Autolamp/autodimming Mirror

[vbtruk]

Hey guys would i have to do what Hoppy did with the relays mine being an XLT and all as it is an overseas model and i already have the temp sensor plug and by the sounds of things are not supposed too???
So how and where exactly did you wire up your relays Hoppy?

 

[Hoppy]

Yeah, that autolamp function is great! I got to work this morning and the lights stayed on when I got out of the truck. One of the guys that I worked with told me that I forgot to turn the lights off on the truck. I then said "Ah, that's alright, my truck has a mind of its own and will turn them off when it feels like it"!

Yeah, I had gone to the local wrecking yard and pulled a relay box out of a Ford Aerostar. It was located on the inner fender on the drivers side of the van. It has a cover on the bottom for all the wiring and a cover on the top to cover the four relay blanks in it. I installed it buy screwing it to the steel plate under the steering column of my truck and wired it up to there. It made for a real nice clean looking install. I only used two relays in the box of four. That leaves me with two extras. One of them I will use for the power lock when I install my remote car starter when I get one. The other, well probably use that for something down the road. Maybe a starter/fuel pump kill relay.

Yeah, I was kind of disapppointed when I was looking for this truck back in December 2002. This was the only model I could find in a 70 Kilometre radius of my city. I would have liked to have got at least an XLT, but I figured that this one would keep me busy with upgrading it. Plus, with my truck only being an XL it keeps the insurance lower.

 

[Hoppy]

Ha Ha, we posted at the same time!


VBTruk, I guess that it would depend on your truck having the Rap module. I actually found the white and purple wire on my truck, but when I did anything to it, the lights never came on. Maybe you will have better luck. If you find this wire, try grounding it to the chassis. That is what I did and it never worked. I tried hooking up 12 v to it too, but nothing again. So, i just used relays and hardwired them to the headlight circuit. If you need advice on wire colours and such, let me know. I can tell you what ones to splice and possibly draw up a diagram for you.

Hoppy

 

[vbtruk]

Hey thanks heaps Hoppy i'll let you know i am only going to start it when i get my Indiglow gauges so in a week hopefully
Thanks Again

 

[Hoppy]

Actually, I am drawing up a wiring diagram anyway. I always do that just incase I have trouble with the circuit at a later date. When I complete it, I will post it if i can.

Hoppy

 

[vbtruk]

Hey guy's i am really pissed now!!!! GRRRRRR
i just got my 3rd pair of indiglow gauges from PROCARPARTS and yep you guessed it they are the wrong ones to that which i ordered. This is the 3rd time and they keep sending me the same (wrong) ones. What can i do? As every time i talk to them on the phone they assure me that they will send me the ones i ordered but they don't, they are wasting there own money on these stuff up's and my time! It's been almost 2 month's since i ordered.
Anyway i was hopping to do it all at once but i can't be bothered waiting anymore so i will be installing the overhead console and auto dim mirror this week and install the white face gauges when and if i finally get them. Let you know how the console and mirror end up. Also what do i need to take apart for the console/mirror install i mean like to i need to drop the panel's under the steering colum???

 

[Hoppy]

I am not 100% sure if you will have to take off the bottom panel under the dash. I wouldn't think so. I had to because I had to mount a relay set under there because I couldn't just hook up that w/p wire to the existing one there. I think it is because I don't have the RAP module. You do have to take the trim off of the door pillar by the windscreen and the kick panel off under the dashboard. To gain access to above the headliner, just remove the sunvisor and teh headliner will just drop down enough to stuff your wires into there.

 

[vbtruk]

Thanks Hoppy, like i said i'll let you know how it goes!

 

[vbtruk]

Ok Procarparts do not have the indiglow gauges i want and i am sending them back so i might have to wait a couple of months before they get a new shipment in, i looked on ebay and people do have them but they only ship within US why?
so i will be waiting for a while now i guess.

