I took my wife to get a brand new 2003 Ford Explorer XLT. It has autolite standard. My 2003 Screw XLT FX4 and most of the F-150's don't have this option.

Now I am spoiled so I decided I had to have this since my Chevy z71LS had this I and I got used to it. I never once turned the head light switch on in that truck. I wanted it again. So I talked to the dealer and they sold it to me at cost installed at $239.00. I guess its standard on the King Ranch and EddieB versions of the truck but not on the 2003 XLT or 2003 Lariats(or at least the several lariats I looked at). Why is that I wonder. I also noticed that this option also gives you DRL, day time running lights. Also on her Explorer I noticed when the key is turned off, and removed from the ignition the stereo continues to play until the door is opened. I am curious if this is a feature that is activated also with the autolite option. It was also standard on my old Z71 LS. I will know at the end of the week when I take my truck in to get it installed.

Why is it on the 2003 F-150 XLT's they have less options then other XLT lines (Explorer, Expetdition, Escape) in Ford? Is it because they build a better truck then chevy and dodge and spend the money on thicker metal, better motors and suspensions and have less to spend on the foo foo stuff? Is this just a Texas thing? I also noticed on the new 2003 Lariats that the interior door lights are not like they where on the older models also, no lights. But her Explorer has the lights under the door mirrors on the outside that light up the whole fricken driveway at night. That would be a really nice Option while camping or hunting, or doing anything away from town.

Maybe I am just spoiled rotten but I think for a sticker price of 34k some of these options should be standard. Having autolite is really nice. I guess you don't realise how convienant it is until its not there. And its cheap to get and the perfect mod for the money in my book. It also lowers insurance by having the DRL.

Jeff

 

If by "autolite" you mean Autolamp, it is readily available on the SCrew...at least it was in '01. My SCrew Lariat has autolamps, but I never use it.
A better option would be auto dimming lights. I had that feature on a T-Bird SuperCoupe. I loved that feature. I became so accustomed to that that I would "bright light" oncoming cars whenever I drove my older F-150 at night because I became used to the lights dimming by themselves. It had autolamps also.

 

I think the AutoLamp feature was included with certain packages.

My 01 XLT has them, but I have the captians chairs ( I thought that is what it came with ??? maybe not ).

If you look through the electrical forum, there are a few posts on adding the Auto Lamp feature to non autolamp trucks. I don't recall the costs for the parts.

A XLT *should* have the wiring for this already installed, and it is a matter of adding the photo cell under the square vent on the top of the dahs, and getting the correct headlamp switch. Check that against the posts on the topic to be sure. it maybe a bit more involved then that.

The DRL may or may not be added when doing this.

Phil did this last year.
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=90529

Another thread on it :
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=90015

You can find more by search for the term both ways ( autolamp and auto lamp ).

Good luck, let us know if you need anything else.

Steve

 

Yes I meant autolamp, thanx.

No its not on the 2003 models. At least the ones at this particular dearlership. Not on the XLT's, Lariats, XL's. Just on the EB and King Ranch and HD versions. I spent hours walking around looking in all the trucks while my wife was doing the deal on her Exlporer. Am I incorrect assuming its all the F-150 2003 models or is it the way that particular Dealership orders the vehicles? I don't have the captains chairs or leather, but many of them do and they did not have the autolamp. Only ones I saw with autolamp had the Electronic Temp Controller. The Harley Davidsons, EB, and King Ranch trucks only. I was amazed at the several Lariat additions that did not have autolamp either.

One other thing I miss from my 1999 Ford F-150 supercab is the dome over ride button. Is that an option that can be installed or is this a thing of the past?

SSculy, Yes it is prewired, and the parts where ordered at the cost of 239.00. They will install if for free for me. I take it in later this week when the parts come and get it installed. I was told that this activates the DRL also and that is one of the features that comes with the autolamp.

All I saw ordered was the package and not sure what came besides the switch, cover and the photo detector that goes on top of the dash. It just might be more involved and I will learn more and post the facts as I get them.

