I have a '97 F150 Lariat and the lights seem to come on prematurely. I have not been able to find the sensor. I understand that there is a senor build into the blinking light on the dash. On my truck, I have a blinking 'THEFT' light when the alarm is activated. Is the sensor behind the tach or some other place.

What's involved in changing the sensor, or is there an easier fix. Thanks, Mike

 

Hi Mike and welcome to the forum

I've never had much to do with the autolamps on one of these trucks and the shop manual seems to have not much on them either. If I remember right if you pull up the football shaped cover on the top of the passenger's side of the dash there is a module there with the ambient light sensor built into it. I can't remember for sure what it's like on an F-150 but on most other Fords it's a little dome shaped sensor on the top middle of the dash.
Hopefully someone else will come along with a better memory than me

 

My KR is a glorified Lariat. Has the autolamps on it. Like Racerguy said mine has a sensor on the dash. I don't know if there is an adjustment on it though.

 

Thanks guys for the quick response. I suspected that it might be under the football-shaped cover. After 10 years, I am hoping that all I have to do is wipe the dust off. Now, how do I get the cover off. I hate to go pulling in the wrong place and break it. Thanks again, Mike

 

It is held in place by several clips. Slide a putty knife under the edge and lift gently.

 

Thanks KRM. I'll give it a shot. I replaced the DPFE sensor today and it is running right. On to my next project . . . change the trans oil after 131K? What say you? Mike

 

Sounds like you are working to get your truck back in good shape. Changing the fluid and filter is not that hard to do. Besides dropping the pan, there should be an access hole for removing a drain plug from the torque converter. Be sure to drain it too. Also,make sure that you use the correct fluid for your transmission. The transmission dipstick should have the type of fluid stamped into it. Good luck!

 

Just a response about the autolamp sensor. Instead of removing the football shaped cover, I blew compressed air into the slotted holes in the center. After almost 10 years, I figured there was some dust that had settled. I guess that I was right because it is more responsive now. Thanks again, Mike

 

That was a nice easy fix