Why does the GL8's center control screen stay on after locking the car?
3 Answers
Reasons and solutions for the GL8's center control screen staying on after locking the car are as follows: Reasons for the GL8's center control screen staying on after locking the car: If the center control screen and the car computer remain on after locking the car, it indicates an electronic system malfunction in the vehicle, and the electronic system needs to be rematched. Specific steps to rematch the vehicle's electronic system: Open the driver's side door, press the car's brake pedal to prepare to start the engine, press the car's one-touch start button, all the dashboard lights will turn on, indicating the engine has started, then hold down the car's door lock button on the driver's side for more than 10 seconds to complete the matching.
I occasionally encounter this issue with my Buick GL8—the infotainment screen stays on after locking the car, which is quite annoying. Possible causes include the vehicle system having a delayed shutdown function (e.g., the entertainment system needing time to enter sleep mode) or a software bug causing it to freeze. It could also be an electrical issue, like a relay failing to disconnect or poor wiring contact. Once, I found that the key wasn’t placed far enough, preventing the system from fully locking. Solutions: First, try relocking the car and waiting a few minutes to see if it turns off. Then, check the sleep settings in the infotainment menu—disabling this feature might resolve it. If the screen remains on, disconnect the battery’s negative terminal for a few minutes to reboot the system and avoid draining the battery. As a habit, always check if the screen is off before leaving the car to prevent such glitches. This is common with electronics in many vehicle models, and regularly updating the infotainment software can also help.
As someone who knows a bit about cars, I think it's abnormal for the GL8's center console screen to stay on after locking the car. This is likely due to a malfunction in the circuit control module, such as relay contact sticking or a power supply module issue, causing continuous current supply that prevents the screen from turning off. It could also be a software glitch, where the system is still running background processes and not entering sleep mode after locking. For older vehicles, aging wires causing a short circuit could also be a factor. I recommend checking: use an OBD scanner to read fault codes and see if any errors are reported; or check the relevant fuses in the fuse box to see if they're blown. A simple solution is to disconnect the battery to reset the system. With electronic products, firmware updates can fix many bugs, and design flaw patches for newer models are common. Don't delay—fast power drain can damage the battery, and in severe cases, the entire vehicle's electronic system could be affected. Addressing it early will save you trouble.