 

[vbtruk]

MO_GUY has the exact ones i want this is the link to the thread (i think)
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71223&highlight=Indiglo+gauges

 

[vbtruk]

OK i've done it but i do need your help 96 and hoppy i installed the overhead console just fine and looks great works well and i love it! Installed the mirror and wired up like you said 96 but i have one problem! It dims and works fine but the autolamp doesnot work i hooked up the white/purple stripe wire with the same one i found behind the kick panel near the accelerator pedal and what seems to happen is when i turn the autolamp on by sliding it across the interior lights go on but and the wire i spliced was the white puplre one but when i looked in the jack compartment at the RAP i couldn't seem to see a White Purple stripe wire there????
Could it be a diff colour wire or is there more than one white purple stripe wire i would realy appreciate anything you guys have as i really want AUTOLAMP!!!! Everything else seems to work perfect and by the way i have an XLT that came standard with central locking so i definately have that RAP module.
THanks Guy's

 

[vbtruk]

Also is there any way of testing that wire to make sure it is the right one?
Thanks

 

[Hoppy]

VBtruk,

I don't know about your truck, but that white and purple wire on mine did absolutely nothing when I applied power to it or grounded it. The mirror grounds the white and purple wire when the lights are supposed to come on. I ended up having to put in two relays in mine to get the autolamps to work. One thing though, I have to rewire the door chime wire because when the autolamps are on after turning the truck off the chime goes off until the lights turn off or the door is closed again.

I had a look to see where that white and purple wire went on my XL, but couldn't follow it, or gave up. My EX has no RAP in it, but there is a relay box in the jack compt. as well on mine. No W/P wire there, but there is an audible click from it when you turn the parking lights on. Why? I don't know. So that is why I had to wire up a couple of relays. I still haven't done a wiring diagram for it yet, and probably won't be able to because I am going to be away for 2 weeks as of this monday.

If you know how to wire relays, it is simple.

Hoppy

 

[vbtruk]

Hoppy that would be great if you could help me out with the wirring diagram for the relay's i would apreciate it a lot, no rush though just whenever you can. thanks.

96 do have any idea, what does the RAP acctually look like, maybe i am wrong and dont have one!

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Hmm...that's weird. You have a '98, right? They may have changed the module in that year. The first generation RAP modules here in the US are for '93-'97 Explorers and the second generation RAP modules are for '98-'01 models. Your wirings may be different.

Do you have a shop manual?? Not the Chilton nor Haynes but the Ford shop manual?? If not, get one on Ebay. That CD-Rom will tell you everything.

Another way is to use a test light and find the right wire. Find the relays for the headlights, parking lights, and the dimmer switch. I believe they're somewhere under the dash. If you find it, use a test light and find the right wire. That's the thing I can think of. I'm sorry it didn't work for you and I'm also sorry that I'm not much help. You may try using Hoppy's idea of setting up a new relay for it. Let us know how it goes.

 

[vbtruk]

96 my "X" is a DEC 97' build date but i think it's a 98 model??? The test light you mentioned how would i know where to splice the white purple wire into? what would i be looking for with the test light??? i was under the dash when installing it as i hooked the overhead console up to the dimmer switch and lighting controls through there!!!

 

[vbtruk]

Ok i just checked and it's Build date is OCT 97' and then it has "DEC 97" as well stamped in the engine bay so i guess it's a 97' model so i would by the 97 model cd on ebay right???
by the way thanks for all your help guys!!!!

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Look at your liftgate. Is it the new liftgate design or the old one? If it's old, then it's a '97. If it's the newer one, then it's a '98.

 

[vbtruk]

96 i am pretty sure it's the new liftgate with the button lock for the rear glass instead of the handle and i think that all the 97 "X" 's have the new liftgate!!!
I am buying that CD on ebay so am i getting the 97 or 98? what do you think?
well i checked and i have that whit/purple wire like hoppy but it doesn't seem to be conected to the rap int the jack compartment! is there a way i can extend it to the RAP and plug it in there???
Anyway Hoppy when you get a chance and have the relay diagram after you have fixed the door chime please e-mail it to me, i think that will be my only hope. Thanks

 

[vbtruk]

OK 96 you were right i just did a VIN decoder over the net and it said that mine is a 98 it also brought up all the recall information but thats no use to me as i am not in the states!!! Thanks champ! but i did always believe that the 97's and up all had the new liftgate.
so i'll order the 98 Ford CD