Autolight Automatic Headlights Always On Problem Solved

[banderton]

So, I had to tell y'all about this. I have been trying to figure out for years why my 98 XLT Explorer has had the headlights on anytime the car was running. I've read lots of threads on explorerforum about the automatic headlights but hadn't really found a solution. I'd noticed that the interior lights dimming switch was kind of dodgy and only some positions would work properly so I decided to replace both the interior light dimming switch and the headlight switch at the same time to see if that fixed my headlights always on problem. Did that today, which involves taking 1/2 the dash apart and it had no impact on the problem. Did some more reading and finally figured out that the sensor for the auto headlights is at the base of the mirror mount and I'd covered that sensor up in 2008 when I put the RFID TxTag sticker (automated toll road tag) on. I guess I'd slid it up between the windshield and the sensor when I'd installed the tag. Geez. 9 years later I figure out why my headlights are always on. Anyway, just in case it helps anyone else searching the forum someday.

Oh, one other thing. The other thing I had going on with the automatic headlights was that they would stay on for a couple of minutes after I shut the car off. Nothing I could do with switches or the delay setting on the mirror would eliminate this. Well, one of the three things mentioned above (interior light dimmer switch, headlight switch, and uncovering the sensor) fixed that, as they no longer do that. They shut off in a short time and that time is now a function of the delay setting on the mirror.