Auto Lights and Auto Antenna and Radio

[Weiss1311]

Car: 1998 Ford Explorer Limited 4.0 SOHC v6

Alright so I have a couple of problems with my Explorer. Love it to death, just seems to be fighting me suddenly.

First problem is, when we got it, the stereo/radio lights don't ever work, unless it is very cold outside, and then once its warm, the lights turn back off (but still plays music/radio just fine).


Second problem. My auto antenna will go down just fine, and when it comes back up, it reaches it max extent, then the motor keeps going making loud clacking noises as if the Antenna wasn't all the way up. It will eventually stop after 10 seconds of the loud noise. I fixed this by pulling the Antenna fuse, since my radio screen doesn't work anyway and I just use CD's. Is there a way to fix this? I found one way to stop it from continuing it's noise it by simply pressing down on the antenna for a second and it will stop.


Third, and my most annoying one. My auto-lights. They used to shut off during the day, and kick on during the night as they should. Now, they DO NOT turn off automatically during the day. They will however shut off if i turn the mirror switch off. It's a bit annoying as I don't want to burn out my bulbs by having the lights on whenever the car is on, and I feel it could be something worse then it really is.

So those are my 3 problems. Help anyone? Thanks!


EDIT: I came across this, http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285023&highlight=relay+box+dash

but that seems to be for lights not turning on.....maybe the same problem?

 

[koda2000]

your radio display power board is shot (super common problem). Dorman now offers a replacement power board. easy to install (didn't work for me) or you can send your radio out for repair to a guy in NC for about the same cost.

the way power antennas work is that they have a thermal relay that stops the motor when the antenna reaches the end of its travel. it sounds like the gear or driven piece has a broken tooth and max extension. you're hearing the clicking until the motor stops. i think someone sells the driven piece (kinda a plastic strip w/teeth) but it's probably much easier to just replace the antenna.

as for your AutoLight issue, could you have something blocking the sensor that determines it's dark out? i'm not sure if the sensor is on the dash or is in the mirror.

 

[Weiss1311]

The sensor itself is on the mirror, I've put my finger behind there to ensure nothing was blocking it. It would be nice if it was simple to remove to examine it.

 

[koda2000]

The sensor itself is on the mirror, I've put my finger behind there to ensure nothing was blocking it. It would be nice if it was simple to remove to examine it.

i believe the larger sensor on the left rear of the mirror controls the darkening of the mirror at night, but it doesn't seem to control the lights. there's a sensor on the right side of the dash near the windshield, but i'm not sure what that does.

 

[Weiss1311]

Well from what I've noticed by just now going outside and looking, the mirror itself on the back left side has a sensor, then on the mirror mount it looks like there is a sensor (if you look from the external view of the mirror you can see a small sensor like object in the mount) and then there's that sensor on the dash.

All three of those are clear of any blockage/dust.

 

[IAmTodd]

The sensor that clips to the windshield mount is for the auto lamps. The sensor on the mirror is used in conjunction with the sensor on the mirror for the autodimming.

 

[Weiss1311]

Alright well glad we got that part settled. Now how to get my lights to auto-off during the day again?

 

[bobflood]

Alright well glad we got that part settled. Now how to get my lights to auto-off during the day again?

According to the schematics, the same sensor is used for both autolamp control of the exterior lights and autodimming on the mirror. There are five wires at the sensor:
- Lt green/yellow - always hot
- Red/yellow - hot when ignition on
- Black - ground
- White/purple - controls exterior lights (this wire splices with wires from the GEM and RAP modules to flash the lights when locking/unlocking and time delaying the headlights.)
- Black/pink - controls mirror dimming

Most likely it is the sensor that has failed and is not turning off the lights in daylight. Try unplugging the sensor and see if the lights go off. Good luck.

