auto lights stopped working, please help :(

[1996BLKBauer]

OK then, so where is this relay box? I have checked the Power Distribution box, and all others under the hood have no Head Lamp Relays, only the one under the dash, am I maybe looking in the wrong place? I took out the head unit, and to the left of it was a black box, before doing anything I ran the Part # on Google, and it came up as a GEM. So I may not be looking at the right box then.

thanks everybody for the input, I would have most likely had a non working Explorer if I decided not to ask.

 

[bobflood]

well.... not quite... depends what you mean by "involved". It IS connected to the circuit but it doesn't necessarily operate depending on whether there is a ground coming from the "auto stuff" which it does work with. IF you track the head light switch, you will see that it powers the lights "directly" (ie thru the MFS) and doesn't need or use the headlamp relay. That's my read on the circuit with wonderful links provide by Bob in other posts... I am looking at this thru a "challenged screen" but I think if you look closer, you will see this operation.

Anyways, since the headlight switch method works and the auto function (headlamp relay) doesn't, one needs to confirm the conditions (electrical states) in and around said relay.... in my opinion.

Budwich: Well, you are correct, sir! The headlamp relay is not in the circuit when the lights are activated from the headlight switch. There is a "relay out" lead for the autolamp sensor that ties into parking lamp and headlamp relays; it looks like it has to put a ground on those relays to operate them. Good memory!

 

[bobflood]

OK then, so where is this relay box? I have checked the Power Distribution box, and all others under the hood have no Head Lamp Relays, only the one under the dash, am I maybe looking in the wrong place? I took out the head unit, and to the left of it was a black box, before doing anytdhing I ran the Part # on Google, and it came up as a GEM. So I may not be looking at the right box then.

thanks everybody for the input, I would have most likely had a non working Explorer if I decided not to ask.

According to 1996 Owners Manual, there are 7 relays in a relay box under the insturment panel. Not clear where exactly these are, but there is a row of 4 above a row of three; in the row of three two of the relays are the same size as the first row and one is twice as big. Four on top row are Anti Theft - Dimmer - Battery Saver - One Touch Down; three in bottom are Park Lamp Delay - Headlight Delay - Acc/Power Window Delay (this is the bigger one). Good luck.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

According to 1996 Owners Manual, there are 7 relays in a relay box under the insturment panel. Not clear where exactly these are, but there is a row of 4 above a row of three; in the row of three two of the relays are the same size as the first row and one is twice as big. Four on top row are Anti Theft - Dimmer - Battery Saver - One Touch Down; three in bottom are Park Lamp Delay - Headlight Delay - Acc/Power Window Delay (this is the bigger one). Good luck.

Thanks I will take a look up under the dash.

 

[Scottomatic]

Did you get this worked out?

I had the same issue, it just stopped working yesterday. I found the sensor device under the dash (this is a 2002 XLT). If you take the stereo head out and look all the way into the dash toward the front, there is little black device with about 4 wires coming out of it. Its directly underneath where the sensor pops up out of the dash. I am not sure why mine started working again, probably a fluke, but I jacked with the wires on the black box at the rearview mirror and found that the plastic channel that holds the wire had come loose. I secured it to the base of the rearview mirror holder and it started working. The gremlins are screwing with my mind I think. :exp: