autolamp positon question
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Elder User
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
autolamp positon question
I am posing this question for a friend of my wife who has a 2010 Escape.
She states that when driving with the light switch in the "auto" position, the tail lights and gear shift lights do not light.
Here is a copy of the relevant portion of the email
"" Also would you have any ideas why her tail lights and gear shift lights don’t come on when she is driving with the automatic light switch turned on? The dealership said when she brought it in that this is normal and that she has to manually turn on all the lights for these two things to work and not just use the automatic on switch that works for her headlights???? She is sure everything was on before but has recently been getting people flashing lights at her because she has a dark rear end at night!!! She thinks there is a short somewhere and that the stealership is bs..ing her! ""
I don't own an escape myself so can't check, and although I drove one for a few weeks last fall while my truck was in the shop, I don't remember using that function if it was there.
I checked the online manual and it states that the "autolamp" feature operates the exterior lights automatically.
Can anyone tell me if the lights in question should work in the auto postition
She states that when driving with the light switch in the "auto" position, the tail lights and gear shift lights do not light.
Here is a copy of the relevant portion of the email
"" Also would you have any ideas why her tail lights and gear shift lights don’t come on when she is driving with the automatic light switch turned on? The dealership said when she brought it in that this is normal and that she has to manually turn on all the lights for these two things to work and not just use the automatic on switch that works for her headlights???? She is sure everything was on before but has recently been getting people flashing lights at her because she has a dark rear end at night!!! She thinks there is a short somewhere and that the stealership is bs..ing her! ""
I don't own an escape myself so can't check, and although I drove one for a few weeks last fall while my truck was in the shop, I don't remember using that function if it was there.
I checked the online manual and it states that the "autolamp" feature operates the exterior lights automatically.
Can anyone tell me if the lights in question should work in the auto postition
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Elder User
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
Thanks Bill,
It does seem like a no brainer, but again I am not familiar with the vehicle as I drive a f-150 which does not have that feature.
Would you believe it to be a switch malfunction or an electrical problem?
Personally, I think it would be the switch and though she thinks the headlights are coming on...really it is just the daytime running lights. I have asked my wife to tell her to check to see if the lights brighten when she switches to the on position, but I suspect I already know what the answer to that question will be.
Stealerships! %#$@&^%#@
It does seem like a no brainer, but again I am not familiar with the vehicle as I drive a f-150 which does not have that feature.
Would you believe it to be a switch malfunction or an electrical problem?
Personally, I think it would be the switch and though she thinks the headlights are coming on...really it is just the daytime running lights. I have asked my wife to tell her to check to see if the lights brighten when she switches to the on position, but I suspect I already know what the answer to that question will be.
Stealerships! %#$@&^%#@
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,534
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From: Warren, MI
Thanks Bill,
It does seem like a no brainer, but again I am not familiar with the vehicle as I drive a f-150 which does not have that feature.
Would you believe it to be a switch malfunction or an electrical problem?
Personally, I think it would be the switch and though she thinks the headlights are coming on...really it is just the daytime running lights. I have asked my wife to tell her to check to see if the lights brighten when she switches to the on position, but I suspect I already know what the answer to that question will be.
Stealerships! %#$@&^%#@
It does seem like a no brainer, but again I am not familiar with the vehicle as I drive a f-150 which does not have that feature.
Would you believe it to be a switch malfunction or an electrical problem?
Personally, I think it would be the switch and though she thinks the headlights are coming on...really it is just the daytime running lights. I have asked my wife to tell her to check to see if the lights brighten when she switches to the on position, but I suspect I already know what the answer to that question will be.
Stealerships! %#$@&^%#@
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Elder User
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
Bill, Yes the vehicle is a Canadian vehicle. DRL's are the law here and I'm not sure about them being disabled in the "auto" position. She did the test I asked her to do and as I suspected. With the lights in the auto position, she started the vehicle the DRL came on. When she switched the lights to the "ON" position, she said they got noticeable brighter.
I originally questioned her as to if she was sure about actually having the feature. She claims that she's always used that position and recently people have started honking and gesturing to her at night that her rear lights are off. She also claims that her gear shift indicator lights no longer light up when not in the on position.
She also stated that the dash lights do come on automatically when it gets dark which would tell me that the light sensor is working.
I have told her to return to the dealer and point out that none of the exterior lights come on in "auto" as they should and that they need to resolve the problem immediately.
I originally questioned her as to if she was sure about actually having the feature. She claims that she's always used that position and recently people have started honking and gesturing to her at night that her rear lights are off. She also claims that her gear shift indicator lights no longer light up when not in the on position.
She also stated that the dash lights do come on automatically when it gets dark which would tell me that the light sensor is working.
