Headlight off when key is off

[theSpoon]

I want to have the headlights automatically turn off when the car is turned off. I already have a relay, so I looked up the electrical drawings of my 97 sport and I think if i put the relay inline in the dark blue/orange wire behind the headlight switch and power the coil with power from an accessory fuse I should get something to this effect. Has anyone tried anything like this before? I'm just looking for a second opinion before I actually try this, it seems pretty straight forward.

 

[Bill Kemp]

There was/is an auto headlight option that used the mirror as the location for the switch. I had this option on my 96 Ex. It got totaled and I used the mirror from the 96 and put in on the 98 Merc. Much to my surprise the wiring for the auto shut off was already in place.
Might be worth the time to check out the wires in the headliner. If they are there a JY mirror would be your solution.

 

[Electrohacker]

I have a junkyard mirror, but I dont have the wires to plug it too

 

[theSpoon]

I'll have to check, I have a 2 door model and i'm not sure if the wiring would be there because its a sport.

 

[97sprt4x4]

i think you will have most of the wiring if you have most of the other high end stuff. I know i have the Rear cargo light that the 4 doors have, but i don't have it because the sport is missing that extra foot. but the connector is still there. you have to realize, ford wouldn't have made more then one or two harnesses for the same truck, that wouldn't have been cost effective.

Justin