ok. I'm lazy and don't carry keys. I use the keypad for entry. Occassionally being lazy I also forget to turn off my lights when I get out, usually on a rainy day when i was using them in daylight.

I have a 2000 excursion. I want to add the autolamp feature that was made available on the 02 models. I just want the lights on when the car is running and want them to automatically go off when I turn the car off and I don't care about a delay but it would be nice. I have the feature on another vehicle and I actually took blocked out the sensor so they run day or night.

My question is.

Can I buy the headlamp switch for the 02 model that has the autolamp feature and install it in my car? I don't have fogs and I don't need the light sensor unless itis required as I plan on defeating it anyways. I also want the lights burning at 100% not at a reduced daytime running lamp %. My concerns are,

1. will the wiring harness be the same? I realize my pigtail probably won't have wires for all of the terminals on the new switch but will it mate up to it so that I can jump out the light sensor terminals through the back of the harness?
2. is the autolamp feature built into the new switch or is it simply making the connection to a relay/switch/controller etc. that I will also need to buy?

My plans were to purchase the new switch, install it, modify it so that the light sensor portion is open or closed (whatever tells it to switch on the lights).
Plan two was just to rewire the switch so that it only gets power when the engine is running and leave the headlamp switch in the on position permenantly.

If anyone has done this or is familiar with both switches I would really appreciate you input.

 

Well nobody answered my question so I answered it myself.

Yes you can add the autolamp to a 2000 excursion even though it wasn't an available option. However, you have to cut a few wires if you want the autolamp feature to work.

$20 to 25 for headlamp switch with autolamp from rockauto
$8 for 2 relays from auto zone
cut a couple of wires route to and from relays, add one extra wire and you have autolamp.

Both old and new headlamp switch fit and mate properly with the original wiring harness. Infact, without changing anything you can pop out the non-autolamp switch and pop in and plug up the new one with the autolamp feature and everything (except) the autolamp feature works which gives you a little time to "get around" to the modification.

Btw my version of "autolamp" means when the car is on and the switch is on autolamp the lights stay on. I didn't want the dusk/dawn stuff. Similar to Daytime running lamps except at full brightness and tail lights are one as well. I just don't have to remember to turn off my lights when I get out.