Can someone tell me where the headlight sensor is located on a 95 Explorer ?

Norm Wagner
1993 F-150
1995 Explorer
1996 MarkV111

 

Come on is this a tough question ? I have had my battery die twice because I forgot to turn my headlights off . The only time I ever manually turn then on is during rain and then forgot to turn them off .

Norm Wagner
1993 F-150
1995 Explorer
1996 MarkV111

 

Do you have the Autolamp feature?? If you do, the light sensor is most likely to be at the front of the interior rearview mirror. Since you have a '95, you can manually switch the autolamp funtion on or off. That's all I know. I hope this helps a little.

Billy
'96 Explorer Eddie Bauer
4.10 LSD
PIAA 9007 Superwhites
K&N Drop In filter

 

I have the autolamp but it needs to be dark for it to turn the lights on and usually rain will not make it dark enough to kick them on . My other cars have had the sensor on the dash and I simply cover it up to trick the system into turning the lights on . I know it is somewhere obvious but I can't find it unless it is on the mirror .

Norm Wagner
1993 F-150
1995 Explorer
1996 MarkV111

 

Hey,
Try checking the dashboard. Right near the windshield somewhere around the middle. I've got a '97 Eddie Bauer and I believe that's where mine is.

 

Larry, that sensor is the light sensor, but it is for the automatic climate control system. My '96 Eddie Bauer doesn't have the autolamp so I know. The light sensor is located at the front of the interior rearview mirror.

Billy
'96 Explorer Eddie Bauer
4.10 LSD
PIAA 9007 Superwhites
K&N Drop In filter

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 28-May-01 AT 08:36 PM (EST)[/font][p]Thanks I looked everywhere on the dash but could not see it . I hope I can find it on the mirror . Seems odd to me to have it on the mirror when all others I have seen are on the dash . When it rains I just cover the sensor on my other car to make the lights come on , If the sensor is on the mirror that would seem to make it more difficult to cover .

Norm Wagner
1993 F-150
1995 Explorer
1996 MarkV111

 

Billy,
So you're saying that the sensor on the dashboard is a light sensor but controls the auto climate control? I don't get it. I thought the climate control would be controlled by some sort of internal thermometer. I've checked the rearview mirror for the autolamp sensor and am not really sure where it would be. Hmmm. Thanks for your reply.

 

Larry, there's an internal thermometer, the thermometer is located left of the passenger side airbag, there's a little vent but it won't blow out air. On the Explorers with the auto climate control, that's what that little vent is for, but for the rest with the manual air conditioning system, that vent is nothing, there's nothing behind it, if my memory serves me right.

I forgot how that sensor on the dash works, but I know that sensor is not for the autolamp, as I've stated before, my truck doesn't have the autolamp function so I'm pretty sure that sensor on the dash is not the autolamp sensor. I'll try to find more info on the sensor.

Billy
'96 Explorer Eddie Bauer
4.10 LSD
PIAA 9007 Superwhites
K&N Drop In filter

 

Oh yeah, Norm, if you want to cover it, try use a piece of black electrical tape, only if the sensor is located at the front of the mirror. I'm pretty sure that's where the sensor is.

Billy
'96 Explorer Eddie Bauer
4.10 LSD
PIAA 9007 Superwhites
K&N Drop In filter

 

You are right my car does not have climate control and I did see the hole and that is exactly what it is a hole connected to nothing .

Norm Wagner
1993 F-150
1995 Explorer
1996 MarkV111

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 01-Jun-01 AT 05:23 PM (EST)[/font][p]First, the little sensor on the dash is for the automatic climate control. It is a light sensor but Ford uses it in conjunction with the interior thermistor to use a "fuzzy logic" to determine how hard to turn on the fans and at what temperature. On a bright sunny day when the A/C needs to drop the temperature 20F, the fans will come on stronger versus at night or something like that.

Second, the autolamp sensor is on the back side of the mirror. You can only see it by looking from the outside in. It is under the plastic covering that covers the mount to the windshield. If you want to try and cover it with electrical tape, you'll have to put tape on the outside of your windshield.

Third, there is a procedure to adjust the amount of ambient light required to turn on the autolamp. There are at least two different styles of mirrors. Some have a mode button, my '97 doesn't. The procedure goes something like hold in the mode buttor for about 5 seconds and then slide the switch until the lights come on. You do it when the outside light is where you want it to come on. On the systems like mine, there is a small hole in the mirror that you stick the end of a paperclip into. I don't remember the exact procedure since mine comes on right where I want them to but I printed it out in case I ever wanted to change it. I'll see if I can find it. Your manual might tell you how to set it. The person that originally posted the instructions got them from either their owner's manual or a shop manual. I know the procedure is not in the owner's manual for my '97.

 

reberhardt
Thanks - This should be a simple fix but it appears not. I looked in my owners manual and it's not in mine either.
My MarkV111 sensor is on the dash and simple to cover when it's raining . Why can't Ford/Lincoln work from the same book?

Norm Wagner
1993 F-150
1995 Explorer
1996 MarkV111

 

I found the procedure to adjust them. It came from a post on 4/23/99. Here it is:

1. Ignition switch on
2. Place AUTOLAMP to OFF (far left)
3. Press and hold mode switch (hold throughout adjustment)
4. Slowly slide the AUTOLAMP DELAY to the right until the lights turn on
5. To have the lights go on sooner, go to step 6, to have the lights go on later, go to step 7
6. Slowly slide the AUTOLAMP DELAY to the left until the lights turn off (go to step 8)
7. Slowly slide the AUTOLAMP DELAY to the right until the lights turn off
8. Release the MODE switch. The new settings have been saved.

I haven't tried these on mine so I don't know if it works or not, but you might want to give it a try.

Robert

 

Robert thanks for the research and your help.

Norm Wagner
1993 F-150
1995 Explorer
1996 MarkV111