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automatic headlights

22712 Views 38 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  TexasGator, 
D
in my 08 escape i do not have the option on my headlight switch for the automatic headlights. my question is can i just buy the upgraded headlight switch and fix this? my escape has to have the sensors already since when i unlock my car in the day vs night my lights dont and do come on respectively. so can i just change headlight switches to get this feature or what has to be done?

thanks
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Mantruck101 said:
rehctelf said:
fujifran said:
(It's a bit of a peeve of mine) Weather conditions such as rain and blowing snow don't make it dark enough for automatic headlights to turn on, for the sake of being seen they really need to be on. I see (or rather don't see) lots of drivers in reduced visibilty conditions with no lights on because the rely on the automatic lights to work, and they don't!
:rant: :stop:
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I leave my headlights in the 'Auto' position all the time. I don't know about other model years, but if I turn my wipers on in my 2010 during rain or snow when it is daylight out, the headlights automatically turn on, even if it isn't dark enough to trip the sensor. When the rain/ snows clears and I turn off my wipers, the headlights turn back off. A nice touch IMO.
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Seriously? I'm going to have to try this.
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Mantruck101
Mantruck101 said:
I leave my headlights in the 'Auto' position all the time. I don't know about other model years, but if I turn my wipers on in my 2010 during rain or snow when it is daylight out, the headlights automatically turn on, even if it isn't dark enough to trip the sensor. When the rain/ snows clears and I turn off my wipers, the headlights turn back off. A nice touch IMO.
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rehctelf said:
Seriously? I'm going to have to try this.
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Yep. Here's a quick screenshot from the 2010 owner's manual that I grabbed from https://www.fleet.ford.com .
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Squishy
I think that's law in New Jersey and a few other states. Wipers on = headlights on.

Any time I hop into a GM with a friend I quiz them on where the headlight switch is. So far, 0 for 4.
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rehctelf
I'm glad to read that Ford gave this feature a little thought. It's possible that the issue comes from the other side of the steering wheel. :bang:
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Canada Panda said:
I think that's law in New Jersey and a few other states. Wipers on = headlights on.

Any time I hop into a GM with a friend I quiz them on where the headlight switch is. So far, 0 for 4.
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And it's quite a good law, too. If only we could get *AMBER* DRLs on all cars, here, too... (I'm not a big fan of the standard headlight DRLs, never seemed as noticeable as ambers to me.)
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Mantruck101
Domain said:
If only we could get *AMBER* DRLs on all cars, here, too... (I'm not a big fan of the standard headlight DRLs, never seemed as noticeable as ambers to me.)
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I would be supportive of that too. My family had an '07 Subaru Outback with headlight DRLs and the things were just about as bright as the normal headlights. The gauges were backlit too so it was very possible to drive around at night without ever turning the headlights on. This meant that neither your parking lamps nor your tail lamps were on; this is a rather dangerous design. If the DRLs were parking lights, you would have not been able to see anything in front of you and would have realized that you needed to turn on your headlamps.

All that said, the projector-beam headlights the Outback had were many times better than the headlights in both my Escape and the Forester that replaced the Outback.
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C
We have a 2011 Ford Escape XLS with Sync package. I was able to just add the switch from Ebay with the auto option and fog lamp option and the auto lights work perfectly. The delay is about 60 seconds. Hope this helps.
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Mantruck101
When I unlock my 2010 at night, the parking lamps turn on, but the headlights do not.

When I unlock my dad's 2008 at night, the parking lamps AND headlights turn on.

How can I make my 2010 behave like the 2008?

Both are XLTs with automatic headlamps and both of us keep our headlamp control in the AUTO position.
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Mantruck101
Mantruck101 said:
When I unlock my 2010 at night, the parking lamps turn on, but the headlights do not.

When I unlock my dad's 2008 at night, the parking lamps AND headlights turn on.

How can I make my 2010 behave like the 2008?

Both are XLTs with automatic headlamps and both of us keep our headlamp control in the AUTO position.
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Bump. Anybody have any insight?
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Yedgy
I just tried the jump test in daylight (Mariner was under a canopy) by folding a small, opaque black cloth and placing it directly over the sunload sensor on the dash. The lights did not go off after a while. :cry:

Is this a valid test, or do the headlights work off of some other sensor?

Thanks!
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D
I have the exact request as well for automataic headlight switch and fog lights for my 2011 Escape XLS. When talking to a Ford dealer they say it cannot be done. Based on many of these posts, it looks like the dealer may be wrong. Have you heard anything regarding the fog lights? Thanks Dave

mikewaln88 said:
Thanks Jpark!!!

