Automatic Headlights...On/Off

[SHO-MAN]

Is there a way to adjust the sensor for the automatic headlights? The issue I am having is during cloudy rainy days, dusk and early morning (sunrise) the headlights constantly come on then turn off then on again, repeatedly. I know it's got to do with how light it is outside but there must be an adjustment for it. It's got to be annoying for the driver in front of me watching my "disco" headlights going on/off. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[esfoad]

I have not been able to find a sensitivity adjustment for this on any car and I see many other vehicles of all makes doing the same thing so I just move the selector from Auto to ON. If I forget to switch it back there is a chime/reminder that I left the headlights on.

I wish that the lights would stay ON once the system commands it to until the vehicle is shut off. Then we could start the cycle again.

But this is not a Ford issue. The sensor acts on available light. I even have outdoor lights around my patio that use a light sensor for on/off and on cloudy days, the disco moves to the patio.

 

[thxone]

If the sensor is on the dash like my '95 then on days like that you could cover it with an opaque cloth or something until the weather passes. No mods or adjustments needed.

 

[jcgrumman]

There must be a timer function which prevents excessive cycling. If there is, then adjusting the timer might be possible.

 

[markathome]

I've noticed that when the exterior headlights are on, the dash lights sometimes cycle between night/day mode automatically. Could the headlights be on, but, because the dash lighting is cycling between day/night, you think the headlights are turning off and on? The dash lighting seems to be more sensitive than the headlight sensor.

 

[esfoad]

I believe there is an audible relay click when the headlights cycle vs no click when only the dash lights cycle. ie if the headlight switch is on and you exit a tunnel then the dash lights will cycle from dark to bright but I don't hear the click.

 

[Showgun]

I had no idea that the h/lights sensitivity/control and the dash light sensitivity/control may be separate. Interesting.

BTW, sensitivity will probably be adjustable if not by the owner then by the dealer. Don't know about costs involved there.

Can someone with a garage do some experimenting with the auto h/lts?
Would seem fairly easy to go into a dark garage slowly and see if the h/lights come on b4 the dash lights change intensity.

Just a thought.

 

[mjhpadi]

Wow, this is another one of those issues that make me realize that I have no idea how I survived those primate days of American cars...my oh my! How did we ever survive those days when the only control of the lights was either on or off?

 

[SHOrod]

From the factory service manual for the 2010 Autolamps:

If the ignition switch is already in the RUN position and the vehicle enters a dark/lighted area (such as when entering/exiting a non-lighted tunnel during the daytime), the transition from light to dark (or dark to light) needs to last 15 seconds before the SJB turns the exterior lamps on or off. This strategy is to prevent the exterior lamps from unnecessarily flashing on and off.

The SJB does react quicker under extreme light conditions. If the SJB has detected a very dark condition, the exterior lamps are turned on after 1.5 seconds. If the SJB has detected a very high ambient light level, the exterior lamps are turned off after 4 seconds.
----------------------
The light sensor changes the voltage signal by increasing/decreasing the resistance to ground based on the ambient light level, thereby changing the voltage value of the signal. The higher the ambient light level, the lower the resistance to ground (and the lower the voltage reference signal appears to the SJB ). The darker the ambient light level is, the higher the resistance to ground (and the higher the voltage reference signal appears to the SJB ).
-----------------------

Given the way the sensor responds to light, you could install a resistor in series with the sensor to make the autolamps turn on sooner due to ambient lighting conditions. I have not yet found a Lux to resistance table though to get an idea what size resistor would have what amount of impact. Anyone happen to have a spare sensor sitting around that they could measure? Given how easy it is to remove the sensor, I suppose I could be convinced to remove mine and graph the response. I'm just not too enthused about possibly scratching my dash or the sensor housing.... The service manual actually suggests using a pocket screwdriver to remove the sensor bezel.

-Rod

 

[Showgun]

Wow, this is another one of those issues that make me realize that I have no idea how I survived those primate days of American cars...my oh my! How did we ever survive those days when the only control of the lights was either on or off?

