlled by traffic signals and making a left turn, turn on the turn signal and use the low beam when driving at night. When a following vehicle is traveling close to the vehicle in front in the same direction, the high beam should not be used. When passing through sharp curves, slopes, arched bridges, pedestrian crossings, or uncontrolled intersections at night, vehicles should alternately switch between high and low beams as a signal.

I've been driving the Excelle for three years, and the auto headlight sensor is located in that black bump on the back of the interior rearview mirror. Last time I washed the car, I specifically asked the 4S technician—this box faces the windshield and is embedded in the base like a square lump. Inside, there's a light sensor that automatically turns on the headlights on cloudy days if you pay attention. When washing the car, never cover this area with stickers, or the headlights might turn on during the day, which is super awkward. A friend's car screen flashed an error code, and it turned out the sensor was completely blocked by a parking contact card—once removed, it worked fine again. When checking it yourself, use a towel to simulate a low-light environment by covering it; if you hear a 'click' sound, it means the switch is functioning normally.

I remember once helping a neighbor locate this sensor. We checked under the dashboard near the windshield, and finally confirmed it's embedded in the black plastic behind the rearview mirror. You can feel a mesh-like opening with your fingers—that's the light intake window. Driving on elevated roads during rain, I particularly noticed the headlights automatically turn on 3 seconds before entering tunnels. The primary reason for this placement is to avoid false triggering from direct sunlight. If the auto headlights respond sluggishly, it's likely due to metalized window tint blocking the signal—recommend leaving a 20cm untinted area behind the rearview mirror when installing windshield film. A common issue is frost obscuring the sensor in winter, easily solved by scraping gently with a bank card.

According to the American car repair manual, the automatic headlight sensors in GM vehicles are usually installed behind the rearview mirror. The clever design of the Excelle is that the rain sensor is integrated with it. Last time I repaired the car, I opened the casing and saw: under the black hemisphere is a photoresistor, which controls the lights by decreasing resistance when exposed to light. Those who are handy can measure the voltage: about 1.5V on cloudy days, dropping to 0.3V under strong light. Don't use a high-pressure water gun to spray this area directly when washing the car—my friend damaged it, causing the headlights to stay on constantly. Replacing the entire base assembly costs 400 yuan, and it's not difficult to do it yourself—just pry open the clips and it's done in ten minutes.