 

Hmm. My 2003 Lariat S'Crew, with no additional options that I'm aware of, has the autolamp and electronic temp control. Maybe I got a package that I didn't know about.

 

I dunno....its kinda confusing. I did see a couple of Lariats with it, but they had the captain chairs. The ones witht he bench seats in leather and elctronic temp controls did not. So maybe it comes with the captian chairs? I wonder who sits down and figures all this stuff out. I looked at the fordparts.com and did not see this. I guess they have a bunch of stuff they carry that they do not put on the web site. I shouldve called and saved some money. Looks like this is something I could have easily installed myself. Just kinda peeves me off the Standard XLT used to have this feature and now they do not.

 

I have a 2002 lariat with the 60/40 split seats and the Autolamps came with it. It also came on my 97 Lariat.

 

The parts for the AutoLamp setup are ~ $90.00 without shipping.
This does not include the DRL resistor ( which is a seperate item, not needed to the run the AutoLamps ).

I do not have DRLs with my AutoLamps.
If they are saying it is one in the same package, they don't know what it takes to add this to the factory harness.

Funny part is the members that did it themselves, use the same EVTM as the dealer uses, that shows where everything is at on the truck.

Delaer told me I couldn't get a keypad for my XLT when I ordered it.
Ordered the keypad and the handle for about $110.00 shipped from fordpartsonline.com and installed it myself. Go figure....Again I am just using the Ford EVTM to find this stuff. Wiring and everything is right there, and it takes all of 5 min to find it in the EVTM, and figure out what goes where.

Maybe if I had a ASC certification, and Ford specific training, I'd unlearn how to do this stuff.....

 

SSCULLY

Not picking on you but that would be ASE Certification

If I'm mistaking the Auto Lamp comes with the PowerDriver Seat option. I had the 98 F-150 Offroad that came with the Auto Lamp. but the funny part is that it did not come with the power mirror

 

I have a 03 SCrew XLT purchased at the end of April and I have Auto lights. Came with the truck.

 

I guess I can add that to my resume then. ASC certified, so I don't do anything that requires actually understanding a EVTM.

I'll put that right next to my frontal lobodomy / CCDP - CCNP certifications

Glad you said the power seat item, then that must be what it came with, not the captiains chairs.
The AutoLamps had something to do where you put your rear end in the cab of the truck ( if that makes any sense ).

 

Looked into some more and yes, its 100.00 with shipping......damnit............&%&W$#@!!


Oh well, I'll kiss the 149.00 goodbye and learn my lesson.....at least I will have autolamp ..warrantied......

Went to another dealership and looked at all the Lariats....ALL had autolamps.....none of the 2003 XLT's had them....what gives?


Scully what is this EVTM thing you are talking about???

Instead of getting a third key and remote for when I go hunting.....I could just do the keypad....how much is that?

Will it hook right in????? I shouldv'e probed the board before writing that check.

 

Let's make sure the OP realizes first of all that the Autolamp controls changed in 2001. The adjustable feature was discontinued that year, so the only thumbwheel rheostat on the dash is for the instrument panel lights.

I'm pretty sure Autolamp is still a standard item in Lariat and higher trim levels.

 

The EVTM is the Ford Electrical Manual for the truck. Shows where everything is at, wire routes, color codes, connector number, color and pin outs.

As for the keypad, search on it, I thought I saw a post where the 2003 XLT was different, but I don't recall for sure if it was different then the ?? to 02 installs, or the installer that had the issue.

If you get a key cut, program it yourself as long as you have 2 other keys, it is in the owners manual how to program a 3rd, 4th...keys. As well as the remote, there are several posts with the DYI for the remote additions.

As for buying one, you can try keylessride.com, or eBay for an additional remote, or try any of the 3 online Ford parts places before giving cash to your "stealer" again. You already know he charges list for things, but lies to you to make you feel good about it.

 

List of Standard and Optional Equipment

Autolamp is listed as standard equipment on Lariat, Harley Davidson, and King Ranch models.