 

[koda2000]

According to the schematics, the same sensor is used for both autolamp control of the exterior lights and autodimming on the mirror. There are five wires at the sensor:
- Lt green/yellow - always hot
- Red/yellow - hot when ignition on
- Black - ground
- White/purple - controls exterior lights (this wire splices with wires from the GEM and RAP modules to flash the lights when locking/unlocking and time delaying the headlights.)
- Black/pink - controls mirror dimming

Most likely it is the sensor that has failed and is not turning off the lights in daylight. Try unplugging the sensor and see if the lights go off. Good luck.

not that i'm disputing your findings, but if the mirror darkening and the autolamp is controlled by the same sensor, how come my mirror darkens if i put my finger over the sensor, but the lights don't come on? they do come on every time i start my truck in my garage, but the mirror does not appear to be darkened.

 

[delexploder]

Most of the time its the slider switch that's causing the problem, I blow compressed air in them and that usually fixes it, the power antenna is a pain, pretty much gotta pull the fender off to deal with either the power or regular one.

 

[bobflood]

not that i'm disputing your findings, but if the mirror darkening and the autolamp is controlled by the same sensor, how come my mirror darkens if i put my finger over the sensor, but the lights don't come on? they do come on every time i start my truck in my garage, but the mirror does not appear to be darkened.

Koda - I'm just going off the schematics, and we both know they sometimes bear only a cursory relationship to the physical world!! The "sensor" on the diagram is just a box with those 5 wires coming out of it; no indication of how the insides work or the actual physical layout. The actual physical layout could have one "sensor" in the mirror pointing backward for autodimming and a second "sensor" pointed frontward thru the windshield for autolamp. In that case, I think I would cut one of the wires to the forward sensor (assuming they are accessible) and see if that shuts off the lights.

BTW - I think that the sensor on the dash is a "sun load" sensor tied into the EATC unit.

 

[koda2000]

Koda - I'm just going off the schematics, and we both know they sometimes bear only a cursory relationship to the physical world!! The "sensor" on the diagram is just a box with those 5 wires coming out of it; no indication of how the insides work or the actual physical layout. The actual physical layout could have one "sensor" in the mirror pointing backward for autodimming and a second "sensor" pointed frontward thru the windshield for autolamp. In that case, I think I would cut one of the wires to the forward sensor (assuming they are accessible) and see if that shuts off the lights.

BTW - I think that the sensor on the dash is a "sun load" sensor tied into the EATC unit.

yes, thought it might gave something to do with the HVAC, but wasn't sure what it did.

 

[IAmTodd]

According to the schematics, the same sensor is used for both autolamp control of the exterior lights and autodimming on the mirror. There are five wires at the sensor:
- Lt green/yellow - always hot
- Red/yellow - hot when ignition on
- Black - ground
- White/purple - controls exterior lights (this wire splices with wires from the GEM and RAP modules to flash the lights when locking/unlocking and time delaying the headlights.)
- Black/pink - controls mirror dimming

Most likely it is the sensor that has failed and is not turning off the lights in daylight. Try unplugging the sensor and see if the lights go off. Good luck.

That is the full mirror wiring diagram. There 3 sensors on the mirror. Two are internal (front and back) for the autodim, and one external connected with two wires for the autolamp.

 

[bobflood]

That is the full mirror wiring diagram. There 3 sensors on the mirror. Two are internal (front and back) for the autodim, and one external connected with two wires for the autolamp.

Makes sense. If there is no plug on exterrnal sensor, I would cut one wire and see if lights went out. If they did, I would find another sensor at a JY and splice it in - or even get an entire mirror assembly depending on the price. Good luck.

 

[Weiss1311]

Alright so, I went ahead and unplugged the cables attached to the back of the mirror, and the lights turned off. I also took compressed air and blew out the plug/connector/switch.
The lights still come on whether it's dark out or not.


I'll have to call around junkyards and see if they have a mirror available for me to test to see if it's the whole assembly.

 

[IAmTodd]

Local pick n pull was under $10 for the mirror I put into my truck. Make sure you have the tool to remove it from your windshield. It's difficult if not.