Auto headlights

[Steve 98]

98 Merc Mountineer 5.0 AWD. I love this vehicle! It has the auto headlight turn off. Lately they have been staying on waaay too long after I turn the engine off. The slider bar on the bottom of the mirror seems to do nothing regardless where it is placed.
I would like to get this issue fixed if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.
Steve

 

[Steve 98]

Here's more to a good story. This afternoon I went out to start the vehicle and heard the dreaded "click,click,click"..all the lights got very dim. The temp was 45 degrees. I put the battery charger on and noticed it read 100% charged. I set it for slow charge and will leave it on overnight. If this is not a battery problem, where does one start to look for relays and such?
Thanks,
Steve

 

[OneLever]

Probably a separate problem from the headlights. Stater relay perhaps? With the engine off and and in park and the parking brake on. Crawl under the passenger side behind the front wheel and look at the starter motor. I had one of the wires to the starter solenoid corrode on mine.

Edit:
Here is a good troubleshooting thread: Link.

 

[bobflood]

The autolights stay on too long and then the car won't start? Too much coincidence to believe that they are not related. Start vehicle in the dark with the autolights engaged so lights come on, then shut off vehicle and lights should stay on. Then slide control all the way to the left - lights should immediately go off. If they don't, you most likely have a problem with that switch.

 

[OneLever]

Parasitic drain from the autolamps is very possible. I though the following statement indicated the battery was not drained directly after removing it because of the no crank.

I put the battery charger on and noticed it read 100% charged.

When you say they stay on a long time how many minutes is this exactly? I believe the autolamps have a maximum of five minutes? Try what bobflood said to see if the switch appears faulty. If so you can simply unplug the rearview mirror connector to remove the switch from the circuit. If that solves your battery drain issue then replace the mirror.

Do you own a multimeter?

 

[bobflood]

Unencumbered by knowledge, but just thinking out loud: If the autolamp switch is bad then I assume the timer that cuts off your interior lights if you leave a door ajar would take over to save you from completely draining your battery. That would be consistent with your experience that the autolights stayed on a "long time."
OneLever: Does that make sense to you??

 

[OneLever]

Most of that knowledge comes from the wiring manual I have which unfortunately does not apply exactly to later years. You are referring to the battery saver relay which the GEM uses to cut off power after something like 30 minutes I believe. It appears to only control the interior lights and can not shut off the exterior lights.

For further clarification Steve 98 when the "lights" stay on is it the headlights, parking lights, and dash lights? Or just one of those?

 

[Steve 98]

Onelever & Bobflood,
Thanks much for your responsed. With your help I was able to narrow down my problem to the slider bar on the bottom side of the mirror, all I had to do was get aggressive moving it to the left. Have either of you taken the mirror apart to clean or set the switch? I recall reading something about that a long time ago, but can't find it now when I need it. Directions to the link/site about repair of the mirror possibly.
OK, one more issue than I will leave you two alone. If you are both under 50 you should get a laugh outta' this: Are fog lamps still amber??

Now that you are done laughing, I'll continue The reason I ask is that my vehicle has a small light in the bumper on each side, the lens is clear, that makes me think they are daytime running lights, however, the swich on the panel indicates they are fog lights. Either way, they don't work, I even dug out the owners manual and tried to turn them on the correct way and no joy. Tomorrow when it is light I will check the fuses.
Once again, thanks for all your help.
Steve

 

[bobflood]

Steve 98: I'm well over 50, but I still laughed! Fog lights never needed to be amber - that was just marketing BS. It's the low position and the lens structure that make them fog lights. They have been white for a long time now - and those lights that you are looking at are fog lights. Check both fuses and bulbs first if they don't work.

Per the Explorer OM, DRLs, if so equipped, work by putting a low level current thru the high beam bulb.

Glad to hear you are tracking down the autolamp problem. According to the OM, max delay should be 3 min. Unfortunately, I am fairly new to this site and don't know where a link for the autolamp might be.

 

[Steve 98]

bobflood,
Yes, I am making progress. I checked the fuse (#33) inside the passenger compartment, looked good. BTW, it still had the original puller tool. I then opened the fuse/relay box in the engine compartment, (#4) looked good. The last thing I looked at was the fog lamp relay...I dunno' how to check a relay so I swapped the fog lamp relay with the washer pump relay, they both had the same numbers. Lo' n' behold the fog lights came on, the windshield washers still work...I just outdid myself today.
Howsomever, I think all fog lights should be amber. That would look really sharp on a black mountineer. Perhaps I should write to Ford Motor Company and suggest that.
I am still looking for information about taking the rear view mirror down and cleaning it. If you hear/see of anything, please let me know.
Steve

 

[bobflood]

Bet if you swap the relays back, they will still both work. Sometimes relays that don't get used much - like fog lights - get "hung up" - and moving them around releases them.