Interesting isn't it Mark.
You know on my new 'Vette there is no 'Off' per se -- The system is either in Auto mode or is on.
I guess GM just doesn't trust any of us to turn lights on when we want to.

Talk about 'Big Brother'.

 

[IowaFoSho]

Woo Hoo!

artytime:

Is that sarcasm I detect?

 

[markathome]

Isn't this the definition of 'luxury'...ie. stuff you really don't need...

 

[Showgun]

Isn't this the definition of 'luxury'...ie. stuff you really don't need...

LOL, there's so much on my new cars now that I would really be lost without most of it now that I'm spoiled by it.

So yeah -- It used to be an extra, or luxury, or even superfluous, but not any more -- now it's necessary.

I've been taken over by technology and am slowly turning into a machine.

 

[Racer X]

I've noticed that newer cars automatically switch much quicker than my Gen 2 does.

The Gen 2 does have an damping circuit for the auto-lamps. That is, rapid changes in light levels aren't immediately acted upon, it takes a good 10 seconds for the lights to come on.

 

[typhoon5000]

Interesting isn't it Mark.
You know on my new 'Vette there is no 'Off' per se -- The system is either in Auto mode or is on.
I guess GM just doesn't trust any of us to turn lights on when we want to.

Talk about 'Big Brother'.

Wow, that would really annoy me. If it wasn't already a Corvette (not a fan), that might be a deal breaker for me, it would annoy me so much. I would like to be in control of my own vehicle, thank you very much. Although I see more and more people driving around in the pooring rain, dusk or even dark without there lights on thinking the front DRLs are good enough .

I've noticed that newer cars automatically switch much quicker than my Gen 2 does.

The Gen 2 does have an damping circuit for the auto-lamps. That is, rapid changes in light levels aren't immediately acted upon, it takes a good 10 seconds for the lights to come on.

And that is why I never use the auto headlamps in my SHO. It's not terribly inconvenient to turn a switch

I noticed in my Super Duty, the info screen likes to change brightness quite often, even when a cloud rolls by. Covering the light sensor on the dash, like thxone recommended, will fix that though. The same sensor is used for the auto headlamp on my truck, but I don't use them in auto mode either.


Also, as a side note, this is my 1,000th post!!!! :woo-hoo::sun:. It only took me about 5 years

 

[Showgun]

Wow, that would really annoy me. If it wasn't already a Corvette (not a fan), that might be a deal breaker for me, it would annoy me so much. I would like to be in control of my own vehicle, thank you very much. Although I see more and more people driving around in the pooring rain, dusk or even dark without there lights on thinking the front DRLs are good enough .



And that is why I never use the auto headlamps in my SHO. It's not terribly inconvenient to turn a switch

I noticed in my Super Duty, the info screen likes to change brightness quite often, even when a cloud rolls by. Covering the light sensor on the dash, like thxone recommended, will fix that though. The same sensor is used for the auto headlamp on my truck, but I don't use them in auto mode either.


Also, as a side note, this is my 1,000th post!!!! :woo-hoo::sun:. It only took me about 5 years

Congrats on the 1000th. --

Understandable. 'Vettes are not everyone's cup of tea, and I sure wasn't looking for anyone's support on a Ford SHO forum, but I can tell you it certainly is my cup of tea. I now am a big fan, tho of course I still love my SHO -- which, too, is understandably not everyone's favourite.
I happen to love both, (and their many differences). -- btw, previous gen sho's are A-OK in my book too. Love 'em all.

The h/l control (or lack thereof) isn't a biggie -- and something easily gotten used to. I hardly think of it any more and when I do, I'm not annoyed any more. (I too do not put the SHO into auto h/l mode, preferring instead to choose when to turn them on.)

I'm sure the auto only on the 'vette' as added and forced safety due to people not respecting when to turn on h/lights (or just plain forgetting).

You can bet that this feature will show up on many more rides in the future if not all.

BTW -- I see Ford has chosen to run our Fiesta's DRL's at about 80% off full power now, no doubt in an effort to increase safety . I liked them much more when they glowed at only 40%. Indeed I was ticked when DRL's first came into use in the '80's; tho now I'm a fan of them.