How to get headlights to stay on after locking/unlocking?

[kimb0091]

I hope I’m posting this in the right place. I have a 2006 Ford Explorer Limited. My headlights used to stay on for a while whenever I locked or unlocked my car. I took it in to be worked on in January and they haven’t worked since. I’ve tried setting the auto lamp to 30 seconds but that didn’t do it. I know there has to be a way since it used to work. Any ideas on how to turn this option back on? It was nice to be able to see my way to the front door at night after leaving my car. I also have an aftermarket car starter, but it worked with that earlier so I don’t think that’s the issue

 

[94Eddie]

What work did you have done in January?

 

[kimb0091]

What work did you have done in January?

Just some body work - I was rear ended at the end of December.

 

[94Eddie]

The only way I see this repair causing the problem is if they reflashed the control module. If it is something going on in the programming then you might have to take it to a dealer since they are the ones who can reprogam the ECM if needed. I know I have an issue with the keypad entry on my Mountaineer. FORSCAN shows this function is turned off and will likely have to take it to a dealer to get resolved. I rarely use this feature anyway so I am now in a rush to fix it.

I am curious, if you were able to drive the vehicle after the accident and before the repair was made, did the lights work then? If they did then this would rule out the accident as the cause of the problem and point to the repair.

 

[kimb0091]

The only way I see this repair causing the problem is if they reflashed the control module. If it is something going on in the programming then you might have to take it to a dealer since they are the ones who can reprogam the ECM if needed. I know I have an issue with the keypad entry on my Mountaineer. FORSCAN shows this function is turned off and will likely have to take it to a dealer to get resolved. I rarely use this feature anyway so I am now in a rush to fix it.

I am curious, if you were able to drive the vehicle after the accident and before the repair was made, did the lights work then? If they did then this would rule out the accident as the cause of the problem and point to the repair.

Yes, it was definitely drivable. Just some minor cosmetic damage - basically a big scrape. Right after it was fixed everything went into lockdown for covid and I barely drove for 3 months, so I’m not exactly sure when it happened. I just noticed recently so I’m assuming it was something that got reset when they were working on it but I don’t really have any concrete evidence that that’s when it started.

 

[94Eddie]

Did any airbags deploy during the accident?

 

[kimb0091]

Did any airbags deploy during the accident?

Nope. From what I can tell they should be on from the settings (I have autolamp set to 60 seconds). They’re just not turning/staying on when I turn the car off.