Auto headlights always on after windscreen replacement

359 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by jpohlman, 14 d ago

AequidensRivulatus

Discussion Starter · 15 d ago

I have a 2017 Escape Titanium. Normally I leave the headlight switch on the auto position and the lights turn on and off as appropriate. I literally haven't touched the switch for months. I had to get my front windscreen replaced yesterday, and today I noticed that my headlights are always on. Even in the brightest sunlight, they are still on. (And yes, I double checked and the switch is in the auto position, turning them off and back on didn't change it).

I rang the windscreen place and they said nothing to do with them (even though it was working properly before I took it there). Does anyone know where the sensor is, and why changing the windscreen would stop it working?

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer.

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jpohlman

· #2 · 15 d ago

Ford uses the sun load sensor for that.
It's the little black thumb sized button in the center of the dash between the defrost vents.

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ajef7885

· #3 · 15 d ago

The light sensor (photo eye) is in the middle of the dash right at the windshield. Make sure they didn't cover it with tape to protect it and forgot to remove the tape. Also make sure they didnt get a bunch of adhesive on the sensor. It works just like a photo eye for your homes outside lights.

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ajef7885

· #4 · 15 d ago

jpohlman said:
Ford uses the sun load sensor for that.
It's the little black thumb sized button in the center of the dash between the defrost vents.

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what a horrible name for that. I searched on Tasca for the part with zero luck. Never would have thought to call it "sun load sensor".

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jpohlman

· #5 · 14 d ago

It's also used to adjust the AC.
Basically it has two photo resistors in it, one that goes to infinity which trips the auto lamps which means it also trips them when it's unplugged.
The other photo resistor has a different value and the brighter the sun the higher the cooling level that is used to maintain the set AC temp.
Ford's been using these for over 25 years and it is also used when the car doesn't have auto headlamps hence the reason that it's named for its primary function.

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Genuine OEM Ford Sun Load Temperature Sensor 7L1Z-13A018-A | eBay

Genuine OEM Ford Sun Load Temperature Sensor 7L1Z-13A018-A | eBay

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