When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
From my factory manual
It would appear that only two of the wires are used.
The black/Lt. Blue wire goes to ground.
The White/ Violet wire is from pin 10 on the Vehicle Security Module.
This is the connector diagram for that F-150 sensor. Pin 2 and 5 are the ones shown in the electrical diagram. Pin 3 is power, presumably for whatever the on-board circuitry is, and pin 4 is for the anti-theft light.
I'm curious about pin 1 though. Sunload sensor signal. I would wonder what the outputs (or resistance) would be on that pin and ground when in and out of the sun.
OK so I was wrong they used to be behind the mirrors hadn't checked so figured it was still there....
Okay now I'm totally confused. When I park my truck with the sunshades deployed in the windshield, unless I uncover the light sensor behind the rearview mirror, the headlights always come on when I unlock the doors with the keyless. In either case the dash mounted beacon is covered.
By point if you mean why are we going into such detail over this well, cause I want to put it in my F350. One feature I miss is auto lamps.
There is something I am curious about and maybe its just my truck being an 06 but when I want autolamps I had to have the sensor and turn the dial to the left one click from top center to put it on auto. So that the lights will turn on when it gets dark are you also changing out the switch or is that already on your 350 dial?
I am going to alter my switch. I believe the sensor regulates the on and off function, so if I run the hot wires from my harness to the sensor and, from sensor back to the switch when I have the switch in the on position during the day the lights will be off but at night they should turn on when the sensor get the signal. Does that make sense?
The issue I am having is understanding how the sensor works. I got the stupid red light to work but, I couldn't get any ohm readings from it being in sun or not in sun.
edit: actually you got me thinking I'm going to connect #1 and #3 together ground #5 and connect #2 to a light bulb when I get home....
That's not how auto lamps work. The Vehicle Security Module (VSM) on the F250, or the Body Security Module (BSM) on the F-150 interpret the signals from the sun load sensor and activate a relay that turns on the headlights.
After looking at the differences between the two sensors, I do not think they are interchangeable. Also, I do not know if a truck without autolamps would have the headlight circuits in place, and if they did, the VSM would still have to be programmed to make it function.
I have the power locks and windows on my '07 F150 XL with keyless entry from the factory and see this little sensor with LEDs in it. Any idea if I just need the correct switch to make this work?
I don't think it will work. I tried many different ways to get autolamps in my 2001 F250, and never could get any ford harnesses to inner change. It was a long time ago, but if I'm not mistaken I tried that little sensor you have in your pic and could only get the red led inside of it to light.
I do know that you will need a switch from either an 04 or newer superduty to make it work. Everyone I talked to about it when I was trying to do it said that I would need a new switch.
Needless to say, I eventually gave up.
Now like I said, this was 4+ years ago so my memory maybe a little foggy but I do remember some points of my investigation into getting autolamps on my super duty truck.
At the end did you guys maked work the auto lamps because I'm in the same procedure i hav a 08 XL and i brought a new daylight sensor a new switch with the auto lamps option and the original wire harnes looks like is ready for it but for some kind of reason it doesn't work... So i am really interested to know if you guys maked work...