Auto headlights sensitivity
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 778
Likes: 14
From: Seattle area, WA USA
Since the dream truck is not here yet I have to ask can the headlights not be manually operated from the switch on the dash by turning the auto feature off?
Our 18 Escape has this feature and the work fine even if I don't really care for it. (it's HER car) but on that car the auto feature can be turned off at the switch.
Our 18 Escape has this feature and the work fine even if I don't really care for it. (it's HER car) but on that car the auto feature can be turned off at the switch.
Auto high-beam is on the stalk and is press: Low/High/Auto-high-beam
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, NV
Since the dream truck is not here yet I have to ask can the headlights not be manually operated from the switch on the dash by turning the auto feature off?
Our 18 Escape has this feature and the work fine even if I don't really care for it. (it's HER car) but on that car the auto feature can be turned off at the switch.
Our 18 Escape has this feature and the work fine even if I don't really care for it. (it's HER car) but on that car the auto feature can be turned off at the switch.
Yes, I can do it manually. Not the point. It's an $80k truck with, what I think, is a faulty feature. I'm asking if anyone else has the issue or if it's just me and I need to bring it to Ford's attention the next time I take it in for service. My three Toyota's had the ability to adjust the sensitivity of the light sensor. My wife's Honda Pilot as this ability. I assumed it was a normal feature for vehicles now and maybe I couldn't find the setting in my truck.
Also, without the headlights in the auto setting, my DRL's don't turn on.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: SE Wisconsin
Yea, that's not right. The little I've driven mine so far they come on at a reasonable level of light (Or dark?) and stay on. You may be stuck taking it in.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 109
Likes: 23
Just for kicks,, are you sure the headlights are turning on? If your dash dimmer is turned down, and the lights turn off, the dash will dim like that.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, NV
Haha, yes. I'm not incompetent.
I can see the reflection of my headlights in the car in front of me. But also while driving around when the sun is coming in from the front windshield. If I turn and go in another direction and there's a shadow cast on my dash, the lights turn on (dash lights dim, etc.). I've noticed this is really only in the morning and late afternoons. If the sun is higher in the sky it doesn't really happen. This morning driving to work (20 minute drive) I counted my lights turned on/off 5 times. Yes, I could just manually turn them off but then my DRL's aren't on and I like having them on, mainly because I have the all LED headlights and I like the look of them on my truck. Yes, vanity, I know.
It just seems that the light sensor is a bit TOO sensitive and I think there should be an adjustment for that, like many other vehicles I've owned.
I can see the reflection of my headlights in the car in front of me. But also while driving around when the sun is coming in from the front windshield. If I turn and go in another direction and there's a shadow cast on my dash, the lights turn on (dash lights dim, etc.). I've noticed this is really only in the morning and late afternoons. If the sun is higher in the sky it doesn't really happen. This morning driving to work (20 minute drive) I counted my lights turned on/off 5 times. Yes, I could just manually turn them off but then my DRL's aren't on and I like having them on, mainly because I have the all LED headlights and I like the look of them on my truck. Yes, vanity, I know.
It just seems that the light sensor is a bit TOO sensitive and I think there should be an adjustment for that, like many other vehicles I've owned.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 424
From: Too close to Houston
Did you have this problem before you tinted your windshield? The tint may have a lot to do with it. Although it allows 70% visible light through it may be blocking almost all the IR or UV the sensor may be looking for to control the lighting.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, NV
Its only been doing it the past couple of weeks. I had the windows tinted the day after I bought it in August. So it’s a fairly new problem. If it were detecting UV light it would’ve been happening on day one as I have ceramic tint which blocks 99% of UV light.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 149
Likes: 9
From: San Juan Capistrano CA
Sounds to me like you have a problem with the sensor. In my 2017 (led lights) the auto headlights work perfectly. Turn on in the dark, turn off in daylight. Once in while, if I'm stopped under an overpass, the headlights will come on, but at that location they come on in my other (different make) vehicles also. I have never taken them out of auto since I bought the truck.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, NV
I'm pretty sure my front windshield being tinted isn't helping, but my Tundra before this truck had the same window tint, but I just turned down the sensitivity of the headlight sensor. You would think the $80k truck would have this feature if my $50k Tundra had the feature and my wife's $40k Pilot has this feature. There's got to be a way, whether it be FORscan or the dealership, to adjust the sensitivity.