Well its a relief off of my shoulders now knowing I have the sensor. And thanks for putting up the part list and prices for the switch. But where should I go to order the switch?

Quick question for everyone though. My escape did not come with fog lights. All I have is the plastic covers where fog lights should be. How hard and expensive would it be for me to purchase after market fog lights and get them installed? Is it something I could do on my own or bring it to someone else? Also does anyone have any good suggestions for after market fog lights? I really don't the lights to have a yellow glow to them I want something bright but not brighter than my headlights haha.
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D
i added the automatic headlight switch to my 08 escape...which has the fog light option. you have to look and see if your escape was wired for fog lights or not...just because lights aren't there doesn't mean the wiring isn't there. mine wasn't there but when i pulled the foglight switch out you could here it click on and the light indicating they were on lit up on the switch. I'm not sure which pin it is in the main control panel that is inside of the shifter console...but i just wired up a set of fog lights and ran a wire into the cab and into the plug. they work like a charm. basically you ground the lights up front...wether you use factors or aftermarket....and run ur hot wire into the cab. u have to add a pin to the plug...but not too big a deal...i found one that would fit on the terminal and plugged it up and then pulled the wire into the main plug and snapped it back on.
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J
I added the Auto leadlight switch to my 2012 XLS and I now have auto lights. The sunload sensor is installed the center dash already up my the windshield. i used a switch with this partnumber.

8L8Z-11654-CA
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C
Jays - if you want Factory Fog install - PM me. I managed to tap the factory switch on our XLS - and my fogs are working from the switch and on automatic. It appears that the SJB contained the relay - and it is working by default unlike easy escapes. If your green light comes on when you pull out the switch - you can bet it will work. I used factory fog lamps - and they fit the holes perfectly - the car looks just like an XLT.
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D
i actually added some aftermarket fog lights...cuz they were cheaper than factory...just took some custom modifications for brackets to mount them in the holes. you are correct...the sjb contains the relay. i forget which pin it is...but you can add a wire to that harness and it will connect to that relay. what i did vs tapping into wire at the switch and mine work like a champ. i have an 08 xls...and just added the auto headlight/fog light switch in place of the basic switch
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Y
You obviously added automatic headlights. Was this just as simple as changing the headlight switch, or was more required? Also, when you added fog lights, were you able to hook those to the light switch or did you have to do a separate switch? On the fogs, was wiring available, or did you have to run it?
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D
it was as simple as changing the headlight switch. you have to watch what dealers tell you…yes they can be correct, but then again from past experience some really don't know that much about our vehicles internally…just like the headlight switch. for my 08, it is a base model xls. i just happened to notice that of a night and not the day, when i unlocked the vehicle my headlights came on. this was the a clue that it had the sunload sensor. after checking to see if my headlights would work as auto by looking at the wiring going into it and placing a jumper wire with the headlamp switch unhooked (have to look at old posting) i then knew i could just swap out the switch and have auto headlights.

as far as the fog lights. you can search the front of ur escape under the bumper and see if you already have the wiring there. i did not. however, when i changed my switch, i could pull the switch out to activate the fog lights and it would turn the light on in the switch and i could hear the relay from the smart junction box activate. however i did not have a power wire coming from it. if yours does this the same way you have to find out which pin supplies the power to the fog lights…and add a wire to the harness onto that pin. i used a wire from an old stereo harness…just have to get created and make sure what pin u are attaching to is indeed the fog light pin and the wire only touches that pin. if adding after market fog lights like i did you just ground them to the vehicle close by the light and splice the two power wires together and pull the wire into the cab and attach to the wire that is attached to the fog light pin from the smart junction box. hopefully yours will have the wire already there as it in a PITA. good luck and sorry for such a delay in response
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TexasGator
Attempting a fog light install right now. I realize this post is kinda old but at least I will have this post bookmarked because it is such a great thread.

I installed the switch, and all wires existed with the exception of the #8 slot(which is supposed to be empty). I got the switch with the fogs and autolights. However, as of now I can't get the fog light little led light on the switch to turn on. Plan on giving it a better look tomorrow.
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TexasGator
So I'm bummed. :cry:

My switch harness has all the necessary wires to add OEM fogs, however I found out Saturday that my XLS does not indeed have the prewired harness behind the bumper to plug in the fogs.

So...I have a couple of questions.

I reached around in there pretty good, is it possible that maybe I'm just missing finding the plug? Like I said the switch harness seems to have all the right wiring. Is that plug hard to fish outta there?

If I don't have the plugs, what do I need to do to get these to work on the stock switch?
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