On my 97' F150 next to the dimmer switch there is a switch marked auto lamp.I have had the truck for 3 weeks now and still can't figure out what its for. Also the truck has the factory tow pkg. do I still have to have an electronic brake contol installed for pulling my camper.

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97' F150 XLT extended cab short bed w/off road pkg.

 

Turn the Auto Lamp wheel/switch on and it will leave your headlights on after you turn off the truck depending on how far you turned it. Convenient for when you get home after dark; it gives you time to get to the front door while lighting your way. As far as the brake control, I believe the factory harness socket has the brake output, but maybe someone here will verify that.

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1999 Lariat 4X4 SuperCab Flareside 5.4; Auto, Tow Pack, Offroad Pack, 3.73LS, Factory Step Bars, 17" Chrome Wheels, Oxford White/Silver, Graphite Leather, Keypad Mod., Airaid, SuperChip, ARE LSII Bed Cover, Alpine CDA-855/JBL AMP, Polk dX7's, Custom cat-back exhaust.




[This message has been edited by rons (edited 02-10-2001).]

 

It also turns the headlights on when it gets dark.

BTW, the sensor is under a grill near the center of the dash, so if you use the autolamp feature, don't cover that grill.

Oh yeah. To use the Autolamp feature, you have to leave your headlight switch off.

 

Does anyone know if the autolamp switch also adjusts the amount of time before the lights click on?

On my way to work, I drive through a couple of tunnels. The tunnels are lighted but not very well and they are long enough so that the weather outside (cloudy, sunny, etc.) has no effect on how bright or dark the tunnel is.

Half the time, the auto lights click on just as I'm leaving the tunnel. Other times, they click on about 1/3 of the way through.

Just wondering if there's a way to adjust this threshhold.

 

I think you can pop off the grill over the sensor and put a bit of black electrical tape over part of the "eye." That would make it come on earlier. The control is only for how long the light stays on after you turn the key to OFF.

 

The dealer adjusted my Autolamp sensor because I wasn't comfortable with how dark it would have to get before they came on.(works great now) I tried varying layers of clear tape over the sensor and that didn't work for me.

I think black electrical tape would turn it into Daytime Running Lights.

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1999 Ford F150 Lariat RegCab shortbed 5.4L 3.55LS Towpkg Line-X
15.714@85.21

 

Raoul
Did the Dealer show you how he made this adjustment? As in is this an adjustment we can make ourselves. Thanks

 

Sorry, I drop it off and take their shuttle to work. It seems to be a one time adjustment though, it's stayed the same for nearly two years.

 

Following the suggestion I found within this topic, I gently pried the dash cover off and accessed the autolamp sensor. Initially, my intention was to partially cover the sensor with electrical tape; upon closer examination, however, I discovered a small yellow screw located on the side of the unit. After experimenting with the settings, I learned that the yellow screw adjusts the sensitivity of the autolamp sensor. On my 2000 F-150, turning the screw clockwise caused the lights to come on sooner (in less darkness), which is what I wanted to increase safety.


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White 2000 F-150 4x4 Lariat SuperCab with 5.4, class III towing, ABS, limited-slip 3.55, electronic 4x4 engage, factory 6-disc CD, tan leather captains, factory cab steps and bedliner, standard 17" chromed steel wheels with stock P265 Goodyear RT-S Wranglers, diamond-tread toolbox, ICOM 2-way mobile radio

 

[QUOTE]you still have to install the brake controller but there is a plug under the dash just below the ashtray that the controller plugs into. the factory plug at the tow hitch is prewired to the dash for the brake controller