I have told her to return to the dealer and point out that none of the exterior lights come on in "auto" as they should and that they need to resolve the problem immediately.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Warren, MI
Bill, Yes the vehicle is a Canadian vehicle. DRL's are the law here and I'm not sure about them being disabled in the "auto" position. She did the test I asked her to do and as I suspected. With the lights in the auto position, she started the vehicle the DRL came on. When she switched the lights to the "ON" position, she said they got noticeable brighter.
I originally questioned her as to if she was sure about actually having the feature. She claims that she's always used that position and recently people have started honking and gesturing to her at night that her rear lights are off. She also claims that her gear shift indicator lights no longer light up when not in the on position.
She also stated that the dash lights do come on automatically when it gets dark which would tell me that the light sensor is working.
I have told her to return to the dealer and point out that none of the exterior lights come on in "auto" as they should and that they need to resolve the problem immediately.
I originally questioned her as to if she was sure about actually having the feature. She claims that she's always used that position and recently people have started honking and gesturing to her at night that her rear lights are off. She also claims that her gear shift indicator lights no longer light up when not in the on position.
She also stated that the dash lights do come on automatically when it gets dark which would tell me that the light sensor is working.
I have told her to return to the dealer and point out that none of the exterior lights come on in "auto" as they should and that they need to resolve the problem immediately.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
Thanks Bill, I appreciate your time and help....I will certainly pass along that info and tell her to inform the dealer. Perhaps they need to read the manual 
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Saskatoon,sk
on our 09 the DRL do come on in any position, except if you have lights in off position then then wont come on till it is put into gear, at least from what i have noticed anyways.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Warren, MI
In "any" position? So what do get when your in the headlights ON position at night, DRL? The manual even cautions you that the DRL are not meant for night driving.
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Elder User
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
I think dammans misspoke unintentionally....Since it is law here, I am quite surprised that the DRL's don't come on in any position(Except the "on" position of course, in which case the full night driving lights come on). Even in the off position, the law requires the daytime running lights. Canadian vehicles have a DRL module that makes it this way. The only exception that I know of is that some vehicles the lights go completely off if the parking brake is applied and it has been that way for some time.
My ol' 91 trooper was that way and my '07 mazda 3 is the same. Can say for my 99 F-150 since the cable is seized and I have never used it. I assume that it is that way so that if you're sitting in a driveway talking, you can have the lights off, of course you can't drive with the parking brake on(unless of course the cable is broken or disconnected)
My ol' 91 trooper was that way and my '07 mazda 3 is the same. Can say for my 99 F-150 since the cable is seized and I have never used it. I assume that it is that way so that if you're sitting in a driveway talking, you can have the lights off, of course you can't drive with the parking brake on(unless of course the cable is broken or disconnected)
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Warren, MI
I think dammans misspoke unintentionally....Since it is law here, I am quite surprised that the DRL's don't come on in any position(Except the "on" position of course, in which case the full night driving lights come on). Even in the off position, the law requires the daytime running lights. Canadian vehicles have a DRL module that makes it this way. The only exception that I know of is that some vehicles the lights go completely off if the parking brake is applied and it has been that way for some time.
My ol' 91 trooper was that way and my '07 mazda 3 is the same. Can say for my 99 F-150 since the cable is seized and I have never used it. I assume that it is that way so that if you're sitting in a driveway talking, you can have the lights off, of course you can't drive with the parking brake on(unless of course the cable is broken or disconnected)
My ol' 91 trooper was that way and my '07 mazda 3 is the same. Can say for my 99 F-150 since the cable is seized and I have never used it. I assume that it is that way so that if you're sitting in a driveway talking, you can have the lights off, of course you can't drive with the parking brake on(unless of course the cable is broken or disconnected)
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Elder User
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
Yes Bill, When in "auto" position, the DRL's should come on once you start the vehicle.
Also in the "auto" the full intensity night driving lights will come on (override the DRL's) once it becomes dark enough outside or you enter a dark space(ie. a tunnel or underground parking garage etc). You can choose to simply turn on your lights on for overcast days etc.
Also in the "auto" the full intensity night driving lights will come on (override the DRL's) once it becomes dark enough outside or you enter a dark space(ie. a tunnel or underground parking garage etc). You can choose to simply turn on your lights on for overcast days etc.
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From: Saskatoon,sk
yeah i just posted quick and didnt think it through first, but yes drl only come on when shifted into gear when light switch is in off position, but frl do come on when in auto as do tailights and headlights when the sun starts to go down
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Elder User
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
DRL's should come on the second the vehicle is running...even in park.
But again, I'm not familiar with the Escape...things may have changed in recent years.
Certainly in all my other Ford vehicles, this is/was the case.
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From: Greenwood In. USA
We own 2 Escapes an 04 and a 09 both have Auto Lamp. All exterior and dash lights come on if it is dark enough for the sensor I also own an 05 Sport Trac w/Auto Lamp and its operates the same way. So if her tail lights are not coming on when dark there is an issue. She needs to find another dealer that dosent BS women or more likely she got a lazy service writer.
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