Glad to be a new member of the forums and looking forward to the advice and help! I am now the owner of a used 2011 F250 XLT with 27,000 miles. It has the 603A package, if that helps.

My question is that the headlamp switch has a setting for auto, but every time I would switch it to auto, the headlamps would come on regardless of the time of day. I then noticed that the sensor on the dash is not there and there is just a plastic cover where the sensor would be.

When purchasing, I assumed that the feature was there since the headlight switch had the option, my bad on the assumption! Is this normal for Ford to add the option to the headlamp switch, but not add the sensor, or do those usually go hand in hand? Also, how difficult would it be to add the sensor?

 

I did notice in an F150 forum that the plastic tab on the dash where the sensor would be just pulls up and is attached to a harness that a new sensor would just plug into. The headlight switch already has the 'Autolamp' setting, so is it really just as simple as plugging in a sensor, or would there need to be a software update done on the F250 as well?

 

Does anyone have any ideas on the sensor that controls the auto headlamps? The truck has manual A/C and does have the headlight switch with the auto option. Is this a simple plug n play where I add the photocell where the plastic cover on the dash is, or is there more involved?

 

Can't help you out, I've been here for a long time and yours is the first thread about adding the auto bulb. My 04 has it and I've only used it twice and I can't stand it, if it's day time and it rains you must have your lights on but the auto function won't turn the lights on so I have to turn the dial to ON anyways. If I go hunting and park under a tree the lights come on and then go off three minutes after the trucks shut off, if I pull into the bank or any dark place and then pull out I hear the auto function turn on and then shut off as soon as I pull out. To me it's just a pain in the rear so I never use it

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And what I can't figure out is you say you headlight switch has AUTO so where's the sensor???? If the truck has a auto headlight switch then it has auto headlights, for some reason someone removed the sensor or it was a Friday build and they forgot.......

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I do understand what you are saying since we also have an 04 Expedition with the auto headlamps. During dawn or dusk, they are next to useless as they keep turning off and on until it is either light enough or dark enough to either stay on or off and, as you mentioned, when it is raining during the day, they do not turn on either. In these cases I simply use the switch to turn the headlights on.

I do, however, like the fact that the feature is there since at night, you just start it up and go...no need to fiddle with the lights, they just turn on. Another reason for me, is the fact that I like to have the features that should be on the truck...well, on the truck. I guess I am one of the few that actually likes the feature, even though it does have its quirks. That's why I was wondering if the photocell was just a simple plugin, or if something needed to be done to the computer to "enable" the feature.

As far as the switch having the auto setting, but no photocell, that one is beyond me as well. It could either have been the previous owner getting rid of it, or, like you said, it was built on a Friday and the photocell plugger inner had his mind on the weekend.

 

I dont use my Auto feature either (hate it) but my Wife love's the feature
Unfortunately I don't have the answer your looking for either BUT do u know anybody w/a SD that would let u borrow there's to see if it's Plug/Play
Oh yeah welcome to FTE

 

That little hump on the dash is the Sun Load sensor and I don't
think has any thing to do with the auto lamps. It's part of the EACT.
Have a look at the rear vies mirror. You should find the sensor on the front
side facing the glass. Some times it tucked under the glass mount.

I don't use mine. For some reason when it on the accessory delay
is defeated and everything shuts down at key off.

Sean

 

I keep my headlights in AUTO and keep the little sensor covered, so my headlights are always on when I am driving.

Mine is an '07, but I do have the AUTO LAMPS and Manual AC.

 

After doing a little more research, it appears that there are two different sensors depending on the type of climate control used in the truck. If you have auto climate control, it looks like the Sun Load sensor is used and if the A/C is manual, as mine is, then a simple photocell was used. Both appear to be using the same port on the front of the dash, but I could be wrong. I'm still learning about the truck.

My rear view mirror is just the standard day/night mirror with the manual toggle switch on the bottom. There are no wires coming from it. This may change one day though when I add a backup camera to it. Currently, the auto setting from the headlight switch turns the lights on fully as if I had just turned the switch to the headlights on position. The tail lights come on and the fogs do as well, so I know it is not just the DRL lights coming on.

 

Unfortunately, I do not.

 

He is saying he does not have any light sensor for his truck. He will need that piece. My buddy installed the fog lights on XL and he needed to add the sensor and get the truck reprogrammed at the dealer.

So I would say you need the sensor and a trip to the dealer.

 

That pretty much sums it up. My only confusion is that it is an XLT that already has the auto setting on the headlights switch, so I am not sure if it needs to be reprogrammed or not.

What I may just end up doing is buying the part, plugging it in and see if it works. If it does, I'll chalk it up to luck and if it doesn't, I'll either have it reprogrammed or just not use the feature.

 

Are you the first owner?

Sean

 

No, I am actually the second owner, so there is always the possibility that the first owner removed the sensor. One of the good things about buying new is you know the trucks history! Used vehicles, not so much.