automatic headlights

[SilverBullet]

My 2001 Eddie Bauer EX has automatic headlights. I like it, because when it's dark they come on.. but I hate walking away from my car at night with the lights still turned on. They take about 5 minutes or maybe longer to turn off.

Is there anyway to disable the auto-on lights feature?

 

[Nitrous SSC]

Yup. It took me forever to figure out how to turn mine off. I couldn't find the switch anywhere. Get this. Its located on the rear view mirror under the glass! Just slide it all the way to the left untill it clicks and the little green light under the rear view turns off.

 

[Ru Dawg]

If the green light turns off, then you have disabled the auto-lamp feature. The slide is a timer setting, just slide to the left until it is set for a time delay that you don't mind, then you will still have the auto-on function...

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

Yeah just push the slider all the way to the left until it stops but not into the notch that turns it off. I have mine set like that and the lights turn off one second after I turn the ignition off.

 

[SilverBullet]

I don't know why, but I thought that slide switch was something to do with the rear view mirror.... duh.

Ok, thanks!!

 

[Nitrous SSC]

I don't know why, but I thought that slide switch was something to do with the rear view mirror.... duh.

Ok, thanks!!

I did too and my wife of all people figured it out.

I thought i had some sort of failsafe night lights.

 

[Claus]

I have the 2004 Explorer with the Message Center. The message center allows me to configure the autolamp delay. I set it so that the autolamp turns off as soon as the engine is off (no delay).

To do so press the SETUP butten until "AUTOLAMP DELAY = x.. SEC" appears then press the RESET button until the desired delay is set.

 

[MONMIX]

You should have seen me the night I was trying to time them.
I wanted to time them so that I could walk up to my front door with them lighting the way and when I open the door they go off.
It took about ten trips from the Ex to the front door to get them right.

 

[Nitrous SSC]

You should have seen me the night I was trying to time them.
I wanted to time them so that I could walk up to my front door with them lighting the way and when I open the door they go off.
It took about ten trips from the Ex to the front door to get them right.

Thats great! I've done the same thing. Also The fun thing is that all the extra lights I've added are effected by that control so I can have every one on if I want too and they shut off with the timer

 

[Ru Dawg]

It does get annoying sometimes to have to always tell people "No, they shut off on their own, thank you though!"
But, I guess that's better than someone NOT telling you your lights are on!

 

[Claus]

It does get annoying sometimes to have to always tell people "No, they shut off on their own, thank you though!"
But, I guess that's better than someone NOT telling you your lights are on!

Yep, pretty soon nobody will remind you cause your lights are on. That's the time you hope that your regular head lights also turn off after a certain time.

BTW does anybody know if with the newer Explorer the regular headlights do turn off in case you forget to turn them off? In other words is there something like a battery saver?

 

[Ru Dawg]

My regular headlights do turn off....those are the only ones I have!
I'm pretty sure the auto lamp feature controls all driving/head/fog lights.

 

[spta97]

I don't know why, but I thought that slide switch was something to do with the rear view mirror.... duh.

Ok, thanks!!

Me too. I also took a while to find the fog light switch which is convienently located all the way on the other end of the dash board

The one question I have is the "delay" lever also a delay for turning the lights on? Ie: does that control when it is dark enough to turn the lights on?

 

[Ru Dawg]

spta97, no, it does not control turning them on. Ever notice that dark circle in the upper right corner of your rear-view mirror? It's about the size of a # 2 pencil eraser. I believe that is the photo sensor for the auto-lamps. I think that is also what dims your mirror when light shines from behind....if you also have the auto-chromatic dimming mirror...very cool feature!

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

Yep, pretty soon nobody will remind you cause your lights are on. That's the time you hope that your regular head lights also turn off after a certain time.

BTW does anybody know if with the newer Explorer the regular headlights do turn off in case you forget to turn them off? In other words is there something like a battery saver?

Yes all new Explorers have it. The battery saver shuts off power to everything except the Securi-Lock PATS after ten minutes. On my '95 it used to be 40 minutes but I'm glad Ford cut the time way down.

 

[MONMIX]

It does get annoying sometimes to have to always tell people "No, they shut off on their own, thank you though!"
But, I guess that's better than someone NOT telling you your lights are on!

Every once in a blue moon when some one says my lights are on
I will wave my hands like " Hocous-pokous " and they will go out.
It is rare I time it right though

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Haha...that's why if someone told me that my headlights are on, I just tell them they'll shut off eventually...

 

[Ru Dawg]

I'll have to try that sometime Monmix!!
A lot of people don't seem to think Explorers have that kinda feature...don't know why...