The auto parts stores cannot look for the part until they know the part name. What is the name of the sensor that sits on the dashboard and controls the auto headlights?

Posted by DangerInTheArea@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 24 comments

I’ve called and I’ve visited plenty of auto stores. Everyone knows the part but no one knows the exact name. BESIDES the OBVIOUS names I’ve tried automatic headlight sensor, adaptive light sensor, ambient light sensor, illumination sensor, to name a few. Nothing. When it went bad my headlights stayed on. I had to pull out two fuses to avoid my battery going dead.

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Jd0968@reddit

Twilight sensor

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joegekko@reddit

No that's the sensor that warns you about sparkly vampires.

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Jd0968@reddit

Lol It used to be called a twilight sentinel in the old days. It's probably called something like ambient sensor now. I've been In the parts business, too damn long.

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Tricky-Celebration36@reddit

This. At least that's what I've called em since the 90s lol

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CarLover014@reddit

GM used to call it the Twilight Sentinel

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Look_b4_jumping@reddit

Remote light sensor on airplanes

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boostedbacon22@reddit

This will most likely be dealer only anyway

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your_anecdotes@reddit

automatic headlight sensor is the correct name for it

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idahononono@reddit

It’s a different name per manufacturer, but I’ve seen ambient light sensor, daytime headlight sensor, automatic headlight sensor, automatic light control, light control sensor, a very few oddball cars may even be part of the lighting control module (rare early model light sensors in European rides). If you’re at a parts store and they cannot find it, they suck. Tell me your car and I’ll find it in a few minutes.

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Butt_bird@reddit

Solar sensor. It may be dealer only part. Maybe get a used one on eBay.

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Just_Schedule_8189@reddit

Its a photocell

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No_Geologist_3690@reddit

The chance of that being at a parts store are slim, likely dealer only.

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Canna_grower_VT14@reddit

It has a few names but I know it as a twilight sensor.

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Mike__O@reddit

Even IF the parts store had something like that, I'd never buy from them. The likelihood of failure from a generic Chinese copy of the OEM part is just too high

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Racer-X-@reddit

Year, make and model.

GM calls it an "ambient light sensor" in their catalog. Some makes call it the "automatic headlight sensor."

Looking it up online on the vehicle manufacturer parts website or a online dealership parts department website can get you the manufacturer part number, and local parts stores or RockAuto or CarID can cross reference from that part number.

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roosterb4@reddit

Go to the dealer and ask them at the parts department they will know. You don’t have to buy it from them just find out the name and how much it cost.

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JCDU@reddit

Easiest way is ask them to print it out as a quote, that way you've got it written down.

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superbetaz@reddit

You don’t have to go to the dealer physically. Call them, ask for parts department. Describe the parts location and functions and ask for the part number. Note: parts dept doesn’t care about how it’s malfunctioning, but you might ask them if they sell a lot of these parts or not. If not, it’s possible it’s something else and not the sensor itself.

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