Maybe a couple of dumb questions, but I'll go ahead and make a fool of myself at the expense of gaining some knowledge. I own a 2005 F150 Scab FX4.

1. What is the wired thing right behind my rear view mirror?

2. What is the loop of nylon for in the top middle of my rear seat?

Your answers are much appreciated.

 

1. That is for the compass that displays on your dash.

2. That is the head restraint for a car seat. The new ones attach at the top along with the seat belt.

 

Thanks so much! Now when my 8 year old asks me what those are, I will actually have an answer for him.

 

I thought the wires behind the rear view mirror were for the "auto dimming" feature.

Nylon strap is definitely for a child seat.

 

They are.

You're both right.

The wires lead into the module which handles the compass orientation sensor as well as the ambient light sensor which is used for auto headlamp illumination.

The wires also lead into the mirror to provide power for the auto dimming feature; but the sensors for that are actually the small white squares on the viewing side of the mirror below the actual mirror.

E.

 

The wired box behind the rear-view mirror is for the compass.
I had my rear-view mirror replaced because the auto-dim didn't function and the installer broke the black box.
I was without direction until the new one arrived and it was difficult finding my way to work without the compass reading on the dash.

Also, the installer told me how lucky I was that he only broke the compass, he sometimes breaks the windshield while removing the rear-view mirror.

 

Haha, yeah ok. What supporting information do you have ?

 

Well, now I feel a lot better about throwing that thing in the trash when I unbolted the loops after adding the leather skins.

Those stupid loops anoyyed me to death...

 

Without the laughing at him, you could have just pointed out that the Autolamp sensor is also part of the housing that the flashing LED for the Antithieft on the dash is in. ( At least page 151-12 of the 2006 EVTM shows it in the same place..) If you want to correct him, just point out...

2006 EVTM :
Page 87-2 ( typo from the headlamps diagram that forwards you to page 97-1), which forwards you to page 55-1.
Page 55-1 : Autolamps /Sunload sensor is located on 151-12, approx grid B-2.

Correct bad info, without looking for a flame war.....