We’ve all been there: driving down a poorly-lit road, you activate the car’s high beams for better visibility of what’s ahead. Miles later, you realize that you’re the idiot with high-beams still on, blinding everyone and everything in sight. GM’s IntelliBeam system to the rescue.
Available on all Cadillacs on sale today, IntelliBeam automatically turns the vehicle’s high-beam headlamps on and off according to surrounding traffic conditions. The concept behind IntelliBeam is relatively simple: the system turns the high-beam headlamps on when it is dark enough and there is no other traffic present, and then turns them off when conditions change.
Enabling IntelliBeam
This light comes on in the
instrument cluster when the
IntelliBeam system is enabled.
To enable the automatic IntelliBeam system, place the turn signal lever in the neutral position, then turn the exterior lamp control to AUTO. The blue high-beam on light will appear on the instrument cluster when the high beams are on.
Driving with IntelliBeam
The system only activates the high beams when driving over 40 km/h (25 mph). The system works via a sensor located at the top center of the windshield, which automatically controls the system. As such, keeping this area of the windshield clear of debris to allow for best system performance.
Under automatic control, the high-beam headlamps remain on until one of the following situations
occurs:
- The system detects an approaching vehicle’s headlamps
- The system detects a preceding vehicle’s taillamps
- The outside light is bright enough that high-beam headlamps are not required
- The vehicle’s speed drops below 20 km/h (12 mph)
- The turn signal lever is moved forward to the high-beam position or the Flash-to-Pass feature is used
Disabling IntelliBeam
The IntelliBeam system can be disabled by the High/Low-Beam Changer or the Flash-to-Pass feature. If this happens, the High/Low-Beam Changer must be activated two times within five seconds to reactivate the IntelliBeam system. The instrument cluster light will come on to indicate the IntelliBeam is reactivated.
The high beams may not turn off automatically if the system cannot detect other vehicle’s lamps because of any of the following:
- The other vehicle’s lamps are missing, damaged, obstructed from view, or otherwise undetected
- The other vehicle’s lamp are covered with dirt, snow, and/or road spray
- The other vehicle’s lamp(s) cannot be detected due to dense exhaust, smoke, fog, snow, road spray, mist, or other airborne obstructions.
- Your vehicle’s windshield is dirty, cracked, or obstructed by something that blocks the view of the light sensor
- Your vehicle’s windshield is covered with ice, dirt, haze, or other obstructions
- Your vehicle is loaded such that the front end points upward, causing the light sensor to aim high and not detect headlamps and taillamps
- You are driving on winding or hilly roads
If any of the above conditions exist, you may need to manually disable or cancel the high-beam headlamps by turning the low-beam headlamps on.
Comments
Wasn’t something similar available in the late 50’s Cadillacs?
If we’re thinking of the same thing, I believe it was the feature to keep the high-beams on, which was somewhat of a novelty back then… this turns then on and off when appropriate.
You are referring to the Autronic Eye. It was an optical sensor, mounted on the dash as I recall.
I coulda sworn this feature is already on my 2010 DTS platinum… I turn it off it ends up always blinding people and turning off at the last second
This system is already available on the current SRX , but only on the top 2 models. The headlights also turn 15 degrees with the direction of the steering wheel and at certain speeds . It also keeps the headlights level with the car .
Wasn’t a similar feature available on 1990s Ford Thunderbirds?
Similar, but different technologies. Previous systems used sensors to detect headlights, but GM is largely focused on newer camera advancements that not only detect headlights, but control features such as lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, etc. Although GM isn’t a pioneer in these advancements, they are the company who is making it affordable to the middle class! GM or not, I’m excited to see where the auto industry will be in 2026 and even 2036 after seeing where they were in 2006 and 1996!
I’ve noticed that the high beams comes on automatically but I can’t seem to turn them on manually.
Push forward on the stalk to engage high beams when low beams are already on.
You have to read the owners manual, it tells how to operate every feature in the car. Some cars is push forward, some is pull back…
Push forward on the left stalk to keep the high beams on.
I really do like this feature on rural, divided highways where you need the lighted distance of high beams but don’t want to forget or blind a trucker sitting up high. It works better and more consistent than me, not unless you want to keep turning the high beams off and on.
Driving a 2014 Cadillac CTS V-Sport. We are at a drive in theater and the radio won’t stay on without pushing the start button, which turns on the darn lights, thus beaming the people in front of us. We want to have the radio on the whole time without having the head lights coming on. Please help. Thank you!
You can press and hold the start button until it goes into maintenance mode for a full length movie, I would also pull up your battery voltage on the dic so you know when to start the car, 12.2v is as low as I would go. You can turn the headlight stalk one click upward from auto to turn off headlights. I also have a14 ctsvsport.
Did the 2010 Platinium DTS have the Intellibeam feature?
My nearest Cadillac dealer in Hickory, NC said it does not have this feature nor is there any reference in the owners manual.
Does the 2010 DTS have automatic headlight dimming system. Does it have the Intellibeam system. Thanks Jack
I have noticed if I use the remote start feature my Intellibeam does not work. I have tried turning the lights off and on again and it says automatic headlights on but the symbol that shows that it is active does not show on the instrument panel. I have also shut the car off and opened the door to completely shut it down and it still does not come on after I restart the vehicle. Also my headlights are very dim and my headlights are clear (not foggy). Are there brighter or higher wattage bulbs i can buy to replace them? Any ideas?? Thanks in advance!!!
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How do I disable the intellibeam system altogether? I don’t need the car to tell me when the high beams need to be on. Do I just pull the fuse?