I have never taken down the mirror on the Explorer. But on other cars, there is a trapazoidal metal piece that glues onto the windsheild, with the narrow part to the top. The base of the mirror arm then slides down over the metal piece and is held in place by some kind of set screw. Look for something like that to get it off. No clue on taking it apart to clean, but you might try just squirting some electrical contact cleaner in the slot and then moving the lever back and forth a few time. Wouldn't even have to take it down to do that. You can tell if it starts to work - set it all the way to the left and lights should not come on automatically at all.

 

[OneLever]

.... so I swapped the fog lamp relay with the washer pump relay, they both had the same numbers. Lo' n' behold the fog lights came on, the windshield washers still work...I just outdid myself today.

That's the easiest way to check and you are doing great! bobflood's right but if they start doing that regularly it's a cheap replacement.

I am still looking for information about taking the rear view mirror down and cleaning it. If you hear/see of anything, please let me know.
Steve

There's too many threads for me to comb through, but you should have the time: Auto lamp switch

Fog lights never needed to be amber - that was just marketing BS. It's the low position and the lens structure that make them fog lights.

That's right. You might be interested in this thread.

 

[Steve 98]

Just what I was looking for, photo's and all.
This is a terrific site with wonderful, helpful folks.
Thanks to all,
Steve

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Rearview Mirror Replacement w/pics

 

[OneLever]

You are welcome! Something just dawned on me though. When you disconnect the autolamp rearview mirror switch you are physically opening the circuit. The autolamps work by activating relays which allows power to flow to the headlights, parking lights, and dash lights. If all three of them are sticking on after you turn off the vehicle the rearview mirror switch is probably at fault like we said above. However, if only one of those stays on improperly it is likely their respective relay.

If you do refurbish the rearview mirror internals would you be so kind as to take pictures and possibly comment on it? If you have a digital camera and the time. That's how useful "How To's" are born.

 

[Steve 98]

Great idea OneLever, I plan on removing and dismantling the mirror this weekend. I'll get new batteries for the wife's digital camera and let you folks see what kind of a can of worms I open.
Thanks again for the idea,
Steve

 

[wbarrow2000xlt]

Help With Autolamp!

This is an ongoing problem I have with my 2000 xlt. I'd rather just disconnect the whole thing completely, it really has no purpose for me. It stays on way too long, and I have to flick the slider on the rearview mirror to get it to turn off. I'm hoping to be able to find a quick-fix for this, without having to resort to using a BFH and a dictionary full of swear words.

 

[bobflood]

This is an ongoing problem I have with my 2000 xlt. I'd rather just disconnect the whole thing completely, it really has no purpose for me. It stays on way too long, and I have to flick the slider on the rearview mirror to get it to turn off. I'm hoping to be able to find a quick-fix for this, without having to resort to using a BFH and a dictionary full of swear words.

I have had some luck spraying electrical contact cleaner into the slot in the mirror and moving the slide back and forth a bunch of times. Good luck.

 

[Flash]

I'll be watching this thread to see how it turns out.

My auto lights do the same thing, they stay on for 3 minutes even when the slider is all the way to the left.
I can turn them off buy pushing a bit harder on the slider to the left after the ignition is off.

My fog lights only come on with high beam and I haven't found a switch for them.
Doesn't matter anyway 'cause they're entirely useless even with 100watt bulbs in them so they're now disconnected and I used the power feed to drive my light bars.

Best lights for fog I've ever had were the retrofitted H7 HID low beams on my Mondeo (Contour). 5000 colour.

Other Fords I've had have that oblong holder thing, I haven't looked on the Explorer.
I think it's supposed to break away if your head hits it.

 

[sehaare]

you can usually find used mirrors on ebay pretty cheap if cleaning yours doesn't work. I've went that route for mine.

 

[wbarrow2000xlt]

I located the plug on the back of the mirror, and disconnected it altogether. The problem was definitely in the switch on the mirror, I haven't had any problems since then. I sincerely appreciate everyone's feedback on this matter. God I love this site!!